Suppose it is Monday morning or the day after graduation and I find myself without a job. What should I do?
Begin by examining your feelings about the situation; give yourself a moment to acknowledge them. Then ask such questions as:
- Was my last job beyond my capabilities?
- Was it outside my interests?
- Did I enjoy the work?
- Did I have control of circumstances?
Many people feel they have lost their identity if they don't have a job. How can I prevent that feeling?
Work gives us much of our sense of identity-particularly our professional identity. This is because work is such goal-oriented behavior. We find out who we are, in work terms, when someone tells us we are doing well or doing poorly, when we get paid, when we are missed if we don't show up, when we are praised for doing something special. We are always getting some kind of feedback on the job, so it is enormously important in how we think of ourselves. Take that away and you lose a huge chunk of your self-image.
Avoid slipping into this mind-set by getting support from your family, friends and professional associates. Also remind yourself of your skills, your assets and your accomplishments. Finally, try to see this process as a new opportunity which will allow you to achieve even greater things in the future.
Suppose I am starting to feel that finding a job is hopeless. How do I deal with that?
It is easy to get discouraged if you've had numerous interviews, sent out dozens of resumes and are still jobless. However, hopelessness is a terminal disease to someone seeking a job. It makes them incapable of projecting interest and enthusiasm or even discussing their past accomplishments in a positive light with a prospective employer. If you feel hopeless, express it privately to friends and family members. Get support from these individuals. When you go for an interview, regardless of how bad you feel, you have to change your attitude. If necessary, pretend you are an actor and the interview is your stage. Your character is competent, enthusiastic and fully qualified for the job in question. Use whatever tricks are necessary, but express your negative feelings at home and leave them there.
How do I turn the panic associated with looking for a job into the power I need to find it?
The key issue here is the ability to control your attitude. If you let panic overwhelm you, you will not be able to muster the confidence and energy you need to get a new job. There is no doubt that regardless of how good you are at controlling your attitude, you will still have moments of panic. It can be an excellent motivator. But let panic be only that: a motivator.
Finally, the reason you panic is because you are afraid you won't be able to find the job and the salary you want. The likelihood of this happening is very small if your expectations are realistic, your job definition is fairly flexible (you can't set your sights on just one company), your experience and skills are in line with the job you want, and if you work diligently and persistently at the job of finding a job.
