Job Hunting Success for #Opticians

Gaining a Mindset that Maximises Your Chances of Job Hunting Success.

To be happy at work, you first need to make sure you’re in the right job for you. And even when you know what the right job is (and trust me, many people struggle to discover this), it can be easier said than done to land that dream job.

Over the many years I’ve worked with people to help them find their first jobs, advance in their chosen fields, progress in their careers, or transition into a different sector or career path, I’ve discovered some commonalities which have got in the way of their progress, and ultimately their peace of mind.

Eventually they all got their dream jobs, but with the right mindset propelling them forward they could have reached that goal so much quicker and with much more enjoyment along the way. My hope is that by sharing what I’ve observed you may be able to experience a much faster, smoother and more enjoyable progression to your dream job and consequently to greater happiness at work.

The key to a great mindset is to raise your awareness of the unhelpful things you tell yourself, the self-limiting barriers you raise, because such insight is the first step to helping you to push through them or knock them down for good. In optical practice this is just as impoertant

Let’s have a look at some common examples:

If I apply for that job, I run the risk of being rejected.

True of course. But remember that if you’re not in the race you cannot win. The interview process is not, and should never be considered to be personal. If you do not get a particular job then it could simply be that someone else had more matching experience, aced their performance on the day, or even reminded the interviewer of someone they really like (a common bias in interviews). opticians and Optometrists point to remember is that none of these reasons are about you personally. One day you’ll be the one who hits the right buttons or reminds the panel of that colleague they all love and miss… Sadly perhaps, the interview process is often no more scientific than that!

Starting a new job means entering the unknown.

Also true of course. However, the unknown, scary though it may seem, is not equal to actual danger – even if it feels like it at times.

Be honest with yourself. What is the worst-case scenario here? You’re probably just worried that you might dislike the role, the company or the people? So perhaps not dissimilar to the reasons you’re looking for a new role in the first place? And after all, if you don’t end up enjoying it, you can leave, and by that time you’ve already proven that such a change is possible and it really isn’t that scary after all, leaving you better armed for the next round of job hunting, should it come to that. And besides, the chances are really good that you’ll actually enjoy it!

There are others who are far better suited to the job.

This is particularly common for those who want to change career or sector, or who are at the beginning of their careers. And of course in these instances, this barrier is likely to also be quite real.

However, it’s important to recognise that while there’s always someone out there more experienced, or on paper better suited for a role, that doesn’t mean you won’t get the job. Often an employer will see a quality in you that will make you stand out, and sometimes that’s something you may not even be aware of yourself.

Even established champions lose from time to time. This summer Andy Murray left Wimbledon in the quarter-finals and Usain Bolt lost his final individual race. Their opponents wouldn’t have achieved their wins if they hadn’t entered because they were daunted by the champion’s track records.

Comparing yourself to others, and particularly fictional others as in the case of hypothetical applicants, will never get you to the confident place you need to be to bag that dream job.

Knowing and focusing on what you have to offer, rather than what someone else might be able to offer that you feel you can’t, allows you to see and get across the value you would add. Only then can you put the spotlight on the things you want to highlight, communicate and convince the interviewer of.

Self-doubt or fears (such as those above) mean you feel overwhelmed, or experience a sense of dread. When this happens you’re likely to convey this to your interviewer looking for jobs that are for opticsians and optomotrist

If you find you often get a negative vibe when entering interviews, you may just be projecting your own feelings onto the people you meet. Nerves can get in the way of your thinking and your ability to answer questions in the best way.

The key here is to shift your mindset before you get to the interview.

Try using affirmations in the weeks or days running up to an interview to help you get the right focus. These are statements that you say to yourself to boost your confidence and feelings of self-worth.

Perhaps

‘I deserve to get this opportunity.’

Or

‘I could make a real difference to thsi optiacl practice

Or

‘They’d be lucky to have me.’

Make them relevant to you and then repeat them to yourself when you’re alone. Use them to interrupt yourself when self-doubt creeps in and have them available and visible for regular impromptu reminders.

Also, remember the power of your body language on those around you, and importantly, on yourself. Smile, hold your head high, maintain eye contact. These actions are all proven to have a positive impact, both on your own self-belief and on the impression you make on those around you.

I’ve seen all of these barriers blocking the career paths of those I’ve helped, and I’ve seen the power and positivity people can radiate when they’ve overcome their self-made demons. Same person, same experience, same abilities – just a different mindset making it all a much more enjoyable and fruitful undertaking