Master the job search with these confidence-boosting hacks

Whether you’ve recently faced some rejection, or you just can’t muster the self-confidence for a successful job search — this one’s for you

The job search can be a pretty daunting prospect for anyone, even those with years of experience under their belt. So it’s not surprising that many students and recent graduates struggle to channel their inner Beyoncé when looking for work.

But honestly, it really isn’t as scary as you think, in fact, the people conducting those interviews and assessment centres are probably just as nervous as you.

We caught up with our expert career advisers here at the University of Birmingham and asked them for their top tips for giving yourself the confidence boost you need to achieve your career dreams.

Write it down

Journalling has been a wellbeing favourite for some time now, but we’re not asking you to go to the effort of writing something every single day, instead, why not gift yourself some time to write down your skills, projects, achievements, strengths, qualities and why any employer would be lucky to have you.

Don’t stop there though, identify your weaknesses too (but don’t get hung up on them). Having a weakness is never a bad thing, and being able to acknowledge them and think about how you could overcome them is a trait many employers are after. It’s called being self-aware.

Whenever you’re feeling a sense of self-doubt, open your notebook and remind yourself of the great things you can do and have accomplished.

If you’re struggling to think of anything, turn to those closest to you for some help — chances are they’ll think of lots of positives that you wouldn’t even have considered.

Try something new

There’s lots of research out there that proves trying out a new hobby can not only improve your well-being but have a great impact on your confidence too. Why? Well, every time you solve a puzzle or learn something new, you start to build more faith in yourself and your abilities, and just feel great about that thing you’ve just accomplished — a great way to build your overall self-confidence if you ask us.

Practice

If you’ve got an interview or assessment centre coming up, or you’re about to hit send for an application or CV and nerves are getting the better of you, then the best thing you can do for your confidence is to practice.

You can do this with online tools such as our CV checker or interview practice software, seeking out the help of a professional (such as a meeting with a careers consultant/mentor or sending your application for feedback), or asking to practice with a member of your family.

By practicing, you’ll reduce stress when it comes to the real deal, helping you to focus on the problem at hand without getting bogged down in the other more ‘unhelpful’ thoughts that can overcrowd your brain during a stressful situation — it’s a great, simple and effective way of boosting your confidence.

Partner Up

Whether it’s a friend, partner, another job seeker, a coach — whoever it is, partnering up with someone to face the job search together will really help with your confidence. You can help spur each other on, proof each other’s writing, and celebrate each other’s successes.

Positive Talk

Too many of us fall into the trap of talking negatively to and about ourselves, and it doesn’t do anyone any good. A lot of people are scared to talk positively to themselves because it feels so unnatural (and it’s unsurprising when we’ve spent so many years doing the opposite), but by reminding yourself of your worth, you start to believe it!

Believe you’re the best candidate for the job, and the employer will believe it to.

Get Inspired

Sometimes, it just takes a little nudge to give you the inspirational drive and confidence you need. Whether that be through reading good news stories and case studies of fellow graduates, reading motivational books, following a blog, or seeking out the help of a professional career expert or mentor — whoever or whatever it is, take a moment to understand the story, understand what it is about that person or story which you admire, and consider how you can adopt those behaviours to boost your confidence.

Don’t forget, as a University of Birmingham student and recent graduate, you can access a range of services that can help boost your confidence during your job search. This includes workshops, mentoring schemes, one-to-one appointments, online resources, panel events and more.