How to Maintain Self-Esteem During a Job Search

“Yet to all who did receive him,
to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God.”
John. 1:12

When you were growing up your self-esteem was impacted by whether you were picked last for playground games, if you were able to answer when the teacher called on you, and whether you were asked out on dates or had the one you asked say no.

Now as an adult, your self-esteem is still impacted by similar circumstances; whether you are selected to participate in special projects, if you can answer technical questions when asked, and if your project is chosen over others.
We haven’t come very far, and when you add the circumstances of a job search, the opportunities for a negative hit to your self-esteem multiply.

How your Self Esteem can suffer during a job search…

• Your network contacts tell you they don’t know of any jobs with someone of your qualifications.
• You read job requirements listed in the ads for the type of job you do and find you meet few of them.
• You send your résumé in to ads and receive very few responses inviting you to interview.
• You find interviewers ask questions about situations or software relevant to your field that you don’t know how to answer.

While you can learn from and use each of these for ways to develop your qualifications, there will still be situations that can deplete your positive self-image.

The key to keeping a positive self-image…

Your approach to your job search should be to build on some other base. The problem is, no human can live up to this calling one hundred percent of the time. The only person that can is God.

• He has equipped you with skills, abilities, knowledge, and experience, and will direct you to an opportunity that fits.
• Your résumé is His story He has woven with threads as your story, and it will speak to an employer where you will be a fit.
• You will find many interviewers ask questions where you have a history of accomplishments.

Each of these becomes a boost to your self-esteem as you catch the vision that you are God’s unique creation, He loves you, He has worked on your behalf in the past, and He continues to work on your behalf.

There is no greater boost to your self-esteem than to realize you are a child of this King, and He is working behind the scenes for your good. You are! He has! He is!

Father of all that is, I sometimes forget that I am Your unique creation. Open my eyes to Your love and the wonder of Your work on my behalf.

If you would like to explore working with a career coach, contact us for a no-obligation consultation and we can discuss your situation and what you would like to achieve.