ALT-2 The Key Factor for a Successful Career Confidence
I'm the kind of guy that impressed all the interviewers I've ever had. And as a self-employed person (I've been there for over a year now) I still get job offers as people view me as a great resource. And I turn down the job offers because I like the freedom of being self-employed, although the stability is not there. Nonetheless, I do go through the interview loops all the time. When I meet new potential clients, every single one is an interview. And perhaps those are more organic interviews than ever.
Nonetheless, I am great at interviews, whether it be a client-to-contractor type of an interview, or an applicant-to-employer type of an interview, I can offer some expertise on how I succeed.
One thing I hear from many of my friends is that they reach the interview level and they fail to get the job. The interview ended very fast. They stuttered. They feel that they answered a question wrong. They called and said "We're sorry, you were really great but we had a better candidate showing up after you."
Unless you are applying for a burger-flipping job at McDonalds, your potential employer looks for an assertive person who they can trust. Essentially, you become part of them, and they don't want a piece in their big machine that is not as good as themselves.
Think of it this way : You need to be as good as your employer. Your employer needs to think this : "This person can do as well as I can in that position while I am busy with more important things in this business. He/She has a great value for me."
The key to giving the sense that you are a trustworthy person who can perform the tasks necessary (and this is more and more true in more important and higher-paying jobs) is confidence. CONFIDENCE. The other day I sat down with a man that was supposedly worth $200 Million, and we were talking about a contract that I could potentially get, and the nature of it was one where I could continuously do work with this company. So it was a big stake. I did not feel the least bit intimidated in front of this man. And he was actually beaming at me going "Wow I can see how you're just poised to succeed young man!" and then he turns to the other guy who initially found me, and says "Jamie, what a great person to meet and hook up with!" and Jamie replied "What can I say, I know a lot of good people!" I was the golden egg of the table, although I'm worth minus (business investments equal debts initially which i need to get rid of) and I was in a room full of guys who are at least twice my age with millions more than I have in my bank account.
I was offered jobs which most would consider to be great for somebody my age (21) and my education (high-school) but I turn them down because I know I can do better, and I only take work on contract basis (which pays me more and leaves me flexibility).
You want to know why I have confidence? Here is why :
1. I always improve my own skills. I always have, and I always will. Since Highschool I knew more than everybody else in terms of languages, computer skills, market analysis, etc. I always loved to get ahead. I got my driver's license quicker than others. I always excelled, and I involved myself in many different activities that were academic, athletic, and purely for other pleasures (I'm talking about generic hobbies and activities).
2. I always believed in myself to be worth lots, with great potential. When I see a successful person with successful life, I never felt "Wow it would be great if I could be there..." or "That's almost impossible for me...". I come from a family with no money at the moment. All I have is myself, and what I can make down the road. But I still say this to myself when I see these guys "I can do that too... just a matter of time."
3. I always perceived people with more money than me as my own resource, rather than somebody I suck up to. I put them on an equal plane as myself (without knowing it). I'm not talking about in a disrespectful way, but in a way that I assume I can be that much or more, and that this is a great stepping stone to take. By doing business with this guy and taking a chunk of his wealth, I am taking one more step to achieve his degree of wealth and success.
4. I always do my research. This ties into #1 again, but I am always curious and believe that knowledge is power. Plain and simple. When I see a new company that I could do business with, I actively seek knowledge of it. This helps when I later talk to those people - I already have a wealth of knowledge that I can impress them with.
5. Do not let failures get you down. I'm not saying I haven't had failures. I've lost contracts before. But it's only a learning step, and one failure does not disqualify you. It was just one of many opportunities you will face.
The more confidence you have, the more exposure you get. People will remember you better. People will value you more. I'm not talking about blind confidence or arrogance - I'm telling you to put the confidence in you by establishing yourself to be able to think that way naturally. People can sense lies. Your confidence needs to be an organic one that comes from deep within your personalities. That will allow people to perceive you for who you really are - a young man with great potential.
