First off, I'm so sorry this is happening to you. It's a lot, and all at once. But you will make it through.
One thing you should consider is changing how you talk about your job search -- to yourself first and foremost. People didn't "reject" you, they made a different choice. The way you talk about your search comes across as scattershot, you say you're applying for everything, including things you're overqualified for. This might seem like semantics, but language matters. You know viscerally that you need to get your confidence back; self-talk is the number one place to start.
What if you rephrased your job search as "looking for a new opportunity?" To yourself first and foremost, and then also to everyone you talk to.
I absolutely agree with Lesa and Emily: write this stuff down! Write down all the amazing things you do. Write down your professional accomplishments. Include the times you saved the day, the times you closed the deal, the times you were able to use hard and soft skills to make something happen.
In addition to seeing what you already do well, think about what you would like to do better. NOT how to shore up something you’re not good at. No, there’s no fun in that. What would be fun? In what ways would you enjoy getting better at something you are already good at? What could you do to double-down on your expertise? Or, what is some new shiny skill that you could learn that would be fun and enhance your value? You build your confidence by getting better at something AND you will meet new people who are also moving forward in their careers. Surrounding yourself with people who are doing the kinds of things you want to do helps all of you. A good friend of mine always says, “Circles rise together.”
Tap into your network for advice and support, not just to find another job – or rather, it’s all tied together. When someone gives you advice, they are investing in you. Your job is to make good on that investment. Unless it’s illegal or outside of your values*, take the advice! Report back with good news! People love to be acknowledged for having helped; if you actually take advice and let them know something good that came from it, they will be more likely to remember your name when a job opens up.
* To clarify: if it makes you uncomfortable, like “make five cold calls” for instance, do it anyway. If it’s potentially relationship-threatening, like “if you haven’t heard back in three days, show up demanding an answer,” well, maybe don’t. Run it through your internal compass, but just being outside your comfort zone is not enough of a reason to not do it. Be willing to stretch, and always find something good to say about the experience.
Finally, think about how you can parlay your specific skills into some short-term gigs if you find yourself fired sooner rather than later. Even just knowing you have options or a little money coming in another way can take your anxiety down a notch.
Okay, and REALLY finally (I know, there’s a lot here, but we’re in the stretch!) remember that almost one-third of jobs open up again for some reason within 6 months. Stay on good terms and if possible in loose contact with everyone you applied to. Be helpful. Show up to the same networking events. Be on their radar so that when a job you’re right for, but didn’t get because they made a different choice (not a better choice, just a different one for reasons we can’t control) – when one of those jobs opens up again, you’ll be top-of-mind to fill it.
You’ve got this!
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