Building job hunting confidence

Life can be a challenge, and for many of us finding a job is one of those times.

You can end up putting a lot of pressure on yourself, especially if you’ve been looking for the right job for a while.

How can you reduce some of that pressure? Here are some ways to work on your confidence as you go.

You’re an interviewer too

The company is interviewing you to see if you are a good fit for the job. You are also interviewing them. An interview is a chance to see if the role is a good fit for you, and if you’d be happy working there.

If you didn’t get the job, maybe it wasn’t a good fit for you. Maybe you would have been unhappy in the role. You’re free to find something that’s a better fit.

It’s okay to think of it as learning as you go

If you get to the interview stage but don’t get hired, it can still help you get the next job. Are there questions you found difficult to answer? Is there anything you wish you’d handled differently?

Reflect on how things went so you can build your confidence for next time. Dwelling on mistakes isn’t the same as thinking how you can improve.

Every ‘failure’ to succeed at an interview can be a chance to be even more prepared, relaxed and confident at the next one.

Any interview or call back is a sign of success

Call backs and interviews are always a sign of success! They liked your application enough to think you could be a great fit for the role. Even if you don’t get the job this time round, someone saw something special in you and your application, and they wanted to know more.

You’ve got what it takes, and other people can see it. Give yourself a pat on the back and try again.

Break big goals down into small steps

Anything you do to find a job – no matter how small – is a step in the right direction.

Set yourself up for success with goals you know you can achieve, that are in your power to control.

Take a look at these example goals. You can change the number or the time period to whatever works best for you.

Example goals:

  • I will look at the National Careers Service website for more information.
  • I will look online for free careers / employment services near me.
  • I will try to find 3 opportunities to apply for this week that might be a good fit for me
  • I will search online for 3 of the most common interview questions and think how I would answer them
  • I will look in my local college, community, or online for free courses that could help me grow my skills, confidence or qualifications towards the job I want
  • I will ask 3 people I know – like friends or family – if they could help me in my job search or look over my CV / application

Stay motivated in a way that works for you

Job hunting stress can affect us all in different ways. It’s important to stay as healthy and happy as possible during this time.

Looking after your health, happiness and motivation can look like:

  • Having a shower every morning to start the day fresh
  • Keeping a “done” list of completed actions and achievements
  • Phoning a friend or wellbeing service for support
  • Doing something you enjoy every day
  • Doing something every day out of choice, not because you have to

We all find our motivation in our own way to keep trying our best without getting overwhelmed. Find motivation boosters and coping strategies that work for you.

Staying steady

You don’t know for sure how long it might take to find a job that’s a good fit.

Aim to set a pace you think you can stick to. Doing something every day, or setting yourself small but achievable goals for the week, will help you keep looking forward with less risk of feeling overwhelmed.

Staying flexible

Of course you want to find a job that fits your goals, interests and personal strengths!

It’s okay to balance that with being flexible.

Do some personal research and talk to people you know to see if you can find a new course to help build skills and confidence.

Apply for that job you know you could do, even if it doesn’t sound a perfect fit, because if you’re invited to a job interview you might find you really like the people working there, or the job might be more exciting than you thought.

Apply for that job that sounds like your cup of tea, even if you’re not sure you’ve got the skills or experience, because they might love your enthusiasm and be willing to give you lots of training and support.

Being flexible means you’re willing to broaden your horizons and try something new – and you might find that the job you filed under “maybe” was the perfect fit for you after all.