Here’s the secret to future success: Fake it til you make it!

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
- Christopher Robin Winnie The Pooh

These are wise words that we could all plug in at various times of our lives when imposter syndrome rears up or we’re pushing out beyond our comfort zones, but they particularly resonate when you’re just beginning your journey into the world of work.

That’s when a decent dose of self-confidence and a positive mindset can be a huge help in propelling you toward the job of your dreams.

Sabina Read - SEEK resident Psychologist and Social Commentator on Channel 7’s The Morning Show and Radio 3AW Afternoons - says self-confidence is largely about believing in your capability in certain aspects of your life.

This includes having enough confidence to communicate effectively and connect with people in your life and workplace, practicing and cultivating critical thinking, and using a ‘can-do’ mindset where you believe that if you give something a red-hot crack, you will pull it off!

“Self-confidence gives us a sense of certainty that we can achieve and succeed in particular areas of life. With this self-assurance we are more likely to throw our hat in the ring and take appropriate risks, and we will then take action because we have a sense of being capable enough to succeed,” says Sabina.

Is confidence born or bred?

Some people are fortunate enough to be born with buckets of self confidence, but if that’s not you, don’t despair!

“Like many traits, self-confidence is a mix of nature and nurture factors at play,” says Sabina.

“There is much research to suggest self-confidence is partly heritable however there’s more to the story than it being merely predetermined by our genes.”

“The nurture perspective suggests that higher levels of self-confidence generally mean more possibilities to try, and succeed, which strengthens our self-confidence. As such, the more runs on the board we get, the more we get to flex and strengthen our self-confidence muscle.”

“Other factors like optimism also play into whether we will continue to put ourselves forward at the risk of being assessed or rejected. So it’s always important to focus on the nurture aspects and remind ourselves there are many things each of us can do to develop self-confidence,”  Sabina says.

But whether you’re born with self-confidence or acquire it, there’s absolutely no guarantee it will stick. In fact, it’s quite natural for self-confidence to fluctuate throughout your life as you face challenges along the way.

“When we have fewer positive experiences, our self-confidence can feel eroded. That’s why cultivating opportunities to succeed, developing skills, and receiving positive feedback can help to counter challenging or negative experiences.”

If you can muster it, master it!

When it comes to job hunting, self-confidence is a key skill to bring to the table if you can muster, and master it.

“Self-confidence is particularly important during the interview process, and influences recruiter decisions and hiring outcomes. However, self-confidence is also correlated with the number of job offers job hunters receive. Perhaps most relevant, self-confident people are more effective in looking for work opportunities,” according to Sabina.

But if you’re struggling to muster the courage or confidence to back yourself, she also says there is some validity to the concept of “fake it til you make it”.

“Even the act of pretending to smile can release hormones which increase our feelings of happiness. And faking small increases in confidence may even help us to apply for a job, which may lead to an interview, and a subsequent job offer.”

However, the best thing you can do to build your self-confidence is to keep trying new things, and taking on board positive feedback loops and experiences in any aspect of your life, no matter how small, because this will help build genuine self-confidence.

“Seek out any activity that you feel you’ll do well at. For example, when you feel you have succeeded in calling someone for career advice or a networking conversation, it may overflow to other areas of your life, such as doing well while interviewing for a job.”