Interview Ready: Conquering Self- Doubt after a Career Pause

Embarking on a career change, returning to the job market after a career pause, or later in life can stir up a range of emotions. Anxiety and self-doubt can rise up in addittion to questions about how to present your best self, or your career pause, in an interview, can be overwhelming. 

When I decided to return, I found the perfect Career Coach job. I had all the qualifications, certifications and skills they were asking for in the description. I waited 3 months to apply for the job. Not because I wasn’t ready, not because I couldn’t do the job, but because it had been 5 years since I had worked for pay from a company and almost 10 years since I had been in an interview. Since this is my work I knew what I needed to do. I had to knowledge to  prepare my responses, I knew my skill set and how to connect it to the role, so it should have been easy, but I was scared. What I needed was to tackle my insecurities about time away and if I still had it in me to do the work (I knew I did, but I had some negative self-talk to overcome, more on that in a minute). 

Have you ever had that feeling? Have insecurities held you back from applying for a role you knew you would be great for?

My preparation became first about redeveloping my confidence and reaffirming that I am great for this role, I have what they needed, so my only responsibility was to make sure they knew all of that. 

Before tackling interview questions, company research and other preparations, it was going to benefit me more to redirect my thoughts, reaffirm my belief in myself and overcome emotional concerns to be successful in my interview. Once I felt confident, I knew I would be able to speak about my skills, my impact and ability to successfully perform the job they were asking me to perform. Once I reestablished my confidence, the preparation fell easily into place. These are things I had to do to get myself in a place where I was interview ready. 

This is a different take on the usual list of ways to prepare for an interview. These insights and strategies will help you to be your most confident self in an interview before you tackle the logistics of the interview iteself. 

Embrace Self-Compassion

One of the most significant emotional hurdles in interviews is self-criticism. It's common to doubt your abilities or question if you're "good enough." Before interviewing, you can do some work to shift your mindset. This may include writing down things you are proud of, asking friends or colleagues to share some positive insights about your skills or personality. Journal, make a list of your skills, study your resume, anything that reminds you that you have built a skillset, you have things to contribute. Remember, those interviewing you want you to be their best candidate. So, share with them what makes you that person. This shift in mindset will also involve treating yourself with kindness and understanding, especially if it has been a long time since you worked for pay. Being paid does not make experience valuable or invaluable. Whatever you have done, regardless of whether you were paid, are skills and abilities you will bring to the role. This shift in mindset is not easy. However, it can make the rest of the process feel better, overcome dissapointments, create more ease and allow you to enjoythe job search process a bit more. 

Practice Positive Self-Talk

Replace self-criticism with self-encouragement. That is certainly easier said than done, but so important. Remind yourself of your strengths, accomplishments, and the courage it took to embark on this journey. What are you most proud of? What did you learn about yourself? Did you develop a new skill during your pause? Did your career pause offer you time to focus on improving a skill or ability?

Instead of thinking, "I'm not qualified." remind yourself, "I have valuable skills and experiences to offer and I am willing to learn and commit to this work.”

Identify Limiting Beliefs

Write down any limiting beliefs or negative self-perceptions you hold about your abilities. I had to do this when I was working to prepare for the Career Coach job. Once I wrote the list I realized those were all things that were limiting me in my head, but not in reality. As soon as I knew what was limiting me, it was easier to dismiss it or work to improve it. Challenge these beliefs with evidence of your accomplishments and capabilities and ways you have overcome limits in the past. 

Seek Support and Stay Connected

If you find that your inner dialogue is particularly harsh or persistent, consider consulting with a friend, colleague, therapist or career coach. They can provide techniques and strategies to reframe these beliefs and enhance your self-esteem overall and in the interview. Lean on your support network of friends, family, or support groups. Sharing your experiences and feelings with others can provide emotional support, suggestions and encouragement. 

Cultivate Resilience

Understand that setbacks and rejections are part of the job search process. You will have a good interview, a bad one and quite a few that are somewhere in between. A perfect company, job or interview, doesn’t exist. Understand how to learn from each experience and take that lesson to the next interview. Resilience enables you to bounce back, learn from experiences, and keep moving forward.

As you prepare for interviews during a career change, or return from a career pause, remember that your mindset, your thoughts and your confidence in yourself are just as crucial as your qualifications and skills. By embracing self-compassion, overcoming limiting beliefs, addressing inner doubts, and cultivating resilience, you can overcome emotional hurdles and present your best self with confidence in interviews. With the right mindset and strategies, you can navigate the job market with resilience and optimism, and ultimately with success.