Confidence and competence are two main keys to success for advancing higher career levels. Now there are more women studying at the university level than men, but from a career perspective, women still lag behind in senior management positions globally. Only around 5% of women hold the CEO positions among S&P 500 companies, while in FTSE 100 companies, a mere six women are the CEO.
There are many reasons behind it and one of it is self-doubt, especially when female professionals start to talk about their accomplishments at work. Nevertheless, for all the women who tend to undersell themselves, there are some effective tips that help to project confidence and competence. Using these tips will guarantee you’ll get a hiring manager’s attention.
1. Good-looking Resume
If your resume will look dull and boring, no one will even read it. That’s why making sure your CV stands out from the rest visually, will earn you a big advantage over the others. Moreover, you don’t even need to have a design background to create a good-looking resume. There are many resume templates out there, which will only require you to fill in your information and if you really want to nail it, you can check some of the best options here.
2. Talk About Yourself
Women by their nature are more emotional and social, that’s why from women’s perspective their accomplishments are not only their own but is a result from their work and their colleague’s support. While this is a very humble approach to one’s achievements, the hiring managers still want to hear only about the person’s accomplishments alone. To show confidence, you should keep the focus on yourself.
You might be thinking that you are fortunate enough to get promoted in your last job, because of the support from others, but in reality, only the hard work you put created results that got you promoted. In general, being a team player or/and a leader is a great trait in most positions, so it’s okay to mention it. Nevertheless, it should never outshine your own achievements and competence. Always highlight your accomplishments and avoid words and phrases like “I was lucky”, “My colleagues helped me very much” or “it just happened that way”.
3. Practice Relaxation
Now you might be wondering, what does relaxing have to do with a job interview? The answer is simple. Job interviews create stress, that causes a negative effect. You might forget everything you’ve done to prepare for the interview and in general might make you feel uncomfortable, which stops from being yourself. That’s absolutely natural, since nearly everyone experiences anxiety before an interview, even seasoned professionals.
The best tactic to battle against stress has always been relaxation. There are three main ways to cope with anxiety which are meditating, sports and yoga. Doing at least one of those will help you in a long run, but for job interviews, you could use breathing techniques or a short meditation. By arriving 15-20 minutes early for the interview, try to spend some time meditating and taking deep slow breaths for few minutes.
4. Adjust Your Body Language
Leaving a good first impression can benefit job interview greatly. While most of us dress and talk accordingly to the position we are aiming for, there’s still one thing that gets missed by many. That thing is body language. The way you position your body can help to build trust and confidence between you and the interviewer. This is especially important in the first minutes of the interview.
There are many tips and tricks for body language but we’ll cover a few main ones. During the interview, lean forward to show that you’re engaged in the discussion while having your chest open and shoulders down. Always avoid folding arms or hanging head. Your goal with body language is to appear open, friendly, professional and self-assured.
5. Show Enthusiasm
Candidate’s competence and achievements are not the only two things hiring managers are interested in. Another very important thing is the applicant’s enthusiasm and motivation to work in their company. Being excited to work in their company tells your interviewer that you’ll be able to solve work problems, learn new things fast and adapt to the flow of the company.
During the job interview, mention something positive about the company. You can also discuss what qualities you admire in the company and how they align with your own values. Lastly, show your curiosity about the next steps in the selections process and ask how you can get prepared.
6. It’s a Discussion
The job interview is a discussion, don’t forget it. Ask questions, show your interest. Negotiate the salary and other benefits and show that you’re fully aware of your possibilities and that you know very well what you want and why. Be honest, but never undersell yourself – it’s okay to tell that there are some things that you don’t know, but it’s not okay to say that without ideas how to fix it.