By Ellen Brown

There’s no doubt about it: losing your job can crumble your self-confidence. While that’s not always the case, it’s often true whether you were fired or laid off, due to company downsizing.

But the problem is this: if you need to search for a new job, having a crisis of confidence can get in your way. Big time!

Such was the case with Colleen,* a successful attorney I worked with a few months ago, as a life transitions coach. Colleen was one of nearly 50 people in her firm who lost her position, due to the Recession. Though Colleen clearly had a great deal going for her, she had a tough time articulating her strengths, and since she had been unemployed for more than nine months, her self-confidence was slowly eroding.

As a coach, one of my goals is help clients like Colleen explore their strengths and successes, so they can feel more confident and present themselves in a more positive light, whether they are networking or interviewing for a new position. Because if Colleen couldn’t name her strengths and describe how her skills could benefit another law firm, there was little hope that she’d be able to do so on a job interview.

Before Colleen could sell herself in a job interview, she needed to feel good about herself. There are a lot of ways to help people re-build self confidence, including visualization and affirmations. But one of my first goals was to help Colleen get a better handle on her strengths and successes. Toward that end, I asked her a series of questions, which I requested she answer in writing, between coaching sessions. Some of the questions focused on work; others explored other aspects of her life.

Here are a few of the questions:

• When, in your life, have you felt the most successful, in general?
• What are the greatest strengths you bring to the table as a prospective employee?

• What were your greatest successes in your last job?

• What lessons did you learn in previous jobs that you can carry forth into your next position?
• Tell me a little bit about when you have felt the most successful in terms of your personal relationships.
• What are you doing in your life today that makes you feel successful?

If you’re dealing with a crisis of confidence, you might consider answering some of these questions. While doing so probably won’t provide a quick fix, it will likely shift your feelings, some. Because when we are focus on our strengths and successes, rather than our “problems” and weaknesses, we generally feel happier.

If you’re dealing with job loss, how has your outlook on life been affected, if at all?

What have you done to boost your self-confidence?

I’d love to hear what you have to say. Please join in the conversation by scrolling down and leaving a comment, here, on Stepping Stones.

Are you dealing with job loss or another challenging life transition? If so, I’d love to help out. Visit my website at http://www.ellen-brown.com to sign up for an introductory coaching session or a coaching package that’s right for you. Since coaching sessions are conducted by phone, I can work with clients anywhere in the world.

Ellen Brown is a certified professional coach, based in Cleveland, OH.

* The name of my client was changed to protect her identity.