The last few years have really given us all time to reflect on what it is we really want, says guest writer and neuro-linguistic programming practitioner Olivia Chitty – and now it’s time to action those desires with these top tips for job interviews.
If you’re in the market for a new job, read the below for the ultimate confidence boost in applying for a new position – and good luck!
Wow, what a ride the past two years have been! As we pressed pause time after time, we were given an opportunity to slow down and reflect. Always busy and running around on autopilot, before, we rarely stopped to consider what’s working in our lives – but more importantly, what’s not.
Lockdowns gave us the space to zoom out and take stock. It prompted questions like, ‘Do I really enjoy my job?”, ‘Should I switch things up?” or ‘Is now the time to go out on my own?”.
After retreating indoors, confined to a bubble, we were reminded how important connection really is. Not only with our friends and family, but also with ourselves! Time is so valuable and sometimes it can feel like our work strips all of it away, making it difficult to maintain healthy relationships, a stable wellbeing and to simply have fun.
Finally people are reassessing their priorities and carving out more time for themselves and to do the things they are truly passionate about. This shift has led to the ‘Great Resignation’ currently sweeping through New Zealand. Recent research from AUT shows the number of people who are highly motivated to leave their job has risen to 52 percent, roughly about a third since May last year!
People are seeking more flexibility and meaning in their jobs and many have quit the workforce to start their own business! With the rise in resignations, recruiters are on a searching spree and employers are feeling the pressure, rather than the other way around.
So, if you’re a jobseeker, now’s the time to know your worth and negotiate with confidence, so you can land a role that’s truly rewarding. Sure, a shiny CV and LinkedIn profile may land you an interview, but it’s YOU that will seal the deal. Consider this for thought: confidence may get you a job, but self-worth will determine whether or not you get you THE job!
Easier said than done I know, but below I’ll impart a few valuable learnings and tips for job interviews to help you build the confidence and self-worth to secure that job you want.
Tip 1 – Get clarity
What is your ideal job? Of course the salary can be an important factor, but think bigger. Maybe you’re sick of meaningless work and you want to work for a company with a positive purpose? You spend the majority of your week at work so you want to make sure the environment and company culture inspires you. What type of work are you passionate about? What will keep you motivated and engaged on a daily basis? A role that offers professional development and clear growth opportunities might be the ticket. Consider the hours and flexibility, do you want to work in the office everyday or do you prefer to work remotely?
Check-in with your core values and what’s most important to you. This will help you decide what companies and roles are in alignment, making it easier to choose what’s worth your time and what’s not. When you find a company that aligns with your values, you will also have a better chance of nailing the interview, as your passion will shine through. Employers don’t just want experience, they want enthusiasm. If you resonate with their mission, make sure they know it.
Tip 2 – Silence the self-doubt
As you start your search and read through the various job descriptions, your inner imposter– that annoying voice in your head–will pop up and say things like, “you’re not good enough, don’t even bother.” It will try to convince you that, unless you tick every single box then you’ll never have a chance. Your inner critic is formed from past experiences of rejection and failure, it collects all of those negative events as evidence to solidify your limiting beliefs. To silence the self-doubts, you need to find and focus on the opposite ‘evidence’ to positively reinforce the empowering beliefs you are trying to cultivate.
Take note of the times where your skills and value as a person were appreciated and celebrated. For example; awards you’ve received, past promotions, praise from an old manager and anything else you are personally proud of!
Replace your negative self-talk with positive affirmations. Avoid saying things like “I can’t” or “I’m not good at..” this type of language may seem harmless but on a subconscious level it affects you more than you think! Even if right now, you lack certain knowledge or experience, you still have the potential to learn and gain those skills, so don’t put yourself in a box with no room to grow! Grasp the growth mindset and stay dedicated to developing your skills, as you do, your confidence will naturally shine.
Tip 3 – Know your worth!
We’ve all heard this phrase, but let’s clarify what it really means. Worthiness is the quality of feeling good enough and knowing you are deserving of respect, appreciation, money and whatever else you desire. Self-worth is understanding the value of the qualities you possess and not trading those qualities for less than you see fit.
So to start strengthening your self-worth, write a list of the positive qualities you possess in regards to work, not only your tangible skill set but also your soft skills, for example; Great time management, maybe you’re a quick learner or a proactive problem solver?
Then choose a few points to expand on further. Write a few paragraphs about why that quality (time management) is valuable and likely to be appreciated by a future employer. By knowing exactly what you bring to the table, it will help you define and sell your unique value proposition and make it a whole lot easier to negotiate with confidence.
Remember, now more than ever, they need you. Be bold and shoot high because if you don’t ask, you won’t receive.
Get prepared
As you start applying, make sure you research the company and take note of the listed requirements you can deliver, this will help you personalise your CV and cover letter to position yourself as the ideal candidate. Then, when you land the interview you will be mentally prepared for all the questions, making it easier to engage in the conversation with natural confidence.
You also need to face your fears and prepare for the worst. The chances of rejection are reasonably high, but if the worst case scenario is that you don’t get the job, you’re no worse off than you were before. In fact you’re actually better off with a bit of practice! It’s all about perspective. The way you respond to rejection will determine whether you settle for satisfactory, or stay strong and secure the spot you want. I know it can be hard to shake off and stay motivated, especially when you’ve been trying for a while with little luck.
Think about the meaning you attach to ‘rejection’, you probably have a story in your mind that sounds something like this “If I’m constantly getting rejected, that must mean I’m a failure and I’m just not good enough”, although if you switch your perspective and choose a new meaning, for example, “rejection allows me to reflect on the feedback, it gives me something to improve on and therefore prompts me to learn and become a better person”, you will feel more accepting of the downfalls and find it easier to bounce back. Maybe, there’s an even better role waiting around the corner and those previous attempts were preparing you for the perfect position. Be patient and trust the process because there will be plenty of employers lucky to have you.
Need more help? Feel free to reach out and together we can uncover your unique strengths and put together a personalised plan so you can move forward with confidence, and see Olivia’s previous story on cycle syncing here.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, so if you’re interested in learning more, check out Olivia’s ‘Burnout ~ Balance’ course, and her ‘Balanced Life Dashboard’ – a digital platform to manage your work, life and wellbeing all in one place. There’s even a cycle syncing tool and monthly planner to help you put things into practice. The course is intentionally created to help ambitious women overcome the limitations of their own mind, reconnect with their inner guidance, and to bring their life back into balance. Balancedbyolivia.com
