Ditch Negative Self-Talk and Have a Positive Job Search

Ditch Negative Self-Talk and Have a Positive Job SearchDitch Negative Self-Talk and Have a Positive Job SearchIt happens again. You think youve found the perfect job to apply for, and you get excited at the possibility and even begin to imagine yourself doing the jobwhen the MindBeast shows up that negative, doubt-filled, often sarcastic voice inside of you that says, You? with great incredulity. What makes you think theyd hire you? If this sounds familiar, its time to ditch the negative self-talk and start to have a positive job search.MindBeast comes in many forms doubt, insecurity, low self-esteem, and fear to name a few. Some call it the Imposter Complex. Some call it pessimism. Whatever you name it, fruchtwein job seekers have experienced these feelings at one time or another while job searching. The job posting might seem exactly the right fit at first, until the negative self-talk begins. I applied a week ago, why havent I heard from them? I guess it isnt for me.13 other peopl e applied, too. I bet they are more qualified than I am.I dont have enough experience. Or, I have too much experience. Im over-qualified. They wont want to hire me.Im missing something in the job postings list of desired skills and abilities. Other people will have everything this company is looking for, and I dont. I might as well not even bother.This is utterly normal behavior. Top CEO applicants, people with years of experience, and people with high expertise in their fields will still experience MindBeast, even when it is likely they will get the job. MindBeast seems to thrive by telling negative stories, most of which are not even true.So what can you do to have a positive job search?Ignore It Im not suggesting that you can actually turn it off, because to do that requires years of intentional practice. You can, however, lessen its effect on you significantly, which will help your confidence level immensely.Notice It MindBeast feeds on negativity and spends a lot of time findin g evidence to back up its negative stories. The best way to disarm it is to simply notice it. When you are in the midst of a job search, and the voice inside begins its deprecating rant, notice it. You can even say out loud something like, Theres MindBeast again, always so negative. This will help you realize what is happening.Dont Engage Be aware of this negative self-talk, and dont engage with it. Allow it to float past like a log in a river. Notice it, name it for what it is, and let it float on past in the stream of other chatter that goes on inside. This will take practice. Simply being aware of negative self-talk as it is occurring, and then choosing to watch it go by, can help to diffuse it.Set Goals Setting a daily goal during a job search can help you to feel productive and positive. How many applications will you submit each day? How many leads will you follow up on? Who will you meet with? What is your plan if you are unsuccessful in one and need to continue your search? Goals can take the big task of finding a job and make it more manageable, which helps with letting go of negativity.Practice Gratitude Write out a list of positives- things about your search each day that you are grateful for or that you are pleased you accomplished. What did you learn from an interview experience? Where might you improve? What gave you inspiration and hope today? Did you meet your daily goals today? If so, celebrateOf course, you wont get every job you apply for or that your heart desires. You will also be in competition with other very qualified people, and there are any number of factors beyond your control that will lead to whether or not you get a particular job. The thing to remember is that you are far more than your resume. You bring a combination of skills, gifts, and abilities to the table in the unique package that is you. Until you sit through an interview and meet the people who are hiring face to face, nothing is certain. While you cant control what ha ppens after that, you can control how you respond to your own internal chatter about how things went and how you feel you measured up. When the negativity begins, remember that MindBeast is making up stories to try to throw you off your game. Its up to you to decide whether or not to believe them.Readers, what do you do to have a positive job search? Share with us belowJennifer Swanson is the author of a best-selling new book, What They landsee How to Stand Out and Shine in Your New Job. She has taught communication and human relation skills since 1993 to college students entering the medical field. She is also the creator/host of the Communication Diva Podcast, which has an international audience and helps people deepen workplace and personal relationships through more effective communication. Swanson has a masters degree in public and pastoral leadership, and is a certified conflict coach and master NLP practitioner. She is also a mother and step-mother to two young adults and two teensand to a four-legged hairy little beast named Bandit, too. You can connect with Jennifer on Twitter JennSwanson2 and on iTunes with the Communication Diva Podcast.