Press Releases
Conquer Fear and Go For the Job You Want
By Shari L. Veleba, Columbus
Solidarity conference attendees packed the room to hear about overcoming fear while seeking employment. Merry Korn, owner of Pearl Interaction Network, presented an enthusiastic workshop titled, “Feel the Fear and Get the Job Anyway.”
Korn asked the audience how they defined fear. She received a lot of replies, including the idea that fear is a feeling in the pit of one’s stomach that just won’t go away. And, fear was described as that feeling a person gets when he or she is afraid to do something.
In an audience exercise, Korn had people team up to display how words have an impact on how people react. While one person held out their arms, the other person spoke negative words. During that portion of the exercise the person’s arms more easily collapsed when pressure was applied to them.
The same exercise was tried using positive words, and people found that they were stronger, and could more easily resist having their arms pressed down. “When you feel fear, you go weak,” Korn said. “Everyone feels fear, but we can always choose how we want to feel.”
Others in the audience talked about fear in terms of being afraid of how a person would be perceived by others during an interview. Korn tried to put fear in perspective by asking attendees if they would survive if someone didn’t like them. Everyone replied that yes, they would survive. Many in the group also said that prayer is a good tool in handling fear.
Korn said one of the most important truths about fear is that it will never totally go away. But, there are a variety of things a job seeker can do to minimize it and proceed to a successful outcome. Those tips include:
- Find support by calling other people who are also seeking employment
- Develop a written plan for your job search.
- Make a list today of the things you need to do tomorrow.
- Set weekly goals, and reward yourself for accomplishing them.
- Practice patience, and know that job seeking takes time.
- Count every achievement. Ask those around you to help celebrate even the small successes and remind you of your accomplishments.
- Remember that you aren’t the only one who feels fear.
- Push through the fear instead of living in the fear.
- Learn from your experiences and make changes when necessary.
Korn also suggested tips the audience could use at job interviews:
- Take a job coach along to act as an advocate.
- Talk about your motivation to do a good job.
- Discuss your life experiences, because those can translate into real knwledge on the job.
Wanda Huber, of Toledo, told about how she attended a job interview at a northwest Ohio Krogers with her sister, who is deaf. Huber said her sister was afraid of being rejected for employment. “She didn’t know how she would be accepted.”
Instead, the two were pleasantly surprised when they realized the interviewer had a hearing impairment and knew American Sign Language. “My sister was hired on the spot,” Huber said.
Korn also asked, “If you didn’t feel fear in your life, what would you do with your life?” A variety of answers resulted, and the audience collectively said, “You can do it!” to those who spoke up. “Have courage, keep moving forward,” Korn said. “Go for the job you want.”
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Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission NewsNet
July/August 2007, Vol. 23, Nov. 4
Promoting employment of Ohioans with disabilities
RSC NewsNet is published six times per year as the official publication of the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (RSC), Office of Communications, 400 E. Campus View Blvd., Columbus, OH 43235-4604; 1-800-282-4536 v/TTY. Content may be reprinted with credit.
It is the policy of RSC’s Office of Communications to use “people first” language in stories written by staff for its publications. Articles reprinted exactly as they originally appeared from sources outside the agency may not reflect this policy.
State of Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission
Commissioners: Joyce C. Young, chair; Mark Seifarth, vice chair; David V. Daugherty, Karen DeWine, and Jacqui Romer-Sensky
Executive Director: John M. Connelly II
Editor: Trudy F. Sharp
RSC Contributors: Chris Estep, James Gears, Elizabeth Sammons, Marilyn Sydow and Lucille Walls
Staff: Cheryl Cobb, Louise Czatt, Beth Gianforcaro, David Lauridson, Kelly Rammell and Valerie Snavely
Mention of any product, service or event in NewsNet does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by RSC.
