Becoming a confident and self-assured individual is very much a product of time and age. For the most part, the first step to finding consistent self-confidence is maturing. This is not to say that younger individuals cannot find confidence in themselves. Of course, we are all able to find confidence in our own ways. But, the kind of confidence and self-assurance that you can consistently call upon is a careful and practiced skill.
Self-confidence and conviction are two of the most positive and worthwhile traits someone can possess—particularly in the working world or job hunt. As current grads in today’s job search environment, maintaining a positive and confident attitude can be a serious challenge. We’re faced with an unseemly amount of student loan debt, soaring unemployment rates, and one of the most competitive job markets in years. After rejection letter after rejection letter, staying confident in your abilities and outlook can be tricky.
But, of course, confidence is key to landing the job you want. Employers want newly graduated employees who are capable and confident in their abilities. Don’t let your job search woes deter your chances in an interview. Use these three tips to build more self-confidence and find more success in the job market and on the job.
Surround Yourself with Positive People
The people who surround you can tell you a lot about your own personal image. If you surround yourself with negative people, it is likely that you yourself become a negative person when you are around them. Positivity is key to remaining confident and supportive of yourself.
Find people that help you feel confident about yourself and keep them nearby. Friends and family should be people that help you feel better about yourself and the environment around you. Confidence comes from knowing and enjoying yourself. You have to be positive about your actions, thoughts, friends, and experiences, if you want any chance of finding confidence in yourself.
Set Achievable Goals
Goal-setting is a significant portion of finding confidence in your abilities. Create a list of long term and short term goals that you want to accomplish. This list can absolutely be ambitious, but it shouldn’t be inconceivable.
Understand what your strengths and weaknesses are and respond to them in your goal-setting. Try to find things you want to accomplish that will challenge you without setting you up to fail. Successful goal setting is all about understanding yourself. Create goals that you can push yourself to reach and then follow through.
Checking things off of your goals list is a wonderful concrete way to build confidence. With so much disappointment in our job search process, finding positive things to attain outside of the job search is very worthwhile.
Try New Things
Stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new can be a great way to boost your confidence. By challenging yourself to something new and exciting, you expand your limitations and find confidence in your own abilities.
Facing your fears and following through with your goals is a great way to help you recognize just how strong and capable you really are. Trying new things that excite and push us helps us to live life with fewer barriers. These self-imposed barriers are typically put in place because we perceive these things and actions as something we are not capable of overcoming or accomplishing. By knocking down and shaking these boundaries we become more confident in ourselves and are personal choices. In many ways, interviewing and job searching is all about stepping out of your comfort zone.
You put yourself on the line and invite others to “judge” your abilities and say “yes” or “no”. This is a nerve-racking experience. By trying new things more regularly, some of the nerves and newness about job search elements can lessen.
Angelita Williams is a freelance blogger specializing in education-related content. She’s familiar with educational practices for every age and lifestyle, from online college courses to homeschooling to traditional learning. You can contact Angelita anytime at angelita.williams7@gmail.com.
