Confidence vs. Skills: The Leadership Balancing Act

When I first transitioned from academia to the tech industry, I faced a significant challenge: interviews. Despite excelling at my job, my interview skills were lacking. People often advised me to "just be confident," implying that confidence alone would secure a successful interview. While there is some truth to this—my repeated rejections eroded my confidence—the real issue was my lack of interview skills.

Interview Skills vs. Job Skills

I remember hearing about someone who excelled in interviews but struggled to maintain performance once hired. For me, the opposite was true. Interviews were daunting, but once I secured a job, I thrived. Interviewing is a distinct skill separate from job performance, and it can be learned.

Some challenges with interview skills include:

1. Finding Support: It's tough to find help with interview skills, as colleagues may not assist in improving your techniques.
2. Domain-Specific Questions: While generic questions help, mastering domain-specific questions is crucial.
3. Variable Interviewer Quality: Sometimes, interviewers ask irrelevant questions, yet their feedback still impacts hiring decisions.
4. Confidence vs. Skill: Misinterpreting the need for confidence over honing actual interview skills.

Confidence at Different Career Stages

Confidence plays a different role depending on your career stage. For entry-level positions, confidence isn't as critical. Employers understand that fresh graduates lack extensive experience and knowledge. Overconfidence at this stage can even be detrimental. What matters more is the candidate's mindset, proactive efforts, and basic skills meeting the minimum requirements.

I recall hiring a recent graduate who was visibly nervous during the interview but remained composed, thoughtfully answering questions. Today, she is a confident leader at another company, proving that confidence grows with experience.

Confidence in Leadership

For leaders, confidence is essential. It stems from past experiences—having opinions, testing them, facing successes and failures, and learning from those experiences. This type of confidence is not about posture or gestures. Mimicking the outward signs of confidence does not make one genuinely confident. True confidence is about conviction in your ideas, knowing why something should be done, and believing in your ability to lead the effort.

Join the Women Leaders Community

At the Women Leaders Community, we emphasize developing genuine confidence by recognizing your strengths and learning from your history. We help you build your ideal role based on your true desires, think creatively to open up more opportunities, and overcome self-doubt to take bold actions. If you aspire to leadership but struggle to be seen as a leader, our program can help you realize your potential and lead with confidence. Check out the Women Leaders Community program to start sculpting your success today.