When Tonya* was working as a high-level executive at a tech company, she was recognized repeatedly for her value as a subject matter expert. After she was laid off in December, she was confident her skills would make her marketable and she’d land a new job within weeks. Three months later, she’s still looking for that next opportunity, and her confidence in her skills and capabilities plummets further with every rejection.
Keeping Your Confidence Up During a Lengthy Job Search
It can be hard to present your best self when you’re feeling self-doubt.
March 17, 2023
Gustavo Rezende Dos Santos/EyeEm/Getty Images
Summary.
If you’ve lost your job, it can be hard to remember all your career successes and stay positive. But you can’t replace your old job by staring at the computer eight hours a day or praying for a recruiter to call you. The author presents five ways to overcome the cognitive dissonance of having to sell yourself and your abilities to a prospective employer when you’ve taken a big hit to your confidence.
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HBR Learning
HBR Learning
Career Management Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Career Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
What's your next career move? Learn how to set yourself up for success.