Self-confidence is key to advancing your career, landing the jobs you want, and acing job interviews.
But, of course, we don’t always feel particularly confident to be at our best.
Humans come with all levels of self-confidence. Some people regularly lack confidence and self-esteem, while others may be super sure of themselves most of the time but occasionally find themselves experiencing moments of crippling self-doubt. Most others probably lie somewhere in between these two.
That can be a problem if you’re not feeling your best and bravest before the job interview. Fortunately, there are many ways to boost your self-confidence on the day of the interview. Below is a list of 21 things you can do on the morning of the interview to quickly boost your self-confidence.
Hopefully, by that time, you’ve already done lots of research on the company and role, prepared your answers and success stories, and made a list of questions you’ll ask the interviewer. You’ve printed out a copy of your resume, mapped your route to the interview location (so you won’t be late), and now all you have to do is mentally prepare.
Here are 21 ways to quickly boost your self-confidence on the morning of the job interview:
Take some deep breaths
Research shows that deep breathing has magical calming effects and can decrease anxiety and cortisol levels. Just breathe. Feels good, doesn’t it?
Wear scent
Studies of both men and women have found that wearing scent increases self-confidence. But keep it minimal. You don’t want to overpower anyone. And you’ll have to skip this one if the place you’re interviewing is scent-free.
Pump up the jam
Research suggests that listening to music with a heavy bass line can make you feel more confident. The most powerful songs used in the study were In Da Club by 50 Cent, We Will Rock You by Queen, and Get Ready for This by 2 Unlimited.
Don a killer outfit
Researchers have repeatedly found, in different studies, that dressing up increases self-confidence and self-esteem and can even make you behave like you’re smarter. Pull out your best outfit and dress it up with a bit of flair. Flair always makes me feel good.
Take a selfie
One study found that taking selfies can increase self-confidence. I’m suspicious of those findings since taking selfies always makes me feel bad about myself (I usually look way worse than I expected, and it feels weirdly narcissistic). So, maybe do a test run with this one on a non-job interview day, and if it works for you, use it on job interview day.
Do a “power pose”
Stand up tall with your legs wide and your arms up in a V shape or hands on your hips. Hold for two minutes. According to Harvard researcher Amy Cuddy, this increases confidence and may even decrease cortisol levels. Personally, it makes me feel like an idiot, and the findings are controversial, so maybe test it beforehand, like the selfie thing.
Stand up straight
If the power pose thing doesn’t work, stand up straight. It will make you feel better about yourself than slouching will.
Do something kind and generous
One study found that “practicing compassion can provide lasting improvements in happiness and self-esteem, and may be beneficial for anxious individuals in the short run.” And another found that helping strangers increases self-esteem in adolescents. Donate to a fundraiser or give money to someone in need that you meet.
Avoid comparing yourself to anyone else
A statement attributed to Theodore Roosevelt: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” It’s also the thief of your self-esteem. Someone will always be smarter, better looking, more accomplished, and more affluent than you. So, what’s the point? If you tend to compare yourself to others, stop.
Get exercise
Exercise increases self-esteem. When was the last time you got some exercise and felt worse about yourself?
Smile
Smiling increases positive emotions, which will, in turn, help your self-confidence.
Ask someone to tell you nice things about you
Praising kids increases their self-confidence, and it only stands to reason that receiving genuine compliments from a friend or loved one will positively affect you. If you live alone, call a good and ask them to tell you what they like about you.
Carry a good luck charm
Carrying a good luck charm with you can increase self-confidence and improve performance, according to a study.
Make your bed
Making your bed sets the tone for the day and sets off a domino effect of task completion, allowing you to conquer the world. So says this Navy Seal, anyway. And all of that will increase your confidence.
Organize something
If you’re killing time and don’t know what to do with yourself while waiting to leave for your interview, organize something, clean something, or do some other small task that will make you feel super together and on top of things.
Take a 5-minute language lesson
Get the app Duolingo and start learning a language. These teeny lessons always make me feel like I’m smart — and proactive! And you might even decide to pursue learning another language.
Carry a list of all your accomplishments
Reminding yourself of all the fantastic things you’ve done can provide a significant boost when you’re down. Make a list of these in the days leading up to your interview, and consult it when you need some help.
Limit social media
I have nothing against social media. But sometimes, it can evoke comparison, which can ruin your day. And if you waste too much time on it, this can also affect your self-esteem because you start to feel bad for wasting time. Best to keep it to a minimum, just in case.
Say nice things to yourself
Positive affirmations can help you perform better under stress and improve wellbeing. But don’t get too caught up in it. Research also suggests they can backfire and make you feel worse.
Fake it
Just fake it ’til you make it. When you smile and act confident, you will feel more confident once you realize that nobody notices you’re faking it.
For more great job interview tips, check out How to prepare for your next big job interview like a pro