Any tips on rebuilding confidence for a job search?

[UpAllNightReading]

Hi everyone,

For several years I've run my own web design business. In recent months my business has taken a downturn, and I'm looking at shutting down or reducing my business and taking a job. I've just lost my enthusiasm altogether. My confidence has also taken a beating, and I haven't had any luck even getting interviews yet.

I should mention that job-hunting is probably my least favorite thing to do, and seeing all the qualifications that employers are looking for that I don't have is very discouraging.

Do any of you have any tips on rebuilding your confidence, especially for a job search?

 

[wanderer03]

I'm sorry to hear about your business slowing down and that it has taken a toll on you. Keep your head held up high though. This too shall pass.

I used to work in IT and when I was laid off, I could not bear going through the application/interview process again. I did not want to deal with recruiters telling me what I wanted to hear. I made a career change altogether. I got my CDL and began driving for a living.

Maybe ask yourself if you want to continue doing what you're doing or is it time for something new? In my case, I think getting laid off was a sign. I drive a bus for a living and I mostly like what I do.

The advantage of driving is that you can almost set your own hours which might help you with money while you rebuild your business.

 

[Rayner]

Hi everyone,

For several years I've run my own web design business. In recent months my business has taken a downturn, and I'm looking at shutting down or reducing my business and taking a job. I've just lost my enthusiasm altogether. My confidence has also taken a beating, and I haven't had any luck even getting interviews yet.

I should mention that job-hunting is probably my least favorite thing to do, and seeing all the qualifications that employers are looking for that I don't have is very discouraging.

Do any of you have any tips on rebuilding your confidence, especially for a job search?

For rebuilding confidence I find that working out helps me build confidence. Maybe you could keep your business and take a job?

 

[Datura]

The tract I'm taking is to try volunteering. That way I can build up to working at a real job while proving my skills to myself and others. It also looks better on your resume if you have been keeping busy.

 

[Mr Allen]

Same here, I've been doing voluntary work for years, I have a 2 and half page CV of jobs I've done, does it help me get a real job? Like heck it does, as soon as I declare any form of disability, my application gets binned, and the UK is meant to be an "Equal Opportunities" Country, meh, they just say that cos they legally have to, they don't practise it.

 

[Mia]

Actually did a course on finding a job, with all kinds of instructions for writing resumes, how to's and what not to say during interviews. It didn't help me find a job in my chosen field. What aided me was going on actual interviews and getting feedback from employers. Contacting them after interviews, discovering what they were looking for, doing research on that particular company. Did eventually find several company's willing to employ me at the time.

It took some time, one of the interesting things I discovered, is that putting something out of the ordinary on my resume made the interviewer curious about me. In one instance I wrote 'submarine navigation' as a hobby. It got me an interview, because the person was curious about it. A few days before the interview I did a crash course on submarine navigation, so I could talk about it Making your resume a little out of the ordinary, so that you stand out, helped.