Sell yourself with confidence

Showing confidence is the number one characteristic of a great sales person. A job interview is, in essence, a sales meeting. You are selling yourself. So, in order to ace an interview, show confidence in your ability to do that job better than anyone else.

Some people have had the benefit of parents who instilled confidence in them from their first word or step, and throughout their lifetime. Others have not had this experience. So, how do you increase or build self confidence to ensure you nail that job interview?

First, apply for jobs you feel you are qualified for and interested in. That sounds so rudimentary, but many job seekers are blasting out their resumes out of desperation, for job postings that they have no related experience or education! Doing this is sure to break down your confidence when you do not get many responses back, or when you struggle to sell your ability to do the job in an interview.

Secondly, start taking some risks. If possible, take a small risk every day; doing something outside of your comfort zone. Start with easy risks, like talking to someone in a lineup, about anything, even the high price of oil or the weather! Then, each day, add a little more risk; take a drive to the mountains by yourself, spend 50 dollars on something outrageous, or volunteer for a cause and follow through on that commitment! All baby risks, but even these risks will help build confidence over time.

Next on the confidence building ladder is to have a difficult conversation with someone, apologizing for something in the past, maybe admitting fault or opening up about your feelings. Doing any of these things shows humility and will absolutely build confidence once the conversation is complete. Next, make a list of accomplishments; go way back in time if that’s what is needed, but write the biggest list you can think of. This list can be a mishmash of things, from elementary school to today, from tiny items (wrote an essay on elephants) to big stuff (bought a house, raised a family). The confidence builder will come when you share this list with someone who cares about you. Let this other person tell you how great you are, how smart you are, how risky that was, and how thoughtful you were! Take it all in, and realize how great you truly are!

Lastly, put a sticky note on your morning mirror with a few words that resonate with you; positive words that you have heard or that you know to be true about you. Only you can choose these words and only you will see them in the morning when you brush your teeth. These words should make you smile; you should look at yourself in the mirror and see how true these words are. Alas, confidence raised, you will be ready to sell yourself in that job interview. Walk in tall with a firm handshake and fabulous eye contact, because YOU are the best person for the job!