Many children are afraid of the dark. Many adults are afraid of the unknown. People on the cusp of or in the throes of job transition often become immobilized by their fear. I see working professionals stay in horrible jobs and toxic work environments because they fear that something better doesn’t exist. They have succumb to their situation and ultimate destiny. They convince themselves that their skills won’t be marketable or that other employers won’t see their value. They allow fear to keep them in an unhealthy situation.
The fears I hear job seekers grapple with are countless. Their largest fear is that the length of job search will exceed their financial resources and that they will lose their home. Job searches always take longer than people anticipate. The key is to recognize this and implement an effective job search game plan early on. This fear is “what if” based and not often grounded in present day reality. It absorbs an enormous amount of attention and energy that could be better directed towards launching a productive job search.
Other fears are myth based or grounded is misperceptions such as “I am too old, there are no jobs, no employer will hire me.” These fears can be more easily mitigated by getting the facts and avoiding gross generalizations. Too often people too easily surrender to these assumptions and use them as an excuse for not even trying.
The first step in removing fear as a barrier job change is to acknowledge the power it holds over you. And know that all fear is is a lack of faith. This starts with looking deep inside and finding faith in yourself, your potential and your possibilities.
