The Role of Confidence in Career Transition
Navigating a tough path while keeping your head up
The career transition process can be a minefield of fears in any situation, but particularly if it is initiated by the employer. The fear of change, fear of interviewing, fear of having a new boss, are some that come to mind. All of these are legitimate fears, and difficult to overcome. However, I would argue that the most harmful and pervasive fear is the fear that you aren’t good enough.
Candidates can become extremely anxious that another company will not value them the same way as their original employer. We see this often if a candidate has been with the same company for an extended period of time or has worked their way up the corporate ladder.
This fear, if left unchecked, manifests itself in a multitude of ways, including:
- Not applying for positions that you are qualified for
- Underselling yourself in interviews
- Accepting a lower paying position
That’s why, as career transition coaches, we love building relationships with the candidates we are working with.
When we review or revamp our candidates’ resume, it allows us to highlight all the great work they have performed in their current company. When we present job descriptions to our candidates, it tells us if we are on the right track. Particularly with regards to the level of position we think they are qualified for. I can’t tell you how many times someone is scared to apply for a job because they don’t have one of the last listed preferred skills.
When we conduct group or one-on-one training with employees on how to handle interviews and what hiring managers are looking for, it empowers them to tackle the interview with confidence! As an HR professional, I want to interview people who come in knowing where their strengths lie and able to articulate them with self-assurance (not cockiness!).
Developing relationships with those affected by downsizing is key. It is a difficult time no matter what and keeping your confidence up matters. Often, through the course of a trying and stressful situation, a person just needs to hear “You’ve Got This!” from a trusted colleague.