16
How Irrational Fears
Prevent You From Maximizing
Job Search Potential.
Sick to your stomach. Shaky. Perspiring. On edge. Heavy breathing. Or no breathing at all. Everyone reacts to fear differently. What are the outward signs that something has you afraid?
I was on a few planes this weekend and was reminded yet again of the fear people have of fying. You can see it in their eyes, in their posture and in their hands (as they squeeze the daylights out of their partner’s hand). They are glancing nervously out the window looking for signs of damage and they are acutely aware of the actions of flight attendants.
As irrational as it seems, air travel scares the daylights out of some people. Afiter all, it is incredibly safe to travel by plane. Safer than driving a car, right?
But the power of experience and suggestion is very real. What we have seen, heard or experienced is much easier to re-play in our minds than the rational reasoning of another person. When you are traveling on a plane, there are plenty of tangible symptoms that something may be wrong. Here are a few examples of things that trigger your fear of fying:
• Bumps, dips, drops, updrafits, and shakes are all very normal during plane flight. But if you are looking for them as signs of trouble, they begin to add up. Each one tightens the rope around your fists.
• There are sounds that cause concern as well. Sounds like an engine is shutting down, the clunk of the landing gear (up and down), and the noise of sudden acceleration.
• Smells. Oh yes, this is a big one. The really bad smell of the circulation system, things that smell like smoke or burning rubber. And let’s not forget the coffee.
• Then there are the visual cues. Condensation on the inside of the plane. Ever been dripped on? Oil leaking on the wing. A flight attendant walking a bit too quickly down the aisle or speaking in strange code to their partner at the back of the plane.
• The time factor. Wasn’t the pilot supposed to give us an update 20 minutes ago? What’s happening up there? How long have we been circling?
So if this is you on a plane, know that there are others on the same plane that are completely oblivious to the threat of death and destruction that is so obvious to you. While you are eyeing the fasten seat belt light, they are fnishing their second bag of peanuts, chatting away with a seat-mate and looking for another drink.
How could this be? Are they blind, deaf and dumb?
Well, rational or irrational, it is a form of hypersensitivity that can hit you on a plane, on a camp out or in, yes, a job search.
The key in job search, I think, is separating real issues from irrational ones. Real issues can be tackled. Irrational ones can derail you unnecessarily.
So here are a few examples of real issues that you must attack head on:
1. Your resume is not attracting the attention of recruiters, HR or hiring managers.
2. Your cover letter positions you in an unfattering way.
3. You interview poorly.
4. You are a selfsh networker.
5. You forget to say thank you.
How about the issues that are less important? The ones that are feeding irrational fears. Well, here’s my short list. You may be able to add a few of your own…
It seems like everyone else is getting interviews but me.
Unless you have a real problem (see above), you are probably getting about the same number of interviews as the average job seeker. Stop focusing on “how many” and start focusing on getting the right ones. It only takes one.
It has been a week since my interview. I must have done something wrong!
Usually not the case. It may be true that you were not the best fit for that particular job. A decision that, once made, may actually be a positive for you. Maybe they saw the poor fit that you didn’t! It could also be that the company has other important things to do (like running the company). If they like you, they will call. If they don’t call? Move on.
50 resumes sent out and not one phone call.
Resume blasting is a low percentage effort. It is the least effective way to make yourself known to hiring managers. If you decide to do it, manage your expectations and your reaction if it does not deliver a call.
Someone says you are “not qualifed”
This will happen. But do not take it as a snub or think “I guess I’m not good enough”. If you read the job description and specifcation, were you qualifed? If not, why did you apply? Tr y to be objective.
Your focus on these issues will do nothing but leave you less confident, nervous and distracted. None of which will help you appear to be the right person to hire in your next interview.
So, stop paying attention to those irrational fears. If you have legitimate improvement areas, then get them fxed. If not…
Buckle up and grab a bag of peanuts. We’ll have you back in the air in no time.