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Being made redundant can really knock your self-confidence. It can leave you wondering if you were good enough and doubting your ability to get another job.
Having confidence and belief in yourself that you will find work again will help you bounce back sooner. While it may not be easy, it isn’t impossible, not when you follow the easy-to-follow guidance below:
decide what’s best for your career
Determining what’s important to you before you look for and find a new job means you’ll be far more engaged and motivated when you’re in your next role.
Making sure your career needs are being met can directly impact how happy you feel at work. And when you’re happy, you feel more confident too. Perhaps you want more responsibility, flexible working hours or opportunities to learn? Whatever it is that you need, now’s the time to identify these must-haves and go after them!
Top tip: Create a profile of your ideal employer and role and don’t lose sight of these details when you’re searching for jobs.
recognise your strengths
Think about how good you feel when somebody praises you and shows their appreciation for something you've said or done. Praise is a great confidence-booster, but you don't always have to rely on others for it.
Give yourself a big pat on the back by thinking about all the things you do well. Be as objective as you can – if you're struggling, try to see yourself through someone else's eyes. What would they say you do well or see as your greatest achievements? Better still, make sure your next role lets you do what you’re naturally good at and makes you feel positive every day. The better you feel about yourself and your abilities, the more confident you will feel.
Top tip: Carry out a personal SWOT analysis to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Then use your strengths to create personal affirmations about what you’re good at.
invest in your personal growth
We all know what makes us tick – what we’re most comfortable doing and what we steer clear of doing.
Where possible, get out of your comfort zone. Say ‘yes’ to things you wouldn’t usually say ‘yes’ to. Make small incremental changes that support your growth, for instance, trying a new exercise class, reading for 10 minutes, signing up for a new course and doing voluntary work. Over time, these types of changes can make you feel more uplifted, provide you with some variety and develop your interpersonal skills. And the beauty of them is, they can be the smallest of things that make all the difference.
do your homework
Arm yourself with as much information as you possibly can, which will enable you to be as organised as possible. Many people, even those who normally feel sure of themselves, find their self-confidence flies out of the window whenever they're faced with certain situations – making a speech, for instance, or going for a job interview.
Being as fully prepared for the event as possible is key to overcoming performance nerves. For example, if you're taking an exam, make sure you get your studying and revision done in plenty of time. Or if you're going for a job interview, find out as much as you can about the company and position you're applying for well ahead of your interview.
If you've done your homework and have all the information you need to do well, it can work wonders for your confidence and help reduce your stress levels.
Top tip: Maintain eye contact with your interviewers and try not to fidget (no matter how anxious you may feel!)
build your resilience
People with lots of self-confidence are rarely put off when they confront obstacles or when things don't go according to plan. Instead, they embrace new challenges because they aren't constantly defining themselves by their failures. That way, if they do fail at something, they are much more likely to consider it as a learning experience than feel despondent about it.
Learning to be more resilient at work and at home means you may be able to cope better with most of the things life throws at you – and that in itself can give your self-confidence a huge boost.
Top tip: Always look for the positives in failures and remind yourself of them.
get in touch for personalised support
Here at caba we offer a range of support to help you get back into work. We're here to help, so get in touch today to see what we can do for you.
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