Top 5 Fears of Finding a New Job and How to Overcome Them

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Photo Credit: Jimee, Jackie, Tom & Asha

There are many reasons you want to get a new job; what is holding you back from looking? I don’t think it is kryptonite. Most likely a subtle fear keeping you from finding the work you love. Let’s dig into this, and see if you can overcome some of these fears and then you can become a job finding superhero.

In helping people to find new and better jobs I have identified a handful of reasons which make them afraid to go out and look, no matter how much they hate their job.

The fears include:

  • I Don’t Want to Lose Insurance Between Jobs
  • I Do Not Want to Be Known As a Job Hopper
  • I Don’t Want to Make Less Money
  • There Are No jobs Out There
  • What If I Hate My New Job
Let’s tackle each one of these and dispel those concerns.
I Don’t Want to Lose Insurance Between Jobs

You can resign one day and start the new job the following day. It only takes a little planning once you receive an offer from the new company.

When leaving my last job, my resignation letter stated that I will separate from them on Monday at 8am. I also set up my start time on Monday at 8am. By setting it up this way, I was able to have insurance coverage through the switch. Yes, they could have made me work over the weekend, but they did not. It was a smooth transition.

I Do Not Want to Be Known As a Job Hopper

Don’t be afraid of being considered a job hopper; it is no longer a concern. Companies have cut out the incentives (like pensions) for you to stay long term, which makes it less likely for anybody to stay. They also realize it is in their best interest to let you learn more skills elsewhere and with the potential to return to the company and use those skills.

Americans average 10-14 jobs between the ages of 18 and 34 and 3-5 career changes by the age of 38 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2008). This means if you are below age 34 you change jobs on average less than every 2 years. If this is you, you are just like everybody else. I was at my last job for 3 years and the one before that for 2 years.

By the way, if you stay with one company long term you will make less money over time since your raises will not match inflation (at least in my experience). It is in your best financial interest for you to change jobs. For instance, in my last job change I made a 12% increase, have you ever gotten a raise like this?

In addition, When you stay at a company long term you will incrementally have more and more added to your plate, but you will not make more money from those little additions. Over time, this can add up to many responsibilities with little pay increase. After taking on this extra responsibility you should go out and find your value in the market (with a job search). Most likely, you will find that other companies are offering you more than you are currently making for doing the same work. Companies don’t intentionally try and pay you less but no one ever adds up all the increased responsibility you are asked to take.

I Don’t Want to Make Less Money

If someone offers you a job for less money then don’t take it (or negotiate for more). It is as simple as that. Not enough vacation, decline the offer. At the very least you will find out that you are making more than you would somewhere else (i.e. more than market value). Also, you  can always negation for more or maybe a slight pay increase comes with added lifestyle benefits.

There Are No jobs Out There

How do you know, did you look? Did you know that 80%-90% of jobs out there are in the hidden job market (i.e. someone knew someone in the company etc.) The only way you will know is by looking.

A few years ago, while job hunting, I was making calls to learn about companies. In one phone conversation I explained my skills and they said “You know, we have been talking about hiring someone with your skills but we have not advertised it, how about coming in for an interview?” I was even able to set up an interview (I was the only one interviewed) while being 3 states away without giving my resume. I also got an offer after the interview. You can do this too.

What If I Hate My New Job

This is why you do a awesome job interviewing. You are interviewing the company the same time they are interviewing you. You need to ask great questions and really dig into the culture there. Also, you must fully understand the work you are going to doing there. Ask, Ask, Ask. Plus, asking all of those questions in an interview makes you look better during the interview process.

 

Remember the only way to find any of this out is to interview. You can always negotiable (everything is negotiable no matter what they say: when insurance starts, how much you are paid, vacation days, etc). Plus, you can always say “no” to the offer, but if you never look then you will never leave the job you hate.

Action:Write down why you have not started looking for another job yet.

What fears keep you from finding a new job?

7 Replies on “Top 5 Fears of Finding a New Job and How to Overcome Them

  1. Great advice and fits perfectly with a topic I’ve looked at in great detail.

    Well done.

  2. We love that we found you.  😉  Your advice comes with a plan and we love that… it gets to the why… the bone of things… and people need to hear it.  I’m trying to figure out… what do you do? is this your business or your hobby… or both?  

    1. Shannon,
      I am glad I can help. You have asked for a story but I will try to be succinct. I am doing this as a hobby but it comes from what I learned through coaching and personal development. I stopped coaching so I could give more attention to my wife but plan on sharing information in more passive ways such as this blog and some info products I develop. I am not sure if you saw but the latest post is another one in the series on getting a new job. Are there any specific things I can help with?

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