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Jeff McQuilkin

About Jeff McQuilkin

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Tips for Building Career Confidence When You’re Just Starting Out 

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Starting your career is an exciting yet challenging time. You’re stepping into uncharted territory, striving to make a great impression, and hoping to land your first “real” job. One of the biggest hurdles in this phase is mastering the balance between confidence and humility. Employers want to see that you believe in your abilities, but coming off as overly self-assured can make you seem cocky or presumptuous. On the other hand, being too timid or uncertain can make you seem unprepared.

The key is finding a middle ground. You want to show that you trust your current skills and have the drive to succeed, while also being open to growth and learning. This balance isn’t always easy to strike—but it’s absolutely achievable. Here are some tips to help you build the right kind of confidence that will leave employers impressed and excited to work with you.

Take Stock of Your Strengths

Start by acknowledging what you’ve accomplished so far—even if you’re fresh out of college with minimal work experience. Reflect on your coursework, internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, or personal projects. What skills did you develop? Maybe you’re great at problem-solving, writing, or working as part of a team. Not only should this experience appear on your resume, but listing these strengths reminds you of what you bring to the table while also giving you a foundation to lean on during interviews or networking conversations.

Pro Tip: Practice communicating these strengths in a concise way, whether it’s through your resume, cover letter, or an elevator pitch. Confidence comes across more clearly when you know how to articulate your value.

Invest Time in Preparation

Confidence doesn’t come solely from your abilities; it also comes from how prepared you are. Research the company and role before any job application or interview so you can speak intelligently about their needs. Practice answering common interview questions and have a few insightful questions ready to ask the interviewer. The more you prepare, the more naturally your confidence will shine because you’ll know you’re ready for the conversation.

Preparation also extends beyond interviews. Work on sharpening relevant skills, updating your LinkedIn profile, and maintaining a polished, professional appearance. The little things add up and can give you a boost in self-assurance.

Develop a Growth Mindset

One of the best ways to balance confidence and humility is to think of your career as a continuous learning process. It’s okay to admit you don’t know everything yet—that’s to be expected when you’re just starting out. What’s important is demonstrating an eagerness to grow. Instead of focusing on what you lack, reframe it as excitement for the opportunities ahead.

For example, you might say in an interview, “I’m confident in my organizational and communication skills, and I’m excited to expand my knowledge in [specific area related to the job].” Statements like this show your self-awareness and enthusiasm for development. Employers appreciate candidates who are both capable and coachable.

Surround Yourself with Supportive People

Confidence can sometimes take a hit during a job search, especially if you face rejection–which is likely to happen when many people are applying for a few openings. That’s why it’s essential to surround yourself with people who uplift and encourage you. Whether it’s a trusted mentor, a friend who understands the process, or your college’s career services, seek out those who can offer constructive feedback and cheer you on.

You can also connect with professional communities, such as networking groups or online forums, to share experiences and gain advice. Being part of a supportive network reminds you that you’re not alone on this journey.

Practice Positivity and Self-Affirmation

Positive self-talk may sound simple, but it can work wonders in building confidence. When doubts creep in, remind yourself of your abilities and how far you’ve come. Try saying things like, “I am capable of success,” or “I bring unique value to this role.” Repeating affirmations can help shift your mindset from self-doubt to self-assurance over time.

Additionally, celebrate small wins along the way. Landed a job interview? Met a great contact at a networking event? These are stepping stones to your goal. Acknowledge them as proof that your hard work is paying off.

Consider Hiring a Career Coach

If you’re struggling to build the level of confidence you need, remember that you don’t have to tackle this alone. Working with a career coach can provide the personalized support and guidance to help you gain clarity, prepare effectively, and feel empowered throughout your job search. I’m here to help you find and tap into that inner confidence you already possess but may have yet to discover. To learn more, schedule a free consultation on my calendar. Let’s discuss your career goals and take the first steps toward a confident, successful future.

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Until You Get Hired, the Job Search IS Your Job

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If you’ve been recently unemployed, there’s unfortunately no magic formula to predict how long it will take to land a new job. There are just too many factors in play, including the economy, the job market, your own personal motivation, etc. One study says in today’s job market the average length of time between jobs is five months, but I think that number is useless because the extremes are too far apart. On one side, there are people who get re-hired in a week or less; on the other, some people may remain unemployed for a year or longer.

That said, I do find an interesting pattern when someone complains to me that their job search is taking too long. The first question I like to ask is, “How many hours a week are you spending on the job search?”

The answer to that question usually tells me why it’s “taking so long.”

The average unemployed person spends less than 10 hours per week looking for a job. In today’s competitive market, that’s not really a job search. That’s a vacation. If you’re going to be serious about it, experts say you should be spending between 30-40 hours per week on the job hunt.

In other words, until you get hired, the job search IS your job.

This actually makes sense for two reasons. One—what else are you going to do with all that time? And two—landing a good position requires some effort. It’s going to take much more than just scouring the Internet for job leads. (If you did that for 8 hours a day, you’d probably go crosseyed.) It’s a whole lot of other tasks, from chasing down leads to working on your resume to networking to scheduling interviews. An effective career search involves all these things and more, and you really need those 30-40 hours to get them all done properly.

