It’s common for many people to doubt their competency when interviewing for a new job, and we know that cancer patients and survivors can be particularly hard on themselves during the job-hunt process. The fact is that no one is going to be a perfect fit for a position, but if you prepare well for an interview, you’re more likely to go into it feeling confident and qualified, which is going to show. So rather than focus on a resume gap or perceived shortcomings, when preparing your interview “story,” you’ll want to highlight strengths and skills you can bring to your potential new job.

While this might sound daunting, Idealist’s article “3 Tips for Rewriting Your Story | A Guide to a Great Interview” provides useful thoughts and recommendations for how to rewrite your story for an interview. Here are a few takeaways:

Practice mindfulness: By focusing on the present moment — without judgment — you are able to observe feelings of self-doubt without getting caught up in them. This awareness can enable you to concentrate more intently on your positive attributes as a job candidate. Practicing mindfulness can also lead to reduced stress and lower blood pressure levels — it can even help you sleep better! So it’s important to take care of yourself while job-hunting. For suggestions on how to relieve stress, click here.

Learn to ignore the little voices of doubt: Increase your self-awareness by noting when a negative thought crosses your mind. It’s common for many of us to get caught up in the frustrating aspects of job-hunting; instead, try to re-frame those kinds of thoughts with reality-testing and affirmations. Maintaining a positive frame of mind throughout the job search is crticial.

Look for the silver lining: Finding the silver linings in your weaknesses and using them as a mantra to combat self-doubt shows your willingness to address struggles and frustrations you face. This is a time to show your growth mindset as a valuable asset.

Know that having feelings of self-doubt before an interview is not uncommon. However, tools such as mindfulness and ignoring negative thoughts can help you develop greater personal awareness while crafting your interview story; and that, in turn, will enable you to feel confident and qualified walking into your next interview.

For more guidance and resources, visit the links below:

Tips to prepare for an interview.

Submit your resume to our free Resume Review Service.

Pointers and examples for writing your resume & cover letter.

A guide to networking successfully.

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