Do you feel like you are following all of the advice and taking all of the right steps to design and implement a great job search? Are those actions producing the results you want? Or, do you have a feeling inside that you know is getting in your way, but you don’t know what it is?

Believe it or not, that feeling could very well be fear. Not just nerves springing from adrenaline, but fear.

As an adult, it’s often difficult to identify, much less admit to having, a fear. And, it’s even more difficult to see how it might sabotaging your efforts including those involving your job search. The fact is, though, many people wrestle with all kinds of fears when in search of a new job. I’ve highlighted some of the common job hunting fears Marty Nemko identified in his article, “Overcoming Fear of Looking for a Job.” Take a look to see if you can relate to any (or all) of them, then consider the suggestions as to how to reframe such fears to get them out of your way.

You believe you are not hireable. Nemko suggests two reasons for having such a belief. First, can be an excuse for sort-of looking for a job rather than making a deliberate and focused project out of it. He states this practice allows you to “… retain the comforting thought that you’d be hireable if only you put in the effort.” On the other hand, it’s a scary notion to aim high only to be shot down enough times that you must concede you aren’t yet at the level you want to be.

Nemko suggests the best route to conquer this fear is to put yourself out there – all the way out there. There is certainly a risk to doing so, but with that comes the opportunity for real feedback with which you can do some reevaluating and re-planning if you need. Of course, there’s also the possibility that you’ll land the very job you want, but you can predict with certainty that won’t happen if you’re not out there going after it.

You don’t want others to know you’re out of work. All of us have a sense of pride when we hold a job. To one degree or another, it is a way we feel validated and, likely, we assume it gives us validation from others. So, when out of work, it can feel like a source of personal embarrassment to the point of trying to hide it from those around us.

Keep in mind that everyone in the workforce right now was affected one way or another by the major economic downturn of the early 2000s. If you didn’t hold a job that was eliminated or had departmental funds frozen or experienced a hiring freeze causing a lot of extra work to be piled on you and your colleagues, you know many who did. Even the youngest employees right now could have been affected because their parents faced the front line of such issues. Feeling frustrated about unemployment is completely understandable, but, frustration is not productive. And, hiding your situation will cause unnecessary stress. So, not only is there a great emotional benefit in being up front about your situation, but Nemko also reminds us that being open about what you’re looking for is a great way to network.

You are afraid of the same-old, same-old. I’m not sure I’ve met anyone who has loved every, single job he or she has ever held. This isn’t such a bad thing when you’re young and part-timing it while going through school or getting more experience to put toward a career. But, it’s a really bad situation when the job you hate is also your livelihood. The last thing you would ever want to do is again go to work, day after day, only to hate what you’re doing.

The good thing is that with such experience comes some wisdom. You now have more insight as to what you do and do not want in a job. You know better what to look for this time around. Nemko directs you to not only be vetted by the hiring company but to also do some of the vetting. Ask such questions as, “What would you hope I’d accomplish in the first 30 days?” The job fit needs to be both ways, so be observant about the people you meet, and ask questions that provide insight you need about both the responsibilities and the environment you’d be stepping in to.

You have equated confidence with bragging. There are a number of reasons people don’t like to speak highly of themselves. One of the big reasons is we don’t want to be viewed as bragging. You know that saying “It’s not bragging if you can back it up”? It’s very true; you just have to know how to communicate confidence without being conceited. And, of course, there is a huge difference between the two.

The best advice here that satisfies both the candidate and the employer is to be very real. If you have accomplished something, say so in clear terms, preferably with evidence and/or measurable outcomes, without using a tone insinuating that no one else could have pulled off what you did. Be sure to be inclusive of those with whom you worked which will communicate both that you’re a team player and that you recognize the contributions of others that supported the accomplishment. Employers already know most goals aren’t reached in isolation, so put forth the facts as well as the praise, together which will demonstrate your abilities and your humility. Additionally, Nemko advises to not oversell yourself. Most employers will see through it anyway, but, if it’s not picked up on, you are setting yourself up for failure being placed in a job for which you are not actually qualified.

All of the articles and advice in the world about how to land your perfect job or conduct the ideal job search will not mean a thing if there are internal, personal road blocks in your way. So, before seeking or trying to implement the best plan, make sure you have addressed, and hopefully worked through, those issues that provoke any fear you may have about your search or its outcome. Fortunately, most fears reside in the dark and disappear once light exposes them.

Nemko, Marty. “Overcoming Fear of Looking for a Job.” Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, LLC. 1991. Web. (26 March 2016)

Nancy Stoker is a Senior Client Services Representative and Research Associate with ExecSearches.com. ExecSearches provides various recruitment and executive search services for nonprofits including its nonprofit job board.

Last updated on April 4th, 2016 at 12:23 pm