New Breaks, New Horizons Gaining Confidence

Introduction Why is confidence important in finding a new job? What does being confident mean? How can I increase my confidence?

Why do we lose confidence? Rejection or lack of acknowledgement Messages from parents, family, friends, teachers Focusing on what we can’t do Messages from politicians, the media and society Taking things personally Comparing self with others

Downward spiral Lack of confidence Poor performance Low self-image

Why do we need confidence? We need the employer to have confidence in us We avoid the downward spiral We are likely to perform better We feel better about ourselves We are more resilient to rejection and disappointments

What does being confident mean? Thinking you are better than everyone else Focusing on your strengths A belief in yourself and your abilities The certainty of feeling you are equal to the task

Internal dialogue I must be useless Nobody will ever employ me “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re probably right” (Henry Ford) I must be useless Nobody will ever employ me I didn’t get that job May as well give up trying

Internal dialogue Someone else must have appeared to meet their criteria more closely than me I didn’t get that job What can I learn from this? I’m not sure that job was right for me anyway Oh well, their loss! Next! www.evenbreak.co.uk

Whole picture You Previous jobs Son/daughter Family Voluntary work Helping friends Personal achievements Hobbies Current job title You

Try/learn something new Take up a new/old hobby Do voluntary work Get involved with your community

Be kind to yourself Don’t beat yourself up for a situation out of your control Reward yourself for small achievements Make time to do the things you enjoy Pamper yourself now and again Keep in contact with friends Look after yourself – looking nice, eating healthily, exercising, sleeping

What can disabled people offer? Just as productive as non-disabled people Less time off sick Fewer workplace accidents Stay in our jobs longer Bring additional skills (creativity, patience, persistence, innovation, determination etc) Understand the “disability” market (worth up to £80 million a year in UK) Diverse employees make better decisions

Would you employ these people? Beethoven (Deaf) Ellie Simmonds (Dwarfism) Richard Branson (Dyslexia) Simon Weston (Burns scars) Stevie Wonder (Blind) Winston Churchill (Depression) Stephen Hawking (Motor Neurone Disease) Baroness Campbell (Wheelchair user)

Fake it ‘til you make it! Appear confident Good performance High self-image

Next Steps Download the slides Put these ideas into practice Enjoy building your confidence!