Why Bother?  A Great Question!

Brenda Griffin Get A Job Expert

Confront your fears, list them, get to know them, and only then will [you] be able to put them aside and move ahead. ~ Jerry Gillies

     "What makes you so sure the news will be bad?" I asked.  Steve could talk himself out of anything, including starting his job search. He had himself convinced he wouldn't be able to find a job before he even started looking! "Why bother?"

     Are you talking yourself out of succeeding, or into succeeding?  How you answer makes the difference. Are you open to the best possible outcome?  Think of it this way.  If you can't convince yourself you deserve a new job, how can you convince a potential employer?  You can't. You have to sell yourself on you first, before you can sell someone else.  Make sense?

     But how do you handle the things that truly bother you?  That's a fair question. Steve needed to dig beneath his answer. At the end of the day, what bothered him were really his concerns.  Some were really valid! As he spit each one out, and gave them a voice, he could see what each one was  - a fear.  Of failure, rejection, uncertainty.  He was overwhelmed.  It had been decades since he'd been through the process!

     Steve needed to get out of "deer-in-the-headlights mode" and into the driver's seat if he was going to succeed. To get there, Steve challenged his fears.  What did he find?  That he wasn't stuck and powerless! None of his fears were show-stoppers when looked at individually. 

     Next, Steve came up with a game plan for each. The result? Confidence. Motivation. Enthusiasm. Hope. He knew he would land on his feet. He was ready to move on and sell himself. There was a lot beneath the why bother! It had been a great question.

     Is anything bothering you that you need to spit out? Do you have fears that are taking on a life of their own, keeping you stuck? Maybe you can relate to some of Steve's:

          I don't have current skills. There are no jobs out there. My resume is a

         dinosaur. I haven't interviewed in years. I won't get the salary I need.

          I'm too old.

     Do you have others to add?  What is Steve's truth about each that shrivels his away?

     I don't have current skills - I'll go back to school and get current where I need to.

     There are no jobs out there - Yes there are.  I will expand my search geographically, consider relocating, take a temporary assignment, and look for ways to transfer my skills.

     My resume is a dinosaur - I will complete my career profile.  I'll study my experience, skills, and qualifications to pull out my best information.  I'll tailor them for each job I apply for.

     I haven't interviewed in years  - I will take time to prepare.  I'll think through and write out answers to as many interview questions as I can find. 

     I won't get the salary I need - I'll go through the process and cross that bridge when the time comes.  I'll do my homework on the value of the positions.  I'll negotiate the best salary I can.  I'll decide from there whether I will accept it. I haven't even applied yet!

     I'm too old - There are plenty of companies that value experience and people who can mentor younger staff.  I will target these companies realizing I have much to offer.

     Take time to talk yourself into succeeding.  Give voice to your concerns and fears.  That way, you too can get to work on shrinking them and get moving toward success!