Every great adventure starts with courage and a little bit of fear. How you choose to navigate the challenges can make the difference between a successful career move or a job search catastrophe. I clearly remember starting my own career journey, overwhelmed by feeling so much fear and the unknown. I was not sure where to start or if I was on the right path. Now with over 10 years of experience in career counseling and some personal trial and error, I would like to share with you 3 confidence-boosting tools that can help you find success and avoid the pitfalls common in the job search experience.

Clear Objective

As you establish your new career goal, remember to include the position, industry, and salary level you are working toward. Make plans to obtain the qualifications and skills you will need to be a qualified candidate. Follow the SMART goal format:

• Specific

• Measurable

• Attainable

• Realistic

• Time-Oriented

Clear objectives that define your goals are the foundation of a solid job-search strategy.

Conquer Complacency

Establish daily schedules to keep your job-search vibrant and on-track, which will help you manage disappointment and avoid burnout. Celebrate successful milestone achievements along the way to improve motivation and deter complacency. To make your time more productive, create a dedicated workspace at home or at another location to improve focus and effort.

Create Connection

Creating a strong support team will help you maintain perspective, stay positive, and celebrate wins along the way. I recommend participating in job search groups such as AJS (Active Job Search) to improve your networking opportunities. Reach out to old and new contacts on LinkedIn or other social media sites to expand your network. Conduct informational interviews to obtain new perspectives and knowledge about career opportunities and form future professional connections.

Applying these 3 confidence-boosting tools to your job search experience will prepare you for a successful career move and open new doors of opportunity. Go Forth and Conquer!!!

To learn more about these and other job search techniques, check out employment.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Or, call 888-818-4484 to speak directly with a member of the Church’s Employment Services team.

About Erica . . .

Making meaningful connections and helping others discover their unique promise of value is Erica’s true passion. With over 10 years’ experience as an Employment Coach and Interview Strategist, she is focused on using positive communication strategies to create win-win solutions.

Erica completed her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Utah State University and has 10+ years of extensive training and experience in the areas of employment coaching, strategic interviewing, assertive communication, motivational interviewing and offer negotiations. She is also a current member of the National Resume Writing Association and National Career Development Association.