Kat Boogaard* gives five tips on how to be a more confident, and more successful, job seeker.
Whether you’re anxiously waiting to head into that big interview or nervously refreshing your inbox for news about an application you’ve submitted, it’s common to have those butterflies in your stomach when you’re looking for a new job.
Rest assured, nerves are normal during a job search. But if you can keep the butterflies at bay, you’ll be on your way to success.
Here are five tips to becoming a more confident job seeker.
- Know what you want
Confidence in your job search starts well before you ever meet with a hiring manager.
In fact, developing that self-assuredness begins before you even submit your first application.
Before sending out your resume, take some time to nail down exactly what you’re looking for in your next career move.
Do you want more flexibility? To move into a leadership position? A total career change?
What types of things do you want to be responsible for and what are you looking for in regards to company culture?
By honing in on what you want, you’ll be far more confident as you peruse open positions—and you’ll know when you’ve found something that fits the bill.
Remember, as much as that employer is looking for a good fit, you need to find the right fit for you as well.
- Understand your qualifications
Nothing gives you a bigger confidence boost than knowing exactly what you bring to the table.
With that in mind, sit down and list out your key skills and qualities that any employer would see value in, along with a “wins sheet” that details your results, awards, and other achievements in your career.
Of course, you’ll need to customise your resume and tailor your cover letter depending on the specific job and what it requires.
However, thinking through your core competencies and developing your own personal value proposition will remind you of the fact that you’re a highly qualified job seeker.
- Enlist help
Getting some help from others and leaning on your network can help you build your confidence.
For example, you can have a close friend or someone in your network read through your resume and cover letter before you submit it.
This can help reassure you that you’re turning in your very best materials.
Or, you can reach out to an expert career coach who can help you revise your resume, practice for interviews, and provide guidance and support throughout your job search.
- Focus on preparation
Before you participate in a phone screening or an interview, make sure you’ve researched the company (and your interviewer!) and have a solid grasp of what the job entails.
Prepare some questions you want to ask so you can end the conversation by proving that you’re highly engaged in the hiring process.
Getting your ducks in a row will take a little more time.
But you’d rather be over-prepared than under-prepared—it’ll give you the confidence you need to really shine.
- Put it into perspective
In most cases, the worst-case scenario is that you won’t land the job—and, while that may be disappointing, it really means that you’re no worse off than you were before.
If you step back and give yourself some perspective when things are feeling tough, you’ll realise that the situation isn’t usually as dire as it seems.
Recognising that will give you some added self-assuredness as you continue to tackle your job search.
Believe in yourself
By putting these five tips to work and staying positive about the process, you’ll be able to approach every application and interview with an extra dose of confidence.
Believing in your skills and what you bring to the table as an employee gives you the strength and conviction to power through whatever your job search may bring.
*Kat Boogaard is a contributing writer at FlexJobs, specialising in career and self-development advice.
This article first appeared at flexjobs.com
