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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Help with professional self-confidence?
Sorry to bring this here, but I haven't been able to find a book or anything on my own.
Before I was laid off, I was beginning to notice a change in my confidence level at work and it began to bother me. I don't know what really caused me to lose my confidence, but I know it was beginning to affect my work. I hated that I lost my confidence because a year or so ago, I didn't have that issue at all! The coworkers I talked to didn't really have any advice on how to get my confidence back.
It's especially hard now that I am looking for a job - I know I can't sell myself like I need to.
Does anyone have any advice, websites, books or something? I don't know if this is something I need to go to a counselor for or not. TIA 
Move along, nothing to see here.....
Re: Help with professional self-confidence?
A couple things...
First of all, you kick ass... I know that its deeper than that and I went through similar stuff when I was in grad school the first itme around.. its like I lost my mojo... dunno how to explain it but I felt like every single thing just felt like a mountian I could never get up. For me, I took a break, I assessed the situation and took time to decide what I really wanted to do and that helped guide me in the right direction and while its still tough I feel like I can do pretty much everything.. Long story short maybe this time that you are looking for a job taking the time to really think about and your feelings around this and if you need to talk to the career counselor at Purdue.. usually schools offer services to alum too...
I am also going to suggest a book from psychology days... "mind over mood" its a workbook based on cognative behavioral therapy... basically reteaching yourself how to think about yourself and your place in the greater scheme of things... it may sound cheesey and head shrinky but it is a terrific resource!!!! I STILL use the tools I used in that book and the course it came from in my own life.
Finally, be patient with yourself. This is all a lot to comprehend and a lot to process loosing a job, the job search process, etc.. be good to yourself and set yourself a schedule of job search aand job activity stuff and stay organized it will help you feel good about your efforts and give you all the tools you need to find a job you truly love.
Best wishes!!!! ((((and hugs))))
Thanks hon
I still feel like I know what I want to do, but I am stuck where I am or I don't feel like I can do the jobs I find online.
I have to recommend "Now Discover Your Strengths." It's a book and quiz that helps you identify your top 5 strengths (out of a list of 32.) The whole concept is that we spend way too much time trying to get better at stuff that we're not naturally any good at, instead of trying to be excellent at the stuff that we do well. It didn't tell me anything about myself that I didn't already know on some level, but it helped me succinctly identify and explain what I'm good at. It really helped me after a bad stretch at work because I could identify how the role didn't fit with my strengths, and thus why I wasn't "the best" at that role. Now I look for projects or roles that line up with my strengths, so that I don't feel like I'm hitting my head against a wall.
Note that the book is part of a series of three books ("First, Break all the Rules", "Now, Discover Your Strengths", "Go, Put Your Strengths to Work") but in my opinion, you can skip the first and third books. Go straight for "Now, Discover Your Strengths."
Good Luck
What about getting involved in a professional organization? I don't know what's out there for environmental science folks, but maybe something like "SWE"- the Society of Women Engineers? If not, maybe you could look into teaching or mentoring college students at your alma mater? (or even at IU, I know they have env sci programs and are always looking for mentors...)
I've found that being surrounded by my professional peers or up and comers makes me learn more, feel supported, and allows me to contibute my ideas and knowledge to others, hence allowing me to feel more confident. Of course, right now, there's the added bonus that you can network and make connections while searching for a job.