December 5, 2023, by Jackie Thompson

Career Confidence and Self-Confidence: Understanding the Difference and Embracing both for Success

By Alana Parker, Employability Officer

As the Careers team, we want to empower you with the tools and guidance to confidently embark on your career journey after university. Two crucial aspects of this journey are self-confidence and career confidence.

Understanding career confidence

Career confidence goes beyond feeling positive about your career prospects; it involves feeling assured that your chosen career path aligns with your skills, interests, and values. It’s about making informed decisions based on research and self-reflection and giving you the clarity and conviction you feel when you know you are heading in the right direction.

To build career confidence, we encourage you to explore your interests, values, and strengths. Take advantage of the resources we make available to you to gain insight into your strengths and values. You can engage in a variety of work experience opportunities to refine your career preferences and attend our events for exclusive industry insights from our alumni. Your time at university is a great opportunity to explore your options, and we can help you build your career confidence by encouraging you to engage in activities that will help with your career planning and readiness.

Embracing self-confidence

Self-confidence is the foundation of personal growth. It concerns belief in your own abilities, acknowledgment of your achievements, and faith in your potential. Although it may not be directly tied to your career choice, self-confidence plays a significant role in how you navigate the challenges and uncertainties that come your way.

Developing your self-confidence is a gradual process that can take time, it’s normal to have moments of self-doubt. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small, and recognise that setbacks are a part of the learning process.

We can help you unlock your potential and recognise your achievements. For example, we offer workshops such as  ‘Think Like a Recruiter’, ‘Ask an Expert’, and ‘Mock Assessment Centres’ that can help you hone your skills and feel more confident in your ability to present your best self. When you embrace self-confidence, you’ll find it easier to handle interviews, presentations, and networking events as you become more empowered and build on your self-belief.

The synergy between career confidence and self-confidence

Career confidence and self-confidence are interconnected and can positively impact one another. When you have a strong sense of self-confidence, you’ll be better equipped to make decisions and take leaps of faith in your career. Conversely, the assurance that comes from making well-informed career choices can boost your overall self-confidence.

To strengthen this synergy, set achievable career goals that align with your interest and talents. Break them down into smaller steps, and as you achieve each milestone you will see your self-confidence grow. Use your self-confidence to embrace challenges and seek out new opportunities to enhance your career confidence.

Embrace the journey

Remember that confidence building is a journey and that everyone’s timeline looks different. You will achieve your milestones at exactly the right time for you. We believe in your potential and resilience, embrace the challenges, and celebrate your growth.

Explore begin!, our bite-sized careers guide to get started. Also keep your eyes peeled for upcoming events and networking opportunities to boost your career confidence, and book a one-to-one appointment with us to discuss your prospects.

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