Confidence Archives - The Voice of Job Seekers

Why Should You Make Confidence Your Essential Skill by Mark Anthony Dyson

Confidence makes a presentation powerful. It’s a legitimate job skill. Well, soft skill, but one employers desire. Any presentation for any meeting whether in a large group, or one-on-one, confidence is what employers expect.

If you brag to compensate for the lack of depth in your superficial-frosted-flake-eating-mediocre-career-pursuing-barely-quit-before-I-got-fired 30 second elevator speech, then you have my permission to NOT read the rest of this post. It’s not for you. You are probably too engorged with pride and arrogance to take anything value from this post.

Thanks to the rest of you. At least you’re interested in grasping additional confidence for the next business meeting, networking event, job interview, or meeting your fiancée’s mother for the first time. Congratulations.

Again, if you are self-indulgent in self-serving and self-pumping statements, this post will help you score.

You are probably getting call backs for commission-only sales jobs. Arrogance, ha!

The habits of confident candidates do not include bragging, boasting, or attempting to compensate for the lack of HOT credentials. The impact of your contributions says it all. No need to offer egregious adjectives, or shout lies from the mountain top.

On the contrary, less is more.

Confidence is genuine. Never fake. You can’t do both at the same time.
A confident candidate has completed their due diligence to understand what the position requires. Based on research, questions are prepared to ask tactfully, but directly to the interviewer.
Confident job candidates challenge but gently correct a potential employer who starts to make wrong assumptions solely based on the candidate’s appearance, speech, or looks. “Gently” is different than “abrupt” or “abrasive.”
An accomplished candidate speaks in $ and %, and not just in ! and ?
A hirable candidate has spent time developing his or her presentation skills. Practice and preparation was a part of the strategy.
He or she practices writing and interviewing, and become sharp and ready. Remember point #2?

The solution: Less is more. Focus more about measurements, contributions, and impact.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

Job Lesson From Dad: Son, Confidence Will Give You Life Right Now

Confidence, in my opinion, can serve two purposes in anyone’s career. While teens are working, or seek work, they need to know the difference between confidence, and cockiness. They hear words like swagger (“swagga” for some), and think by walking, talking, and thinking boastfully will exude an attractive persona to employers. This is true if the job description calls for intimidating the face-to-face opponent.

cock·y

¹ [kok-ee] Show IPA

adjective, cock·i·er, cock·i·est.

arrogant; pertly self-assertive; conceited: He walked in with a cocky air.

There was a phrase in the ‘50’s (so I’m told) for cocky young men as, “…he’s smelling himself.” A cocky young man is trying to compensate for weaknesses or missing key attributes. He wants to show the world what he has to offer is as good, or better, than anyone else’s.

con·fi·dence/ˈkänfidəns/

Noun:

The feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust: “we had every confidence in the staff”.
The state of feeling certain about the truth of something.

trust – faith – reliance – belief – credit – credence

Confidence is like writing a check knowing that there is money in the bank. People can sense confidence, and people will likely trust a confident person. A confident teen has to be taught how use it to obtain opportunities, especially jobs. Even if, the failure is eminent, a confident person understands the breadth of his or her skills.

Confidence is Taught

Training and influence from parents (or parent) is essential for teen jobseekers. The employment background of the parent is moot since confidence has to come from a guided and clear place. The lack of this life lesson defiles an American dream, derails a generation, and maybe a future career. It’s a gift that will keep on giving, if a parent gives installs it like a hard drive on a computer.

Confidence is Caught

Once a compelling example is witnessed by an impressionable young man or woman, they believe it’s possible, especially if it is desirable. What’s cool is that it is a renewable part of survival and success. If it’s cut off, it grows back. If it shrunk, it resizes and never at times grows stronger. It becomes a part of the body like an arm or a leg, for a teen, or anyone else.

In conclusion, confidence serves two purposes for young jobseekers, particularly teen boys.

Confidence supplies the fuel, motivation, and purpose to sell and excel in any career. It encompasses every milestone of success, accomplishments, and growth up to that point. It is the only way he or she appears employable without a ton of experience.
Confidence is a shock absorber for failure. Crashing, falling, and imploding is part of the adult experience. These kids can’t grow up without knowing what the virtual bottom feels like.