6 Ways To Boost Your Confidence After A Job Loss

6 Ways To Boost Your Confidence After A Job Loss
By Marci G. Fox

No one knows what motivates and inspires you better thanwell, you! The following six tips will help you pick yourself up after a layoff and put you on the path to employment.

Marci G. Fox, Ph.D., is a senior faculty member of the Extramural Training Program at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy & Research and co-author of "Think Confident, Be Confident"


1. Do Not Focus On Job Loss As Your Fault
Keep in mind all the alternative explanations in this poor economy, such as: the business was scrambling to stay alive with a skeleton staff; cheaper labor was available; you had the least seniority; your entire division was let go; or (my favorite!) your boss was the problem.


2. Do Not Overvalue Any Of The Jobs For Which You Apply
There is no one perfect job. Remember: A job is just one of many opportunities. And if one job doesn't work out, another opportunity eventually will present itself.

3. Do Not Job Hunt All Day
Schedule in activities that make you feel good-anything from volunteering at a soup kitchen, to walking in your favorite park, to meeting a friend for coffee. It's tough on your mood to wake up only to "Have To's" and "Need To's." You will feel better and be more motivated when you schedule in "Want To's."

4. Schedule Some Exercise
Regular physical activity is good for the body and good for your head. It's a great way to get rid of anxiety and also releases endorphins to help improve your mood. Give yourself permission to try a new type of exercise.


5. Keep An 'Extra Credit' List
Write down what you have accomplished ("today, I made three cold calls and wrote four post-interview thank-you notes") and focus on it at the end of the day. This will help squash self-doubts about being an ineffective or inefficient job-seeker.

6. Plan Activities That Give You A Sense Of Achievement
This includes tackling something new, such as joining a running club or taking cooking lessons. Recognizing progress in anything is an ingredient of confidence. Take that with you on your next job interview!