Ask Me, If You Can – Chef Marcel’s Monthly Q&A
“Chef, how to apply abroad? How do you deal with a difficult boss? How can I get promoted?”
Ask me and I will do my best to help you find a solution. Once a month I am going to answer your questions here in my blog. If your question gets selected and published then you will receive a FREE copy of my eBook “Slamming It Out!”.
Drop me your question here now: slammingitout@gmail.com
Tina P. 25, Junior Sous Chef from Melbourne asked:
“My contract is about to finish next month and I have not secured a new job opportunity yet. Now I am nervous and a bit scared. I have bills to pay. How to deal with that fear?”
Great question Tina. Congratulations to your free book copy!
A few times I was in a similar situation when I finished off an assignment and had no follow up job. This can feel awkward, especially when you have financial obligations. The best way for me to fight this feeling of uncertainty was to keep myself busy with writing and sending applications like crazy. The feeling of being active helped me because I did something useful, namely applying for a new job. This was all I could do anyway.
I had to learn to be more patient and persistent as well. It is not easy but you can train yourself. What choice you have anyway? You cannot bake yourself a job, right?!
I kept applying and applying and applying. Sometimes it took me months to secure a new employment. Yes, that can be nerve-wracking.
Important is that you don’t beat yourself up for something which is not in your control.
Nobody controls the outcome of a job interview. The only thing you can control is yourself, meaning that you have to do what is in your power.
And what is in your power for example? The way your resume looks is in your power, the way you prepare yourself for the next job interview, the way you dress up for this next appointment. You control how many application you send out, if there are openings available to apply for. You control your ability to be patient and persistent. There a few things you have control over. Focus on that. This is all what you can do anyway and it is a lot actually. Believe me, sooner or later you will find something suitable for you.
As for me, I learned my lessons and started to put enough money on the side for so called “rainy days.” This helped me to keep my peace of mind.
And if you feel that you did a good job in controlling yourself and your actions than you automatically will feel better anyway. It will boost your self-esteem. Worry and anxiety are going to disappear gradually.
I just was hanging in there…till the day I received the email, saying: “Congratulations Marcel, you got the job, we hire you!”
Never give up Tina! Not as a Chef 
