Building Career Confidence

Have you got what it takes to make a career move?

There’s no question it takes courage to step out into the unknown and look for a better job. In the day-to-day routine of our current job, it’s easy to lose track of that courage as our lives get absorbed into the mundane and we settle for the status quo. Getting focused on the reasons why it’s important to make the change and digging down deep for the motivation and energy to make it happen are critical to overcoming our innate inertia.

Sometimes, it takes a critical event to mobilize us to action – a promotion not won, incentive pay not paid out, a new boss we don’t connect with. However unpleasant, the painful event can trigger a new resolve that ultimately results in a commitment to take action.

Finding commitment is one thing. Staying committed through the inevitable setbacks any job search entails is another. That’s when accessing support for your search efforts - from family, friends, colleagues who’ve been through recent career transitions, workshops, books or other resources - can really make a difference. Before you begin your search make sure you have your internal and external resources in order and you’ll increase your odds of success.

Are you taking yourself for granted?

In talking to my clients, many of them will admit that they do their jobs without really thinking about them. With the pace at which we work today, that’s an easy thing to do. Add to that the ‘fire-fighting’ nature of many jobs where the emphasis is dealing with whatever crisis is on the burning platform this week, and it’s easy to see that most of our work efforts are reactive, rather than proactive. Not only does this encourage us to overlook our special talents and abilities as we simply mobilize to do whatever it takes to get the job done, it actually encourages us to discount them. After all, we think, under pressure anyone could have done what we did.

The fact is, not everyone could – and if we take ourselves for granted, we encourage others in the workplace to take us for granted too. Recognizing and acknowledging your unique capabilities builds career confidence and decreases your dependence on the whims of your current employer. After all, confident, talented people are among the most marketable. So stop and give yourself credit for a job well done, every now and then. It’s a good career habit to get into.

Has your comfort zone become a career rut?

It’s interesting that one of the most heartfelt aspects of job loss for many of my clients is the impact on the geography of their day. The familiar route to work, the coffee and muffin at the takeout on the way in, the desk by the window or the personal touches in the cubicle, the lunch with colleagues – all of them sorely missed. What it says, among other things, is that our connections to the workplace we’re in happen on many levels. When the work is unsatisfying or even particularly wearisome of late, these connections, no matter how tenuous can keep you trapped in a workplace that no longer serves your best interests.

If your sense of disconnection between who you really are and what you do is growing, it may be time to finally pay attention. The energy it takes to constantly bridge the gap between personal and professional fulfillment can take a greater and greater toll on your well-being. That includes your energy, your health and even your relationships. It’s hard to be happy at home if you’re unhappy at work.

How well-developed is your tolerance for risk?

As we’ve said, sometimes, the devil you know appears to be a safer bet that the one you don’t know. Heading off with resume in hand to tackle a competitive job market can be a daunting task complete with fear of the unknown, limited opportunities and everyone’s favourite – rejection. Makes your current job look not so bad, right?

Wrong. There is a time to stand up for yourself – and your career potential. If you cannot be the best you can be at your current position or if your opportunities for advancement are limited where you are, then it’s time to take charge. Don’t let circumstances, or someone else decide for you how you will spend your working life. There is a better fit out there and you can find it.

Reduce the risk by all means. Do your research first. Set up your financial safety net. Bring your resume into the 21st century with crisp language and compelling marketing points. Take a career inventory and re-assess your values, capabilities and direction. Identify your trade-offs and walk-away points. Understand recent changes in your market. Watch out for assumptions and perceptions that can limit your options or send your search veering off-course. Come up to speed on the latest in job search techniques. When you’ve done everything you can to increase your likelihood of success, then you know you can conduct your search with confidence.