The Impact of Self-Esteem
Contributor(s):
Karen Lawson, MD
Consider the following real-world example of how self-esteem influenced two people's responses to the same situation.
Three candidates interviewed for a job. One candidate was hired and the other two were sent rejection letters. Of these two, one had high self-esteem and the other low self-esteem. Read how each candidate responded to their rejection letter. Have you ever been in a similar situation? How did you respond?
| Low self-esteem: I interpreted the rejection letter to mean that my skills were lacking, my presentation wasn't polished - that I was just not good enough. I got depressed and didn't want to apply for any other jobs. I didn't tell anyone that I didn't get the job because I was too embarrassed. |
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| High self-esteem: I interpreted the rejection letter as a sign that I needed to improve my interviewing and presentation skills. I asked my friends for constructive criticism, modified my presentation, and applied for a similar job at another company. I see each job interview as a valuable opportunity to practice my skills and gain more experience.
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