Most of us like to watch a game show now and again. Sometimes there’s that contestant that you look at and think ‘They won’t win anything, they’ll be out in the first round’. Half an hour later and they’ve won the big prize. Despite all the odds, that person has the self-belief that they can succeed.
They’ve had the confidence to apply to go on the show in the first place. They’ve been brave enough to go on TV and potentially open themselves up to public failure. Because of their self-belief they’ve given themselves that opportunity to win and sometimes to change their lives.
I’m not suggesting that every time you submit a CV, fill in a job application or go to an interview that you’re taking part in some kind of gameshow. I’m saying that the kind of positive attitude that winning contestants have to keep going and believe they are capable of succeeding, is what we need when looking for a new role in this constantly changing career market.
We all have skills and experience that have the potential to be valued by a new employer. However, if we constantly put barriers in our way, our chances of realising that potential get reduced as each barrier goes up. Some of these common barriers are:
1. ‘I can’t apply for that job because I don’t have the right experience, or I’ve never done that job before.’
Identify your transferable skills, not just from previous jobs, but from voluntary work and life experience. Apply these to the requirements of the role.
2. ‘I don’t think I can put that on my job application.’
It’s very important not to put anything on you application that isn’t true. It’s equally important to recognise that, on the whole, we’re not good at selling our own talents. Culturally we tend to underplay our achievements. This is not the time to do that! If you’ve personally been responsible for a success in your job, don’t be afraid to take credit for it and tell your potential new employer about it.
3. ‘Even if I do get selected for an interview, they’ll be so many more experienced candidates than me, I’ll never get the job.’
Having reviewed hundreds of CVs to shortlist candidates for interview, I can assure you that if the recruiter doesn’t see something in your CV that makes you suitable for the role, you’re not going to get selected for interview! From the recruiter’s perspective, interviews are time-consuming and often need to be fitted in around other work pressures. A recruiter is not going to invest time in you if they don’t think you have something to offer.
4. ‘I’ve got an interview, but I’m so bad at them I ruin my chances of success.’
It’s likely there have been hundreds of applications for a vacancy, but generally only a dozen or fewer candidates will progress to the interview stage. The fact that you’ve been offered an interview should be a huge boost to your self-confidence. Your potential employer has seen something in you, so you should have the belief to see that in yourself as well. On the whole, the person interviewing you wants you to do well. You need to be prepared to answer what you might think of as ‘difficult’ questions, but they’re unlikely to be trying to deliberately trip you up. If you prepare properly for your interview, you’ll give yourself the best chance for success.
You can have all the skills and experience a potential employer is looking for, but if you don’t have the confidence to believe that you can succeed, you’re setting yourself up for failure before you even start. So, are we entering an era now when self-belief is more important than experience in finding your next role? Find out more about building your self-belief skills at The Employment Organisation https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/young-professional-training/self-belief-skills-young-professional/
If you’d like some support with writing your CV, preparing your LinkedIn profile, completing job applications or preparing for interview, please get in touch. We’d be very happy to talk to you about the services we have to offer.