Saturday, 20 March 2010

• Too Shy to Look for a Job?

  
  

  A recent advice column on CNNMoney has a reader asking how she can take advantage of networking when she's really shy. She tends to put off the cold calls and contacting people online.

  I can definitely sympathize with this person. I feel like being shy could be the most detrimental quality when it comes to searching for a job because the entire process is all about putting yourself out there. If you aren't able to go after the opportunities, who knows how many jobs you could be missing out on.

  For the longest time, the most intimidating part of job hunting for me was networking. Even at mixers my school puts on, I would feel awkward trying to make small talk. The funniest part is that I'm fine at interviews. But something about having to make initial contact really gets to me. I just have a really hard time approaching people for the first time.
  

  I've gotten over it a bit by just making myself get out there and do it. Sure, I feel awkward for a few minutes, but eventually I'm be able to strike up conversation with someone (usually by the food!). Once that first conversation is out of the way, I'm much more at ease.

  Have you ever struggled with being shy while looking for a job? Or do you have a different quality that makes the job hunt just as difficult?

  [via money.cnn.com]

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