For many professionals, the process of job hunting is a difficult one. There are obstacles at each different stage, from submitting a CV all the way to doing interviews. While there are certainly naturals that thrive at the challenge, for a lot of people it is an intimidating but necessary step on the way to a new career.

“The job search puts people in a vulnerable position and takes them out of their comfort zone,’ explains Anurudda Fonseka, internal recruitment consultant at Bayside Group, “Some people find it difficult talking about themselves, and even more intimidating when there is a panel to present to.”



Luckily, if you’re one of those that find the job search tough, you don’t have to resign yourself to struggle. Here are some of the best ways you can face the challenges and come out on top:

Being sure of yourself and what you have to offer can help you be confident and motivate you to overcome challenges.

1. Be confident in your decision

Think about your reasons for being intimidated by job hunting. Is it because you are insecure about your choice to do so? The first step to navigating the job search is to understand why you’re doing it, resolve that it’s the best move for your career right now, and be confident in your decision.

“There is a reason why you engage in a job search, so you need to be comfortable before making that decision,” says Anurudda. “Once you are clear about the reasons why, you will be able to overcome the challenges by being motivated to reach the final goal of securing a new role.”

2. Know your own strengths

Another reason you may find job seeking hard is that you feel inadequate. Yet no matter how much or how little experience you have, you do have unique qualities to bring to the table and you need to recognise them yourself before you can present them effectively to others.

“Each job seeker has their own strengths and I believe its important to highlight their strengths when it comes to an interview,” Anurudda says. “They also need to be confident in themselves and trust the process. There is a reason they have been able to secure an interview in the first place so they should take confidence in that knowledge and approach the interview accordingly.”

3. Put in the prep work

One of the hardest parts of the job seeking process for many candidates is the interview, because it can be a high-pressure situation that requires you to go out on a limb and submit to another person’s judgment. However, if you prepare well ahead of time, it’s possible to make a good impression without overthinking it.

“It’s important that research is done on the role and company and it is certainly noticeable when they reach the interview stage. A job seeker who has done the research tends to come across as being more confident and knowledgeable about the company and in turn have more solid answers,” Anurudda advises.

4. Call in the pros

Lastly, remember that you don’t have to face the job search alone. Anurudda notes that a recruiter will be able to answer your questions and allow you feel more confident going in.

“A recruiter can help by working on behalf of the job seeker in presenting and securing an interview which tends to be the most difficult task. Once they are at that stage, the recruiter can pass on invaluable advice about the employer and what they are looking for,” he said.

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