As is the case with Anthony Joshua, the British Olympic Boxer, his experience shows when you are knocked down and lying on your back – you have a choice to either to stay down and say “I have done my best” or you can get back up and continue fighting.

In Anthony’s case, his ability to win was as much about his attitude as it was about his physical capabilities. Anthony is an Olympic boxer and his experience is one of character and a reminder to never give up. If you are not familiar with Anthony’s story, please read this article.

How Well are You Playing the Mental Game?

So my question is, how well are you playing the mental game? Are your beliefs serving you well and enabling you to climb the mental mountains you need to?

I see many people get disappointed during the job search journey. A client recently spent five hours on their CV and cover letter in preparation for applying for a job. This took so much effort and yet they received no thank you email or recognition that it was received (which is common practice).

Another example is when my clients go and see a recruiter. They walk away from the meeting feeling like they’d made a great connection and yet they never hear from that recruiter again.

Or they’ve experienced their first rejection after their first job application. Or they got to the job interview and received their first rejection, even though they felt it went well.

At these moments it is very natural to experience an array of emotions including feeling disappointed, angry, overwhelmed, despondent and confused.

And even though you don’t want to hear it, this is how the job search journey can be. And you have a choice about how to deal with it. You can curl up into a foetal ball or you can realise it is part of the journey and character building. Of course you will not be able to respond like this straight away, and rejection and poor communication from either recruiters or potential employers is tough.

You’ve heard it before – what does not kill you makes you stronger.

How to Build Character

Fortunately, my success rate with clients is fairly high. Unfortunately, some of my clients have experienced the rejection and despondency leading up to finding me. If we are yet to meet, I’d like to walk you through how you can get better at handling the inevitable rejection and mental mountain climbing you may experience when you are actively job searching and making a career change.

1. Acknowledge the Feelings

It’s okay to say ‘this is harder than I expected’! Acknowledging your feelings of disappointment, anger, overwhelm, despondency and confusion is a healthy first step in allowing yourself to process where you are at.

2. Ask for Help

Whether it be the guidance of friends, family, colleagues or investing in a Career Coach, it is essential that you talk about where you are and start to set yourself some realistic goals. Rome was not built in a day. You need to take this one step and a time. Do not do it alone.

3. Stay Persistent & Determined

Making a change in jobs takes time and tis not something you want to rush into unprepared. If you realise it is a marathon and not a race, this will help you stay persistent. Regular conversations with those around you or a Career Coach can help you stay on track with your goals.

4. Reflect on Your Experience

The process of reflection is a key tool in helping you build character and learn from your experiences. Consider what you are learning about the process and yourself that will help push your boundaries. Reflection can also help you be more open to considering job and career options you had not yet considered.

5. Have Faith in Yourself

You can do it! Having faith in yourself is such a critical step in helping you build character. Tame those negative thoughts and build some personal daily mantras that will enable you to have a positive attitude about what you are capable of. Words are powerful and the words you tell yourself will have an impact on your results. Have faith in yourself.

6. Never Give Up

Yes, you’ll get knocked down. But you will get up again. Check your pulse. Are you breathing? Look outside the window to another new day where the sun is rising. Get up and keep going. The world needs you. And you need you to never give up.

7. You Are Capable of Great Things

If there is one thing I have learnt in my journey as a Career Coach it is that people are more resilient than they realise. Remember that other people’s opinions do not define you. This is your life, and while you may be responsible for and to other people, you must ultimately make the decisions that work for you. It’s not being selfish. It is essential that you believe in you and realise you are capable of great things.

You Can Survive the Knockdowns Because It Builds Character

Anthony Joshua survived a knockdown for the first time in his professional career in the sixth round and looked close to surrendering his unbeaten record until his late bombardment forced the stoppage.

In a sensational fifth round, Joshua knocked down Klitschko only to end up hanging on desperately at the end of the round as the Ukrainian launched a remarkable comeback.

You can if you think you can!

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post 7 Vital Steps for Building Character During Job Search appeared first on Letz Create.

Does this scenario sound familiar?

There’s the rumour of redundancy at your office, with the HR team in a huddle. There’s been some ‘confidential’ information accidentally leaked by one of the executive team, who’s assistant overheard the redundancy plans and so now everyone knows about it and you’re waiting to hear what’s going to happen!

If you’ve experienced this situation, or worse, had no warning at all when an organisation chooses to offer or impose redundancies, the common response is often fear. I know this because I have worked in large organisations and been part of the HR team when redundancies have been on the table for employees.

I understand that you may feel fearful, embarrassed or even ashamed that you are considering a redundancy, but I have good news for you. Just like I do with all of my clients, I am going to explain to you why choosing a redundancy may in fact be one of the best first steps to help you build the life you want and start living out some of your dreams you’ve been talking about!

I know it may not feel like that now, so let’s focus on the basics to help warm you up to why I think redundancy can give you a strong sense of freedom.

How are you Feeling?

Let’s tackle some of the emotions. If not framed correctly, in terms of how you perceive the redundancy, it can certainly be perceived as a negative experience, especially if you were not prepared for a change and have held on to the way things were, not how they are.

When I meet clients who have chosen a redundancy I ask them how they are feeling about it. Specifically, I like to know when they were given the redundancy paperwork, what was their reaction. Were they upset or shocked?

I ask this because I believe it is essential for you to take a moment and spend some time reflecting on what’s just happened.

Tips to Survive Redundancy

My hope for you is to look back on your redundancy with the same positive feelings as a colleague of mine who describes her redundancy (in retrospect) as a gift.

The reality is that if the redundancy has affected you personally, every time you get a knock back with new jobs you apply for, your trauma is going to be revisited. When there is a knock back you may take this personally. When you personalise a knock back, you start to say to yourself ‘I am not good enough’. So I need to be sure you are strong and ready, and this is how you will survive (and hopefully also blossom) as a result of the redundancy!

1. Talk About It

Emotional distress as a result of this unexpected change of events needs to be processed, so make sure you seek any counselling that is offered to you as part of your redundancy or make the effort to talk to your partner, family or friends about how you are feeling as a result of these changes.

I believe it’s really important to talk about your redundancy and to try to frame it in terms of the freedom it can potentially offer you! If you can move yourself emotionally to the idea that the decision has been made and you’re feeling comfortable that this change is an opportunity to take control of your life, then you are beginning to understand the feeling of freedom, and often also the relief, that can come with choosing a redundancy.

2. Take Time To Reflect

This means that rather than jump straight into the next step of job search, you need to take time out to reflect on who you are, what’s important to you and how you can use this change to build a better life. I recommend you ask yourself the following questions.

What can I do for the next 10 years?

What are my skills?

How can I transfer these to other industries?

How can I build a better life?

Think back to your childhood or consider any unfulfilled dreams. Do you want to explore self employment and start your own business?  Is there an industry you have always wanted to work in?

Take a moment…

How I Help

If you are considering your next career move, planning a change in career direction, returning to work or exploring a redundancy, we have the tools and experience to partner you through this journey.

The results we achieve through our down to earth and practical approach are recognised by clients as a key enabler in creating a better plan for many aspects of their lives.

Get in touch to map out your next career move. Contact Marina on 0414 443 815 or email marina@letzcreate.com.au

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post Why Redundancy Is a Unique Time to Take a Moment appeared first on Letz Create.