There are all sorts of reasons why people sometimes lack career confidence. From taking time off work to have children to not getting the right training, a whole range of things can dent self-esteem. If you’re lacking belief in your abilities, you might find you’re reluctant to apply for new jobs or promotions, and you may feel generally pessimistic about the future. The good news is if your work-related confidence has taken a dive, there are some simple steps you can take to improve your situation.

Here are a few suggestions that might help to put a spring back in your step in the work arena.

Improve your qualifications

Qualifications can be the key to helping you unlock career doors, and so taking courses that are relevant and useful to your line of work, or the field you want to move into, can be a great first step when it comes to improving your confidence and prospects. There are lots of different courses available to choose from, including a variety of highly specialised vocational training programmes like the Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMAP) for trainee mortgage advisers and the National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety for those who want to become health and safety advisers.

Bear in mind that many training providers now give you the choice of studying online or in classrooms, providing you with greater flexibility in terms of how you work towards getting your qualifications. For example, CeMAP course provider offers interactive e-learning courses as well as traditional classroom-based programmes. Online learning could be especially useful if you have to balance your studies along with your family responsibilities. You can find out more about your options online. Although it takes some hard work and dedication to get new qualifications, this could work wonders to boost your self-esteem.

Challenge yourself

Another way to give your self-image a boost is to start challenging yourself more. Whether you take on new tasks in your current job, get voluntary work that takes you out of your comfort zone or simply start a new hobby that requires you to learn different skills, testing yourself and enhancing your abilities and experience can massively increase your confidence. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and avoid doing things that make you feel uncomfortable or nervous, but by making a conscious effort to break out of this mindset and by being willing to try new tasks, you can transform the way you think about yourself and your career.

Revamp your CV

First impressions count, and so knowing that you have a professional, polished CV can make you feel much better about applying for new jobs or promotions. This is why it’s worth spending some time revamping this document to ensure it showcases your skills in the best possible light. Make sure all of your relevant abilities, experience and achievements are up to date and take care to present the information in an appealing, accurate and clear way. Even if you’re not applying for a role right now, knowing that you have an impressive CV up your sleeve can make you more willing to seize opportunities as and when they arise.

You can’t simply wave a magic wand to give yourself added career confidence, but by being proactive and looking for ways to address your self-doubt, you can dramatically improve your prospects.

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