Skills: The list of things one is good at and the list of things one is required to know for an internship or job. You know your skills; you know what skills you need to possess to gain that internship or job. I don’t need to beat you over the head with what skills you need to have to be a prime candidate for any kind of position. Instead, I want to share the best and most versatile skill you should have: self-confidence.
You can be the best at Photoshop in your class, be the strongest grant proposal writer or know how to code HTML like a boss, but if you don’t have confidence in your skills, what’s the point? I’m not saying that your skills aren’t valuable, they’re SO valuable, but when you have the confidence to back up your skills, you’re basically the total package.
There are a couple of things to remember to show off the value of your skills.
First off, don’t be invisible. A part of being confident in your skills is the ability to voice your skills. If you’re an intern, pitch your ideas, offer to take on a task that fits your realm of skills and be present. Don’t blend in with the wall; do more than show up physically. Your entire work experience will improve drastically.
Work hard on every single task. It doesn’t matter if you’ve created tons of social media graphics before, you’re here to work. Give each and every task the same amount of time and dedication you would if it was your first. This goes for tedious, yet easy tasks. Just because it’s easy doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Your boss will take notice and appreciate your hard work.
During an interview, promote your skills with strength. Instead of saying, “I have some experience with copywriting,” say something along the lines of, “I served as my college newspaper’s staff copywriter for over 2 years with extensive knowledge of the AP style guide.” You go from being someone with adequate knowledge to someone with extensive knowledge AND experience.
With all of this being said, there is a difference between being confident in your skills and being over-confident. Don’t boast and brag every second you get, but emphasize your skills with examples of experience. Be confident when you describe your strengths and assert your knowledge. If you don’t know your value, how is an employer expected to know? Understand the value of your skills and work because you do have something to offer. Having a sense of self-confidence will improve your internship, job, interview or any other kind of experience as a whole. If you’re able to see yourself as a strong candidate, you’ll make others see you in this way too.
