How to Silence Your Inner Critic for a More Successful Job Search

How to Silence Your Inner Critic for a More Successful Job SearchHow to Silence Your Inner Critic for a More Successful Job SearchThis exclusive bewerbungsinterview with executive coach Susan Peppercorn can help job seekers see if theyre holding-gesellschaft themselves back from opportunities, and what to do about it.If youre engaged in a job search and elend getting the results you want, its easy to blame external factors the recruiter who didnt hustle, the hiring manager who didnt see your value, or just plain bad timing. But in some cases, you- and your inner critic- might be the one who is holding you back from landing the role you desire.In such cases, its not necessarily from any lack of capabilities or skills on your part, but instead from your lack of belief in what you bring to the table. In other words, the reason that you didnt get the job might not be because youre actually unqualified for it, but simply because your tough inner critic tells you that youre not qualified- and you believe this negative voice.Heres how to silence your inner critic for a more successful job searchNo Head Space for RentExecutive coach Susan Peppercorn knows a lot about these inner critics and how to silence them. Peppercorn is author of the recently released book Ditch Your Inner Critic at Work Evidence-Based Strategies to Thrive in Your Career, which has quickly become an Amazon bestseller in the job hunting and career category. I asked her for her advice on how job seekers can recognize when an inner critic is holding them back in their job search and what they can do when this happens.Peppercorn emphasized that job seekers who have perfectionistic tendencies or are highly self-critical may take themselves out of the running for a job without giving themselves a fair shot. Assuming that they must have every skill and qualification listed in a job posting, they dont bother to apply because they dont realize that a job description is a wish list and no employer realistic ally expects a job candidate to have everything, she said. Peppercorn added that people with a strong inner critic are less likely to ask for the help they need in finding work- for example, asking networking connections for advice or requesting introductions- because the doubting voice within makes them worry that theyll be uncovered as a fraud.Interviewers often ask job candidates to explain a failure or setback they had in their career to understand how the person will deal with a challenging situation, which will undoubtedly arise on the job, said Peppercorn. Perfectionists are terrified of failure and are afraid to admit that even the best of us encounter cases that dont go our way.Squelching Self-DoubtTo help combat these tendencies to sell yourself short, Peppercorns book offers strategic advice that job seekers can put into action. These strategies includeOvercoming negative self-talk. Its important to recognize when youre falling prey to your internal worst enemy, according to Peppercorn. Learning from failure gives you a way to reframe a setback as a learning experience, which ultimately will help you tell your stories more confidently in interviews, she said. Peppercorn added that its important to set clear and realistic goals while remaining hopeful Job seekers need the ability to do both.Taking back your interview power. Job interviews can be particularly ripe breeding grounds for inner critics. Our inner critic tends to roar the loudest in stressful situations, like a job interview, said Peppercorn. The lack of confidence that self-critical job seekers feel may cause them to focus more attention on what they havent done rather than on how they can contribute. This can show up in a variety of ways, from nervous body language and lack of eye contact to slouched seating and responding hesitantly.Doing a trial run. To help prevent a confidence crisis when youre under the gun, Peppercorn suggested that job candidates practice answering common intervie w questions with a trusted friend or colleague to build competence and confidence. Having a mock interview recorded on a smartphone will help you hear yourself as well as see how you come across, said Peppercorn. Also, making a conscious effort to smile at the interview team and greet them with a firm handshake is a way of projecting confidence in spite of the internal butterflies you might be feeling.While your inner critic has the potential to hijack, or even derail, your job search, you have the power to override that messaging. By learning to recognize and then push back against the critical voice in your head that keeps you from performing at your best during your job search, you can reclaim your professional power to land the opportunities that you want.