Not everyone is as assertive or outspoken as many employers would like. There are all sorts of personalities in the world, from the most confident to the severly timid and sensitive; because everyone is unique. However, when you know that you're an overly sensitive person, this may become very detrimental to your tenure on the job, especially when it's time for constructive criticism from the boss.
To make yourself more valuable on the job market, try out some of these tips to develop a thick skin.
Keep in mind: It's not YOU, it's the situation
When your boss criticizes your work, it is very easy to put blame on oneself. However, the reason for this criticism is to help you improve. Think about sports; coaches and players can yell, scream, and make some personal comments, but they aren't meant to attack the player necessarily, but the goal is to win. Therefore, since their emotion is tied so much into the game, they want that same emotion to show through in the player's efforts.
So, when you're employer points out all the wrongs in your work, it is because his goal is to see the company take off, so he needs you to be attentive enough to those flaws, so that you can in turn help him/her make the company thrive. So take heed to the words, so that when your boss calls you back for another meeting, it will be words of praise.
Be willing to learn
Those who are overly sensitive take things so personally that the lesson embedded within the constructive criticism is often overlooked. Be open to what your boss is trying to tell you. It's very easy to see all the things that are right about your work, but if you stop and actually listen, you'll realize your overlooked faults and apply the suggestions given by your employer. This will show him that you are not stubborn, but actually willing to do things his/her way for the sake of the company.
Turn the negative feeling into perseverance
After a meeting with your boss, you either walk out feeling great or not so great. If your manager critiques your work and lists all the things you need to change, you could end up walking out of his/her office feeling pretty defeated. The best thing to do is: DON'T! Turn that feeling of defeat, rejection and sadness into perseverance and push even harder! You want to make sure you make progress and not digress.
So, remember, feedback is a great way for you to be even better in what you do. For those searching for a job, remember, the object isn't to feel good, it's to get a job! So when recruiters comments on your unprofessional resume or your lack of experience, you know he/she just provided you with some useful information that you can take with you to be an even better candidate later on!
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