Photo by Matthew Henry from Burst.

If you’re looking for work, you may already know how hard it can be on your mental state, unless you’re being poached and the recruiter is doing what he can to entice you to jump ship.

One key aspect that can be hard is the doubt that can build up in your mind. You’ve been applying to many positions that you thought you were qualified for; why didn’t you get at least an interview? Or, you went to an interview and were not extended a job offer; did you say something wrong or did you omit to say something important that could have made a difference?

As you go through the job search process, each experience may affect your next steps. You may decide to modify your resume or your answers to some interview questions on the assumption that your earlier approach was inadequate. You may be right or wrong.

All this will have the compounding effect of adding uncertainty in your mind and make you doubt yourself. If that happens, remember that you should not doubt yourself. Stay confident and positive. Don’t make too many assumptions. Focus on what you can control. If you didn’t get that job, it was simply not meant to be.