You need to have confidence to pass interviews FILE Not many entry-level and first-time job seekers are coached or tutored on how to gain more self-confidence. SOCIAL MEDIA HRP GROUP By DAVID OTIENO OCHIENG ochiengxavier@gmail Posted Monday, July 1 2013 at 9:00 AM IN SUMMARY Not many entry-level and first-time job seekers are coached or tutored on how to gain more self-confidence I have learnt that confidence begins with pushing yourself towards a positive attitude. Before an interview, I tell myself that I am capable of great things, great performance, and that the interview is only a little chat I must have to get the job Doubting oneself only leads to criticising oneself, which plants deep roots that can be almost impossible to weed out THIS STORY We are often advised to be confident. Confidence comes when we feel passionately about what we perform, what we have achieved, and what we can offer. Lack of confidence can hinder a lot of things, ranging from how you get ahead in your career to the number of skills you are able to acquire. It is a determining factor in the way you direct your career. Confidence is conveyed from the inner to the outer through the words you speak and the posture you assume. Building confidence is not a one-day affair. Neither does it take other people to build your confidence. I remember an interview I once conducted for secretaries, and the memory of one woman is intact. She stammered from the point she entered the office to the moment she left. Thinking that it was interview jitters, we called her again, based on her technical qualifications rather than her presentation. She presented the same problem. We settled on a different candidate because confidence was a key qualification for the job which involved dealing with clients and colleagues. Not many entry-level and first-time job seekers are coached or tutored on how to gain more self-confidence. Instead, we tell them to “attend a few events, meet more people, and get the hang of it.” That is not the right approach. Often, by the time you “get the hang of it”, you will have probably ruined a few chances, stepped on a few toes, and generally spoilt a few opportunities. Confidence starts from within, which means working with you to find an effective method based on your capabilities. Having had quite some experience interviewing and being interviewed, I have developed three sure-fire ways that not only help me before an interview, but improve my general self-confidence. You may start with one as you progress and eventually build your own self-confidence tactics. I have learnt that confidence begins with pushing yourself towards a positive attitude. Before an interview, I tell myself that I am capable of great things, great performance, and that the interview is only a little chat I must have to get the job. Not only do I talk myself into entering the interview room, but I also talk myself into achieving success, whether or not I need the job. About 90 per cent of the time, I have been successful in interviews. Doubting oneself only leads to criticising oneself, which plants deep roots that can be almost impossible to weed out. My mentor always used to say, “You are what you think you are.” Secondly, beginning with one small step rather than giant leaps will ensure that you tackle interviews and first jobs with a lot of self-confidence. There are two ways to go through this. The first one has to do with something that you like doing, such as writing a song. However, this should not be just any song but a new one created out of your love for music. My personal pre-interview confidence boost is to cook something that I have never tried before. This boosts my self-confidence to new levels. After achieving that particular goal, you must pat yourself on the back. The second approach is to undertake something you would not normally do, such as going out alone, which personally scares me. But having tackled that one scary thing, you are able to do something that you cannot do normally, such as joining a networking group. The third step to building confidence involves holding onto that little surge of confidence. Once you have tackled what you have previously found to be difficult, then the next step would be to focus on building your self-confidence a lot further. Ensure that this becomes not only a monthly confidence boost, but a daily one because, as we are all programmed, we must build our self-confidence habitually to maintain it. Routines have been known to help anybody to acquire and maintain confidence. (c) 2013 LEGENDARY FRIENDS CORPORATION
Posted on: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 06:06:23 +0000
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