I don’t remember how it came up but I was rambling on yesterday evening about how at 2 of my last 3 jobs (not including my current one) I knew I was meant to work there the instant I walked through the door. At that point, all I had to do was persuade them to hire me, which wasn’t difficult considering how I felt; it had to have shown in my words, my focus and my body language. In both instances I was hired on the spot and worked at each for many years. (Why am I not working there now? Changes are made; outside influences, inside influences…Life happens and we adjust.)

So you want to know how I knew? I’m not sure what to call it. It wasn’t a feeling of confidence, but rather an absence of doubt. Think about something that you know that you know that you know is a truth for you. It doesn’t take much for you to convince someone of that thing. If there is doubt, however, that you may in fact be wrong (or wrong for the job), that leaves the door open a bit for the other person to dispute you and you wonder if they are right; self-sabotage.

Knowing that, how are you looking for work if you are unemployed? if you want to move up in the company? if you want to change occupations?

How you feel about someplace, the work that is done there, what you can contribute to it, all these things and more show in your words and actions without you realizing it.

Next time you talk to someone about employment, or anything for that matter, pay attention to how much doubt you have and the outcome of that conversation/encounter. Learn to pay attention to how you feel. (Luke, use your feelings..)

Somewhere along the way we have learned to ignore the signs that we are in an uncomfortable situation. We never ask ourselves these questions: do I really need to be engaged in this conversation? do I really care what is being said here? why am I here? We think we are polite when we are ignoring ourselves. We all know how to back out gracefully, we just don’t.

The job I have right now is dog walking…which I love, but it’s not a career for me. I do it because it makes me feel good to do it and I can study in the mean time. I don’t want to do the same jobs I was doing for the past 15 years, so I am learning some new things to create the confidence I need to pursue a different career. As my confidence builds, the opportunities will be apparent as they arise and I will pay attention to how I feel about it before I even apply for a job. I will ask myself these questions: what can I bring to the position? how do I feel about working here? with these people? A job interview isn’t just for them to pick you, but for you to decide that you could indeed work there; that you could contribute.

Start paying attention to the way you feel. You will create a dynamic person in yourself. No one knows you better than you do. Stop ignoring yourself. You are smarter than you give yourself credit for.