The Worst Part of Job Hunting

 While getting fired, laid off or just plain quitting your job in the heat of the moment is something that can happen. Unless any of the previous events happened and you won the lottery or became suddenly independently wealthy you have to go out and find a job. 

That is not the worst part. Nope, understanding and realizing you need a job is nothing but mundane. Nope, writing personalized resumes are still not the worst part of the hunting for a job. You could get 1 or 100 interviews and that still would not be the worst part of hunting for a job. 

Still, getting dressed, networking, telling everyone that you need a job is still not the worst part of hunting for a job. 

Probably, the worst part of job hunting is Forgiving yourself and believing in your abilities. Remember when I typed out how you should write down your skills? A blank page may stare right back at you because you forget those skills or you diminish your speaking skills. Worse, when you wake up in bed four hours before you have to and the interview you have scheduled is still a solid 12 hours away but, there you are wide awake in a cold sweat rehashing every event, every resume, everything you said and did that led you to that and you hate it. 

The absolute worst part of looking for a job is your inner voice. The one that sounds like someone else or you even give it a full personality of a more successful person. You have tried to forgive yourself and once even got to fall asleep at 5am but yet, you have this nagging no, gnawing feeling every time you go to search for a job or type up a resume or stand in a crowded room looking at your glass wonder why you even bothered to get dressed. 

Honestly, Truly take One (1) Minute and if you are not driving or in an interview and close your eyes. Breath solid 60 (sixty) seconds. Time yourself if you must. When you reopen your eyes. Check, is your head still attached? Are you hurt or injured? Give yourself grace and accept that you are going to be okay. You will find a job and you can find a job. You have skills and you do want to work. You forgive and believe in You. 

Its not a lot to ask yourself to do. While positive thoughts and actions may be applied you have to understand you are you and you can do a lot for you. Circumstances do change but you still have experience and knowledge. You can still learn. 

Believing in yourself can be the hardest part of looking for a job. Sure there's lots of motivations and exercises but, the one thing that "turns the switch" is forgiving whatever you think you did wrong and believing in yourself to learn and do better in the future.