Finding The Confidence To Apply For Jobs In 2021

6 September 2021

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

You’ve found the perfect job that matches your skills and work experience, but you are nervous about applying for it. Sound familiar? When you apply for jobs, it can feel intimidating at times, especially if your confidence is low. But you don’t have to put yourself through mental torture. You can change your mindset and enjoy it so much more.

According to the UK government, there were record-high job vacancies from May to July 2021. The available vacancies have gone up by an incredible 43.8% compared to the previous quarter. So there is no time like the present to apply for that job that makes your heart sing. Read on to find out three changes you can make that will make a big difference.

Apply for Jobs Correctly by Refining Your Job Search

A scattergun approach to job hunting will not get you anywhere fast. Applying for every job under the sun can be soul-destroying when you start receiving multiple rejections. Sit down and think about the following questions before you start applying for jobs. It will give you focus, and more importantly, more confidence when you send your application.

What are my top skills?
Which jobs are a good match for my work experience?
Use the answers to the two questions above and ask yourself - Which jobs do I love?
Which jobs are not a good fit for me?

Once you can answer those questions, you will better understand which jobs are the best fit for you. Also, you can eliminate the ones that are not a good fit. It all helps refine your job search, and you can be more confident of a higher success rate. Recruiters will look at your CV and see that you are indeed a good match for their role.

It is a far better process than sending out your CV everywhere and hoping to find a job. You want a job that matches your skills and work experience so you can enjoy it. When it is a good match, it can help you to feel settled at work. So you can build your career and explore your work opportunities as you grow.

Create A Personal Application System

Do you know how many CVs you have sent out? Or how many interviews you managed to get from your applications? When you create a personal application system, it can help boost your confidence and keep you motivated. Plus, you don’t need to have any special technical knowledge to do this. A simple spreadsheet or word document will suffice.

Here are some areas that you might want to include in your system to stay on track. It will help you to see what is and what is not working. You can then change your strategy to increase your success rate. You will feel more confident as you will have control over your job application system, which increases your chances of success.

The first section should show the companies and positions where you sent your CV.
Monitor the result for each CV you sent out, e.g. an interview, rejection, no response.
You need to follow up on no responses to get an answer either way.

By updating these different sections, over time, you will see patterns emerge. If you secure regular interviews, then your CV is hitting the spot. However, if you get more rejections, perhaps you need to edit your CV. Get a family member or friend to check it out. Sometimes it is easy to miss mistakes yourself, and a fresh pair of eyes can help you.

Pump Up Your Interviewing Skills

You managed to secure an interview for the job you wanted. Well done! So what next? Well, you need to make sure your interview skills are up to scratch. All companies have different interview processes, so getting familiar with them all will help your confidence. You want to feel comfortable on the day instead of feeling too nervous, which could affect you.

You might need to do a telephone interview. So do a mock interview with somebody you know by telephone. Ask the person to ask you tricky questions to put you on the spot. There are no visual cues on the phone. So take note of your tone so you send the right message to the interviewer.

If it is going to be a virtual interview, check out your surroundings for the call. You don’t want to be distracted in the middle of the interview. Also, make sure your chair and webcam are at the right height. You might think it is like a “normal” interview as you can see them. But using apps like zoom can sometimes be challenging. So have a practice session before the interview, so you are familiar with using it.

Think about the message you want to get across during the interview. You want the company to know you are the perfect candidate for the job. So make sure you tell them. You can make a list of the things you want to say and weave them into the interview. This process can also help you stay calm as you have something to think about during the interview.
Don’t be put off by “aggressive” interviewing techniques. Indeed, don’t take it to heart. The company only wants to see how you handle pressure. So take a deep breath and answer complex questions when you are ready. When you take your time, you will give a clear answer without getting yourself stressed.

In Conclusion

2021 has been challenging, but don’t let it deter you from your job search. You can build your confidence by following the three tips above. These tips will help you improve your process so you can secure a job quicker. Also, a position that better matches your skills and work experience. After all, if you find a job you love, it won’t even feel like work.

Remember that the pandemic has affected everybody in some way. So on those days, you do suffer a rejection, don’t let it affect you. Dust yourself off and keep going. You know that you will get there if you stick to your system. So you can have the confidence to keep going on your job search no matter what. Good luck and enjoy the hunt!

Get in touch to book a Life Coaching package to help motivate yourself in all areas of your life!

Sally Leslie is a life coach, personal development blogger, and freelance content writer. She is passionate about helping people think differently and grow. She creates content for B2B, B2C companies, and entrepreneurs. She has a degree in PR and a background in business development, customer service, and sales. Lover of plants, freedom, and football!