Wanted: Career Confidence
“I have been out of work for six months now. When I see a job opening, I talk myself out of applying for it. I have low self-esteem because of my past failures and being jobless for so long. Help!”
Getting a job requires you to sell yourself enthusiastically. Many people who have been diagnosed with ADHD can recite their symptoms backward and forward, but they have a difficult time selling their strengths and skills. Define yourself by your strengths and understand that ADHD does have its gifts — creativity, exuberance, empathy, emotional sensitivity, and a strong connection to nature.
> When I coach clients who are searching for a job, we adopt the motto of Seal Team Six, the elite military unit: “No Easy Day.” A job search requires you to face constant rejection and to do work that doesn’t tap into an ADHD person’s strengths — attention to detail in the application process and constant follow-up. Realize that prospective employers will reject you, and don’t run away from it.
> The best job-search tool is LinkedIn. Sign up and increase your connections, join groups, and “network up.” Connect with people who are in a position to help you.
[Free Download: 8 Dream Jobs for Adults with ADHD]
> For every job you talk yourself out of, challenge yourself to write down three reasons why you could get the position.
