Irrational Fears And Your Job Search Potential

Sick to your stomach.  Shaky.  Perspiring.  On edge.  Heavy breathing.  Or no breathing at all. Everyone reacts to fear differently.

What are the outward signs that something has you afraid?

I was on a few planes this weekend and was reminded yet again of the fear people have of flying.  You can see it in their eyes, in their posture and in their hands (as they squeeze the daylights out of their partner’s hand).  They are glancing nervously out the window looking for signs of damage and they are acutely aware of the actions of flight attendants.

As irrational as it seems, air travel scares the daylights out of some people.  After all, it is incredibly safe to travel by plane.  Safer than driving a car, right?

But the power of experience and suggestion is very real.  What we have seen, heard or experienced is much easier to re-play in our minds than the rational reasoning of another person.  When you are traveling on a plane, there are plenty of tangible symptoms that something may be wrong.  Here are a few examples of things that trigger your fear of flying:

1. Bumps, dips, drops, updrafts, and shakes are all very normal during plane flight.  But if you are looking for them as signs of trouble, they begin to add up.  Each one tightens the rope around your fists.
2. There are sounds that cause concern as well.  Sounds like an engine is shutting down, the clunk of the landing gear (up and down), and the noise of sudden acceleration.
3. Smells. Oh yes, this is a big one.  The really bad smell of the circulation system, things that smell like smoke or burning rubber.  And let’s not forget the coffee.
4. Then there are the visual cues.  Condensation on the inside of the plane.  Ever been dripped on? Oil leaking on the wing.  A flight attendant walking a bit too quickly down the aisle or speaking in strange code to their partner at the back of the plane.
5. The time factor.  Wasn’t the pilot supposed to give us an update 20 minutes ago?  What’s happening up there?  How long have we been circling?

So if this is you on a plane, there are others on this same plane that are completely oblivious to the threat of death and destruction that is so obvious to you.  While you are eyeing the fasten seatbelt light, they are finishing their second bag of peanuts, chatting away with a seat-mate and looking for another drink.

How could this be?  Are they blind, deaf and dumb?

Well, rational or irrational, it is a form of hypersensitivity that can hit you on a plane, on a camp out or in, yes, a job search.

The key, I think, in job search is separating real issues from irrational ones.  Real issues can be tackled.  Irrational ones can derail you unnecessarily.

So here are a few real issues that you must attack head on:

How about the issues that are less important?  The ones that are feeding irrational fears.  Well, here’s my short list.  You may be able to add a few of your own . . .

Unless you have a real problem (see above), you are probably getting about the same number of interviews as the average job seeker.  Stop focusing on “how many” and start focusing on getting the right ones.  It only takes one.

Usually not the case. It may be true that you were not the best fit for that particular job.  A decision that, once made, may actually be a positive for you.  Maybe they saw the poor fit that you didn’t!  It could also be that the company has other important things to do (like running the company).  If they like you, they will call.  If they don’t call?  Move on.

Resume blasting is a low percentage effort.  It is the least efficient and least effective way to make yourself known to hiring managers.  If you decide to do it, manage your expectations and your reaction if it does not deliver a call.

This will happen.  But do not take it as a snub or think “I guess I’m not good enough”.  If you read the job description and specification, were you qualified?  If not, why did you apply?  Try to be objective.

Your focus on these issues will do nothing but leave you less confident, nervous and distracted.  None of which will help you appear to be the right person to hire in your next interview.

So, stop paying attention to those irrational fears.  If you have legitimate improvement areas, then get them fixed.  If not . . .