It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned professional or first-time job seeker, we all need a dose of self-confidence to get us through the job-search process. From creating a resume that markets your best skills, to asking a favor of a networking colleague, to nailing the interview, each step in the process calls for a hefty level of confidence. And if you’re turned down for a choice position, a little self-confidence can help you move past the disappointment, learn something, and get back out there.
Confidence isn’t a trait possessed by the lucky few. Anyone can build self-confidence by developing certain habits and practicing them. Read the tips below and consider how to incorporate them into your day.
1-Speak with clarity. Don’t use phrases like “Um” or “I think”. When you speak with certainty and present your ideas with conviction, your audience will pay attention.
2-Look for small victories. Challenge yourself, even if the goal is a small one. Meeting small but achievable goals boosts your confidence.
3-Be your own brand of happy. Happiness is an important part of confidence because in order to be happy with what you do, you have to be happy with who you are. Seek your own satisfaction and approval for your accomplishments, rather than looking to others for it.
4-Listen. Actively listen and pay attention to others. Confident people don’t feel as through they have anything to prove so they tend to listen more than they talk. View interactions as opportunities to learn and grow.
5-Practice taking risks, even tiny ones. When you fail (we all do), forgive yourself, find the lesson and move on.
6-Learn from your mistakes. When you’ve made a mistake, whether a missed deadline or a project flop, learn from it. Don’t take things personally.
7-Celebrate others’ successes. Since you have learned to find your self-worth and happiness from within, you don’t need to grab the spotlight. Let it shine on others.
Build your confidence by thinking of ways you can use these tips and then practice them. You’ll probably add other ideas from your own life experiences and they all add up, helping you to build and maintain self-confidence at work and in life.
