Perhaps things really are becoming too uncomfortable to stay and you can feel your life ticking away.
Maybe your current position is coming to an end?
Perhaps this career is just not turning out as you hoped and you feel it is time to move on.
But all too often anxiety or denial often set in – this is often more because we do not know what to do next – in reality you do have choices and options.
Perhaps you have started to look around at other options but have underestimated just how long it can take.
Work out what you might like to do – identify a job – apply – hopefully get called to an interview (and called back again perhaps for a second interview) – then wait for the result. And if you do fall at any hurdle, which happens to the best and most accomplished of people, off you must go again.
And of course, often a little bit of self doubt can creep in. Sometimes we listen a little too much to others in their own lack of confidence – “there is nothing out there for the likes of us” “we are too institutionalised” “people don’t like former police officers” and similar comments.
Just do consider that perhaps they are just scared to take a deep breath and try? And you may find that attitude catching!
Yes, of course you may fear reject and yes of course you may indeed face some rejection – but once you know where to look for the right opportunities (the ones you are a really good fit for) and know how to present yourself you limit the chance of disappointment significantly. Actually, think it through, if you are rejected for a post nothing really changes – it may be you need to improve your performance and it may be that the job was a poor fit for your talents, nothing more. Life goes on and we learn and live.
Just listening to hearing how tricky it is out there can bring on anxiety; so what is called for is a cool head and some clear thinking. This is s moment for cool practical process doing all you can to remove emotion from the situation.
The emotional part is invariably our downfall, so clear away all the ‘what if’s’ and the potential for negative outcomes and prepare solidly. Expect, and indeed embrace, that there may be knockbacks, that is all part of the learning and nothing more.
So for any job you want, whether you have identified it or not yet, you will need
- A strong CV – two pages, lots of white space, not a rehash of job descriptions and written in the first person using language easily understood (so not ‘job’ referenced)- we can help you with this please do not just send in a generic CV – convert your skills so that they are universally understood.
- A real presence on LinkedIn – this is absolutely where employers go to look and perhaps check you out – at the very least it indicates you are aware of modern technology! A well presented and engaging profile has been known to win a job – again help is here.
- Spend some time understanding what you excel at and who you want to work for – research on the right sort of companies for you.
All too often I start to work with people after they have used a scatter gun approach feeling ‘this is so straightforward and I am an intelligent able person I must be able to do this myself’.
They invariably are bright and able, but the scattergun approach rarely works because
- In being non-specific you make yourself hard to place (they would like to help if they only knew what you wanted!).
- You are flattering no one by making it clear that yours is a general application – you suggest you just want a job – any job.
- Confidence is eroded by continually be rejected. Annoyingly this often by employers that you were not even all that keen on in the first place – how did that happen? You need to be clear on direction to increase your chance of success. In this situation all we focus on is the NO. And, of course, that rejection is further complicated because we do not know why we got the rejection. Was it a poor CV that was hard to read and understand? A weak empty profile on LinkedIn? Over qualified? Under qualified? Just not a good fit for them and you may never know why?
Yes, you can ask why you did not get the job, but often this is not available – company policy perhaps over the time it takes and often being too anxious to give any meaningful feedback, for personal reasons or for fear of criticism of their process. Bottom line is you are not of interest to them anymore so they have moved on – it may be useful for you but why should they take the time to support your career needs? Sad, miserable perhaps, but true.
All too often in this state of anxiety we jump for what is offered rather than what would be the best fit for us. I would urge you strongly to take some time – even if you feel time is against you – and think with clarity what company or role has the potential to be the best fit for you?
Your future success is within your grasp – we can support you and help you to your next career – get in touch and talk to one of us, do not let time just slip by.
Warmest to all
Angela
