5 Ways to Rebuild Your Self Confidence to Return To Work | CBCC News

You have been on a career break, and you feel like it’s about time to come back to the workforce. But, there’s a small part of you in doubt. Are you really ready?

We’ve talked about how to successfully make a career comeback in our previous blogs. From making a strong return to work, to balancing motherhood with a career, to knowing your rights as you make your return to work, the CBCC has tips and tricks galore to boost your career comeback.

But all the tips and tricks in the world can’t help if you don’t feel confident enough to take the first step. Regaining the self confidence to begin returning to work is the most important part of the whole process.

How can we rebuild our self confidence?

When people talk about self confidence, they usually also mention self esteem. In fact, they are often used interchangeably, but they are different concepts.

Self confidence is the belief in your abilities and skills to perform tasks and handle situations. It is task-specific and can vary depending on the context. For example, you might feel confident giving a presentation, but not when learning a new software program.

Self esteem, on the other hand, is your overall sense of self worth and personal value. It is more stable and encompasses how you feel about yourself as a whole, not just in specific scenarios. High self esteem means you regard yourself positively, regardless of successes or failures.

In essence, self confidence is about trust in your capabilities, while self esteem is about appreciating and valuing who you are, regardless of your capabilities. Both are crucial for personal and professional growth, but they originate from different aspects of your self perception.

There are many reasons why your self confidence may be feeling low regarding your return to work. How long you’ve been away from the workplace, the reasons why you put your career on hold, these factors can also affect your self confidence.

Some common reasons behind why your self confidence is taking a hit when you consider returning to work are:

1. Skill Gaps: During a career break, the industry may have undergone changes, leaving returning workers feeling outdated and unsure about their current skills.
2. Guilt and Self Doubt: Many people grapple with guilt for having taken time off, whether it’s societal expectations or personal standards. This guilt often translates into self doubt about their professional worth and capabilities. For women who took time off for childcare reasons, the guilt of leaving their child to go back to work can compound their sense of self doubt.
3. Cultural and Language Barriers: For people from culturally diverse backgrounds, they may have put their careers on hold to move to a new country. Restarting their career in their new country may come with the additional challenge of navigating a workplace culture different from their own or overcoming language barriers.
4. Fear of Judgment: The fear of being judged by colleagues and employers for taking a career break can be a significant confidence killer. This fear can make many people hesitant to take the first step back into the professional world.
5. Lack of Network: Over time, professional networks can weaken, which can cause feelings of isolation or feeling unsupported as returning workers attempt to re-enter the job market.

Embrace Your Unique Journey

Every career path is unique, and breaks are part of many successful journeys. Recognise that your experiences during your time away have enriched you with skills and perspectives valuable to employers. Reflect on what you’ve learned and how these lessons can apply to your professional life.

Build Your Personal Cheer Squad

There’s nothing as confidence-boosting as hearing from someone else that they believe in you.

Reach out to trusted friends and family, former colleagues, mentors, and professional acquaintances. Inform them about your plans to return to work, and keep them informed of your journey. The collective support, wisdom, and advice of your network is invaluable to rebuilding your self confidence.

Set Small, Achievable Goals

Breaking down your return to work journey into smaller, manageable steps can make the process less overwhelming.

Set realistic goals, such as updating your resume, applying for a certain number of jobs each week, or attending a specific number of networking events per month. Celebrate each small victory to build momentum and self-assurance, and be sure to share these victories with your cheer squad!

Update Your Skills

Enrol in online courses, attend workshops, or pursue certifications relevant to your field. This not only updates your knowledge but also provides a sense of achievement and competence.

Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offer a wide range of courses that can be done at your own pace.

Practice Self-Care and Mindfulness

Confidence is closely tied to mental and physical well-being.

Ensure you take care of yourself through regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep. Incorporate mindfulness practices like meditation or yoga to manage stress and maintain a positive mindset. Self-care reinforces the message that you are worthy and capable.

Once you’ve started to rebuild your self confidence, it’s time to take concrete steps towards re-entering the workforce.

Begin by crafting a compelling resume that highlights not just your past professional experiences but also the skills and knowledge you’ve gained during your break. Prepare for interviews by practicing common questions and answers with a friend or mentor. Consider volunteering or taking on freelance projects to ease back into the work routine and rebuild your professional credibility.

There is no ‘right or wrong’ timeline. Go at your own pace, but always keep in mind your end goal: reigniting your career.