Self-efficacy is defined as having a core belief or conviction about one’s abilities, efficiency, and effectiveness. Self-efficacious people have initiative, a high level of confidence, and a considerable amount of self-esteem. They think analytically and are action-oriented and persistent: all traits that are essential to any job search or career success.
A person with a high level of self-efficacy has the “I can do it” and “I will do it” attitude, and this is good. It is this certainty that makes them self-motivated and able to handle a task and overcome obstacles and challenges with little help from the outside. They set goals, execute the actions required, and find resources, ideas, and solutions. They make good leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and job seekers.
Here are some tips for achieving self-efficacy:
Acquire knowledge
Someone once said that you are only afraid of what you don’t know. It is important to understand yourself (why you do what you do) and to identify your strengths and weaknesses. If you find areas that are holding you back career-wise, study, learn new things, have more experiences. Learn how to effectively use your brain and how to focus — these are skills that you can acquire if you put in the effort and determination.
Challenge your assumptions
Another strategy to achieve career self-efficacy is to challenge your existing assumptions about your capability, ability, and competence. This refers to toughening your mentality to fight your fear and look at your actual potential. Your effectiveness in the job search and throughout your career will increase if you create a different perception of your present reality.
Do something yourself
Another way to improve your career self-efficacy is to problem solve on your own if something goes awry. If your efforts fail to produce the result you want, try something else. If you haven’t solved the problem, ask yourself what will happen if you go a little further and try one more little thing — you just might be surprised at the outcome. A good example of this stick-to-itiveness is networking. Sometimes we expect that reaching out to one person will lead us to opportunity. The reality is that sometimes one must connect with three, four, or five people before finally reaching the one with the opportunities.
Observe how other people do things
Prepare, research, learn, and engage with experts and see how they do what they do. You can determine their effectiveness by looking at their results. Your career services office most likely will take an evidence-based approach like this when providing resources, services, or advice. This evidence is based on what has previously worked for students — showing nothing is impossible if someone has done it before.
Planning and preparation
Planning and preparation allow you to expect better results and achieve your short- and long-term career goals. Brainstorming ideas, setting goals, and writing down your action steps can help you gain control of your job search and produce results. Trust us, the time spent on these activities will never be wasted energy. Remember: Everything counts.
Use your brain and mind effectively
If you think you are beaten, you are. You have been tricked into believing that you are ineffective and incompetent, and that many things are impossible. But you can use your brain and your mind to change or reframe this story. Only you have the power over the pictures you want to see, the words you want to hear, and the feelings you want to experience. The good news is that there are career counselors at your fingertips to help you do that.
Following these tips will increase your self-efficacy, motivate and deepen your belief about your competency and effectiveness, and inspire you to identify yourself with career success.
