How to Think Big and Boost Your Confidence in Job Applications

In today’s job market, many talented indigenous professionals underestimate their worth, often setting modest salary expectations or hesitating to pursue roles that seem just beyond their reach. 

This cautious mindset, while understandable, can prevent you from realising your full potential and finding the opportunities you deserve.

To help you break through some of these limitations, here are some steps to cultivate a mindset that boosts your confidence and empowers you to aim higher in your job search.

1. Identify Your Top Five Assets

It’s common to focus on weaknesses, but this perspective can hide your true value. Instead, shift your attention to your strengths—the qualities that set you apart from others.

Actionable Tip: Take a moment to list your five key strengths or assets. If you’re unsure where to start, ask a friend, mentor, or colleague for their input. This exercise will help you see yourself through the eyes of others, revealing elements you may have overlooked.

2. Compare Yourself to Successful Peers

We often admire successful people, thinking they possess qualities we lack. However, these individuals might not have all the strengths you bring to the table. Recognising this can help you appreciate your own unique capabilities.

Actionable Tip: For each of your top assets, identify three leaders who don’t possess these qualities to the same degree. This comparison will remind you that you have distinctive strengths that make you a strong candidate, even in highly competitive fields.

3. Adjust Your Mindset

Your self-perception plays a crucial role in your career decisions. If you believe you’re only capable of small achievements, you’re more likely to settle for less than you deserve. It’s time to adjust your mindset and recognise that you are worthy of greater success.

Actionable Tip: After completing the exercises above, take time to reflect on your findings. Embrace the idea that your strengths make you just as deserving of success as anyone else. This shift in mindset will empower you to pursue opportunities with greater confidence.

4. Aim Higher

When you set higher expectations for yourself, you open the door to more fulfilling and lucrative opportunities. It’s not just about meeting industry standards—it’s about realising your true worth and pursuing positions that align with it.

Actionable Tip: Research salary benchmarks and industry standards. If your skills and experience justify it, don’t hesitate to aim for the higher end of the pay range. Confidence in your value will help you secure better offers and demonstrate to potential employers that you know your worth.

5. Pursue Opportunities That Seem ‘Too Big’

Don’t shy away from applying for roles that seem slightly out of reach. Often, these “stretch” positions are the ones that will propel your career to new heights. Even if you don’t check every box on the job description, your uniqueness can make you an invaluable asset to the organisation.

Actionable Tip: Take a bold step and apply for positions that feel like a stretch. Remember, job descriptions often list an ideal candidate, but organisations are open to considering those who bring something unique to the table—even if they don’t meet every criterion.

You are more capable and deserving of success than you may realise. By shifting your perspective, identifying your strengths, and aiming higher, you can discover opportunities that once seemed out of reach. 

Remember, your potential is as wide as you allow it to be—so start thinking big and see where it leads you.