One of the more puzzling aspects of the job labor market is the declining overall confidence of candidates. For example, a recent study named the LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Survey seems to indicate that candidate confidence is currently at a real low.
According to their scale (from -100 to +100), the current rating is +6 which is down from +16 last August and just higher than the all-time low of the scale. Amazingly, this is a lower confidence level than during the pandemic, when most companies stopped hiring!
My theory on this rather startling information is that candidates are being unduly impacted by all the negativity that surrounds them. In today’s world, whether it is the news or word-of-mouth, people seem to gravitate towards the negative, even when the facts indicate otherwise.
The reality is that the Greater Rochester job market is currently very strong and vibrant. There are real opportunities out there for qualified and passionate candidates. All you need to do is log on www.RochesterJobs.com to see that there are companies in the area hiring. There are many more with “Now Hiring” signs on their property fronts or hanging from their buildings. So, there is no need to be down regarding your ability to land your next job. You can, however, control your confidence level so it does not waver, by following some simple steps.
• Shut Out the Noise: Surround yourself with positive people who will encourage and uplift you during your job search. Place the negative people on hold until after you have found and started the new position you are seeking. Furthermore, don’t dwell on wheat you hear in the news. The news channels, regardless of what political slant they may have, dwell on the negative that can bring you and your confidence level down. The bottom line is that there are employers hiring, so don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise.
• Keep a Job Search Routine: With consistency and repetition comes confidence and success. Create and maintain a schedule regarding your job search, which accounts for the tasks and time needed to search for postings, network, and apply for roles. By keeping your focus and staying busy, you prevent negativity from creeping into your mind.
• Focus On What You Can Control: You can’t control whether someone will interview you or make an offer. You can, however, control your resume content or your interview preparedness, so that should be where your mind and energy is directed towards. Obsessing over the aspects out of your control just generates unwanted stress that you can’t mitigate.
• Don’t Overshare: Any slip in your confidence is likely to be noticed by the recruiter or Hiring Manager. So, while being open and vulnerable may be a general good character trait, it usually is not recommended in an interview. Hiring Managers want to think they are hiring the hot and in demand candidate, so the more they hear about your challenges in finding new employment, the more they may start to doubt their judgment.
• Network Wisely: You want to network with those who can assist you in finding leads or improving your job search. Spending too much time in job search social groups can have the exact opposite effect than you intend. Listening to others talk about their job search struggles and frustration may initially seem cathartic, but it can really serve to erode your overall confidence.
• Celebrate Wins: Now ultimately, the grand prize is the signed offer letter, but there are other milestone events that can be worthy of a celebration. Celebrating can help build confidence even in situations where you actually did not reach your final desired goal of a signed offer letter. Consider celebrating when you have an interview (or 2nd one) or generate an offer (even if you don’t accept). All of these situations are positive signs that should boost your confidence, not erode it.
Confidence is an important intangible in your job search. It can serve to keep you motivated and driven when pursuing positions. A confident person will generally also project better during phone screens and interviews. Hiring Managers want to hire candidates that they connect with and feel they can do a good job. It is easier to generate those warm feelings towards someone who displays a desired confidence level.
As always, best of luck in your job search.
The following has been prepared for the general information of RochesterJobs readers. It is not meant to provide advice with respect to any specific legal or policy matter and should not be acted upon without verification by the reader.
Joe Stein
WNY Human Resources Professional
Feel free to contact Joe Stein regarding questions or comments at:
Joe Stein
