Fear

“Fear of failure must never be a reason not to try something.” ~Frederick Smith

When fear enters a person’s thoughts causing unsure feelings they tend to stay in their comfort zone and not explore options.

When you are unemployed or uncertain about your existing employment many thoughts of fear enter. Fear of picking up the phone, fear of introducing yourself, fear of getting out to network, fear of having a conversation…

Some tips for you:

FEAR stands for False Evidence Appearing Real – Fears are not reality.

When seeking employment remember that timing is key and people love to help, but they do not always want to be the one to directly refer you. When you network with someone don’t specifically ask them if they know someone that is hiring. Have a conversation with them about what they are doing and what others are doing. Great leads come from business conversations where a company, a project or a consultant may be mentioned that has been awarded business and you can then pursue them directly yourself until you hit one at the right time looking for someone just like you!

Self Respect and Self Worth

A man can stand a lot as long as he can stand himself. ~Axel Munthe

All of us are our own toughest critics. We tend to look back and focus on something we could have, would have, should have instead of focusing on today, the moment and clarity for our futures. Don’t ever call yourself stupid, or put yourself down ever, but especially when you are going through uncertain times. There is a plan for your life and purpose for your life.

Some tips for you:

• Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative and don’t mess with Mr. in between.
• Work on developing your strengths.
• Make a list of the positive attributes about you and then read it whenever you have one of those self-doubting moments. Click here for a worksheet developed by SFU Health Department.

Vision

 What we see depends mainly on what we look for. ~John Lubbock

When we are facing challenges we tend to see things more black and white, the glass half empty instead of half full. Often, we can’t see the forest through the trees. An example of this when you are unemployed is:

Many unemployed individuals in the interview process automatically think that if an employer did not get back to them right away, it means that they are not interested in them or the interview did not go well (this is the black thought, half empty thought and negative thought).

The majority of the time that is not the case at all, it is more that the hiring manager made time for the first round of interviews, but did not block out time for a follow-up second round. Time stands still when you are the one seeking a position. Time flies for most hiring managers that are adding interviewing to their long list of regular agenda items.

You can take control of the process and move the glass to half full just by asking at the end of your interview when the hiring manager would like you to follow-up. This will help you mentally through the lapsed time and also give you a date to follow-up if they have not gotten back to you by that time.

Other tips in general to help with positive vision:

• Take time to put yourself in the other person’s shoes.
• See what you can do to improve yourself or a situation vs focusing on what someone else did or can do.
• There is a time and season for everything. So much of what is seen as negative is often a case of not having mutual timing for all involved. Work on increasing your odds with multiple opportunities and eliminate your risk of not being in the right place at the right time.