Uncertainty: Book Excerpt

“Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.”

John Allen Paulos

So many unknowns can create negative emotions during your job search, such as waiting to hear back on an email or after an interview. There will be unexpected questions during an interview for which you can’t prepare. When you do get an offer, you may wonder whether to accept it or whether you’ll hit a land mine once there.

The reality is that life is filled with uncertainty, even when you have a job. Managing uncertainty is important so you don’t get lost in feelings of fear and speculation.

Focus on what you can control, such as your schedule and job search efforts. Keeping busy, whether with a class or house project can divert your mind from worry. If your mind goes into a negative “what if” spin, remind yourself, “I can’t possibly predict the future.” Another strategy is defensive pessimism; this is increasing your confidence with coping by imaging a worst-case scenario and planning for it, such as making peace with an option to downsize your home. Mindfulness and stress reduction are additional strategies. You can choose to let uncertainty keep you up at night or see it as a challenge for practicing acceptance.

Affirmation: I accept uncertainty as part of life and find ways to cope.

Copyright 2021, Karen Litzinger, Help Wanted: An A to Z Guide to Cope with the Ups and Downs of the Job Search. Permission is granted to share for non-commercial purposes with this entire notation, https://KarensCareerCoaching.com/help-wanted

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