So…if you want to take your job search to the “full-time” level, what does that look like? Here are some tips to boost your engines:

  • Utilize all options in your job search. If all you’re doing is searching one online site every day, your job search will probably last all of five minutes. Get yourself a longer list of relevant job sites and schedule adequate time to go over them and send in resumes. If a friend hands you a job lead, chase it down immediately. Find job fairs and attend them. Think about temp work. These are all possible avenues through which the right job can come to you, and you need to be working every possible angle to steer the odds in your favor.
  • Don’t forget to network. Remember, online listings only account for about one-third of all available jobs. The other two-thirds are the “hidden job market,” and those positions are generally filled by word-of-mouth. That’s why I can’t overstress the importance of networking at every opportunity, because that’s how you’re going to find those hidden jobs.
  • Follow up. I can’t tell you how many job opportunities get wasted just because the person failed to follow up with the company after sending in their resume or after the job interview. There are usually quite a few candidates who are equally qualified for every job opening. The ones who follow up usually get hired. The ones who don’t—don’t.
  • Make a plan, and hold yourself to it. With every one of my clients, we do a weekly action plan on Monday listing the tasks to be done that week, and we follow up on it on Friday. Not only does this keep them motivated and on track day to day, but at the end of the week they can see just how much time and effort they’re putting toward their goals. That’s just one example of how to do it, but whatever it looks like for you, make sure you’re keeping yourself accountable.

It’s tempting to want to take some “down time” between jobs; I get that, and there’s no judgment. But at least be honest with yourself that you’re taking a little enjoyment in being unemployed. If you’re not happy about your lack of employment, and especially your lack of a paycheck, then it’s time to come back from vacation. Stop saying you need a job; you have a job. Until you have that job offer, your job search IS your job. I can’t promise you’ll get hired right away, but I can say you’ll get hired much faster than if you do it 10 hours per week.

If you want some guided assistance finding your dream job more quickly and effectively, I can help. For a free 30-minute consultation, shoot me an email at terrylynn@giraffesconsulting.com, or give me a call at 646-320-1126.

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Follow These Tips for More Effective Job Networking

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News flash: There’s no set formula for landing the perfect job—although it certainly would make my job easier if there were. There are, in fact, many pathways to finding gainful employment in the career field of your choice. We’ve talked about a few of these pathways in recent blog posts, including job fairs, taking temp-to-hire jobs, using LinkedIn, etc.

But at the end of the day, the largest percentage of jobs offers still come through good old-fashioned networking. That saying “It’s not what you know, but who you know” does apply. So it stands to reason that one of the best ways to increase your chances for finding your dream job is by expanding your network and honing your job networking skills.

That said, networking is often easier said than done, and even naturally outgoing people can end up spinning their wheels. So let’s discuss some basic tips to help you refine your job networking skills and put them to better use.

Get Out and Meet People Live

The Internet is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to the job search. On one hand, it does make it very easy to find and apply for jobs, and even to develop an online community. On the other hand, many people fall into the snare of letting it serve as a substitute for getting out and meeting people in person. The Internet and social media can definitely connect you to more people on a surface level—but it’s much harder to let your authentic personality come through. That only happens when you’re actually talking face-to-face with another human. So stop procrastinating and making excuses, and get yourself out to as many job networking events as you can find. If you don’t know where to look for these, sites like Meetup.com and Eventbrite can be good starting points to help you find job networking opportunities.

Hone Your Elevator Pitch

When someone asks the inevitable question, “What do you do?”, what do you tell them? If you simply say, “I’m a real estate agent” or “I’m an architect,” you’re wasting an opportunity to make a lasting impression. (Remember, they aren’t asking who you are; they’re asking what you do.) Your “elevator pitch” is your chance to tell others in a few words exactly what you can do to make people’s lives better. “I help anxious home buyers find the perfect home in the right neighborhood within their budget.” That’s what a real estate agent does. See the difference between that and “I’m a real estate agent?”

I recommend creating a 10-second version and a 30-second version of your elevator pitch. That way, you can follow up when someone shows interest from your 10-second version. Rehearse your pitches in front of the mirror until they become second nature, and practice using them at your next live networking event.

Be a Giver, Not a Taker

When you’re networking—whether in person or online—one of the best ways to nurture your network is to be the one who gives referrals, not just one who asks for them. Don’t just focus on your own needs; be quick to help other people make connections or pass along relevant job leads. It’s just another way of “doing unto others,” and I believe the universe honors it. Besides, by doing these types of favors, you put yourself top-of-mind when that person comes across a job lead for which you’d be a perfect fit.

Have a Game Plan and Strategy

If you’re a naturally outgoing person, networking might feel as natural as breathing; but what if you’re an introvert? What if you freeze up in crowds? Well, here’s some good news for introverts (and a wake-up call for extroverts): Effective job networking isn’t about personality, but about method. Outgoing people might find it easier to talk to others, but without a plan and a strategy, they can easily find themselves meeting lots of people who have no connection with where they want to go career-wise. Likewise, introverts might disqualify themselves on the networking front because of their shyness, but with a basic strategy to guide them, networking becomes much easier.

My point is, be purposeful in your networking. What types of people do you need to meet? Where do those people hang out? Who in your circle would be most likely to connect you to the type of job you want? What should you say to those people? The more prepared and focused you are about your connections and how you should interact with them, the easier and more effective networking becomes.

I’m a firm believer in career networking, and even as a career coach I continue to maintain an active network of my own. If you feel this is an area of weakness for you or if you’d like to get more focused about it, I can help you create a solid strategy for success. For a free 30-minute consultation, shoot me an email at terrylynn@giraffesconsulting.com, or give me a call at 646-320-1126.