Do you have the confidence needed to make good career moves? One of the signs of a career confidence issue is how you feel about talking about yourself in an interview. Job candidates secretly feel they are just average contributors, so they don’t feel comfortable talking about their skills and accomplishments.
Job seekers often feel awkward talking about their skills — worried about being too aggressive or too bland. While you may be more comfortable with a low-key approach, you could be giving the impression you lack confidence.The good news is you can overcome career confidence issues.
Career-confidence issues usually are rooted in one or more of these areas:
Lack of research: It’s hard to be confident when you lack information about the critical job skills. If you do your research, you’ll be able to have a good conversation with the interviewer and ask good questions. Talk with people already in the field to get a realistic idea if you are a good fit for the job.
Dwelling on the past: Learn from past mistakes and move on. If you had a job-performance issue, don’t let it influence how you feel about your skills. Let go of negative thoughts that keep you from confidently talking about your accomplishments.
Tunnel vision: Broaden your view of possible occupations by learning what it takes to be successful. Avoid limiting your job options. Get the facts before you rule out new career paths. You have more transferable skills than you realize.
Lack of self-awareness: Know your strengths and skills. If you can name only 5 or 6 areas of strength, you’re short-changing yourself. Reach out to your references or other people who know you well professionally and ask them to identify three of your strengths. This feedback improves your confidence and reminds you of achievements you may have overlooked.
Pleasing others: Pleasing other people instead of being true to your interests eventually will backfire. It’s hard to be genuine when you’re interviewing because someone else thinks it’s a good fit for you.
How does your confidence affect your job search?
