For most job seekers, the phrase “new job” is exciting because it signals opportunities to learn new skills, expand your network, and build your resume. But change can also be intimidating. If you’re scared to get a job, you’re not alone.Certain parts of the job search process can be more terrifying than things that go bump in the night. According to a 2018 Monster poll, the majority (38%) of U.S.
respondents said they were most afraid of interviewing, while 33% might not even make it that far because they’re scared their resume might go “into a black hole on the Internet” when applying to jobs. Other fears come toward the end of the job search process,
which include negotiating salary (16%) and being turned down for a job offer (13%). Plus, what if you get a new job and you hate it?So while job search fear is a real thing for many people,
you can’t let it crush your career. If you find you’re having a hard time getting your wheels in motion to start your job search, it might be time to confront your fears. After all, time doesn’t move in reverse.
“The average person spends roughly one-third of their life at work,” says Kelsey Bye, a career coach in San Francisco. “That’s a lot of time to let yourself feel unfulfilled, unchallenged, underpaid, and unappreciated.”
Read on for five reasons you might be scared to get a job, along with some ideas for how to overcome your fears.“What will they do without me?” Julie Vessel, a Minneapolis-St.
Paul career coach who counsels professionals in marketing and advertising, hears this question a lot. “For loyal folks,” she says, “the thought of disappointing their current employer or leaving them empty-handed at a busy time is paralyzing.”
Loyalty to an employer is admirable, but what about your loyalty to your career? “You have to be the one looking out for your best interest—and career growth,” says Vessel.
Face your fear: “Give your all until the very last minute of your employment,” Vessel says. “That way you leave as the person who gave their best every single day, not the person who dropped the ball.”
