How to Maintain Your True Self in a Job Search

Are you mired in a job search that’s going nowhere? You’re applying for jobs, networking like a champ, and landing interviews, but you have yet to be successful. It’s time to take a step back and determine if you’re maintaining your true self during your job search.

What does bringing your authentic self to your job search mean? Essentially, it’s understanding your passions and interests and creating career goals that support them. If you’re going through the motions and following a path that someone else laid out, you’ll end up disappointed. You’ll portray skills and a personality you think recruiters are looking for, instead of your actual skills and personality, and you’ll miss out on personal career satisfaction.

Bringing Your True Self to Your Job Search

Your first step should be spending some time getting to know yourself professionally. Then, use that awareness to bring your authentic self to your job search. Whether it’s during an interview, a LinkedIn post, or a networking event—infuse your personality into your interactions.

— Get to Know the Real You

Do the words “tell me about yourself” send you into a panic? Or, do you have a rehearsed clip that shares everything you think a recruiter wants to hear? Regardless of what stage you’re at in your career, spending time on personal reflection can help set the stage for an authentic and successful job search.

Ask yourself questions like:

What tasks do I love, and which do I despise?
How would coworkers describe me?
How do I wish coworkers would describe me?
What do I want to be known for?
How do I define success?
What values do I want a company to have?
What impact am I hoping to make?

When you take the time to get to know yourself, you can pursue a healthy career path. You’ll find the work more rewarding, and the relationships you build will be more authentic.

— Remain Focused on Your Priorities and Goals

Logging on to your computer and applying for any job that pops up devalues what you offer. You owe it to yourself and your future employer to approach your job search with intention.

For example, suppose you despise the idea of working in a cubicle, but you see a bunch of jobs in that type of work environment, so you’re submitting applications like crazy. In that case, you’re not going to be bringing your true self to those interviews.

So, what do you do when you need a job desperately and none align perfectly with your goals? If you lack essential qualifications, you might need to take an entry-level role that isn’t the perfect fit. But it would be best to pursue entry-level positions at companies you admire.

Interview for positions with growth potential—roles that match your interests and long-term goals. With that perspective, you’ll be able to bring genuine enthusiasm to the interview process, even if the initial role is something other than your long-term dream.

— Bring an Authentic Style

Do you love three-piece suits? What about casual professional outfits or bold colors and patterns? It might seem trivial, but choosing a professional wardrobe that supports your personal brand is vital. Of course, you need to choose an appropriate level of business casual—or not so casual—but ensure you feel comfortable with what you’re wearing.

Because here’s the thing—when you present yourself in a specific manner and land a job, that’s what leaders will expect when you arrive to work daily. If you’re not being true to yourself, you’ll be unable to be authentic at work.

Even more importantly, perhaps, is choosing a style that is truly you, which will attract companies and leaders who are a better fit. If you’re discovering that your style and communication technique are at odds with the work environments you’re pursuing, consider strategizing new target companies.

— Pursue Genuine Professional Relationships

As you interact with others during your job search, lay a healthy foundation for future relationships. Be honest about your interests and skills, rather than sharing what you think your new professional contact wants to hear.

For example, suppose you don’t care for basketball but you’re interacting with a manager at your dream company who is a basketball enthusiast, never missing a game. You may be tempted to pretend to be a massive fan of the sport. But that won’t do you any favors in the long run. That manager will be building a relationship based on a shared interest you don’t actually have. You won’t be able to keep up the facade forever and could be seen as untrustworthy.

Instead, try saying you never grew into a basketball fan but enjoy a different pastime. You might discover that you have an additional interest in common. Or, maybe you’ll introduce them to a new hobby. Either way, you’ll grow an authentic relationship that you won’t have to worry about damaging later when the truth comes out.

— Prioritize Boundaries and Self-Care

When was the last time you took an entire day off? Are you so focused on responding instantly to emails from hiring managers that you’re willing to interrupt any and every personal event? It would be best if you begin the way you mean to continue. Unless you’re looking for a role with zero work-life balance, you’re not doing yourself any favors by being constantly accessible.

Set the same boundaries you need in your future job during your job search. Hiring managers have reasonable expectations surrounding availability. Consider creating a routine that allows you to check and respond to communications several times each workday.

Then, treat your job search like a job and clock out for routine breaks and days off. If you miss an opportunity because a hiring manager needs someone accessible 24/7, you probably wouldn’t have enjoyed that role anyway.

— Overcome Fear of Rejection

Do you look at a job you’re excited about and start trying to figure out why you’re not qualified for it? If so, you must be more faithful to your ambitions and interests.

Being honest about your career goals, you can consider those roles as a stretch, rather than an impossibility. You’ll bring a natural level of excitement and desire to your interview process. That enthusiasm will resonate with hiring managers in genuine ways.

You might discover that they’re willing to train the right candidate. Or, you might genuinely lack a certification or industry skill set. If that’s the case, you’ll get feedback that will help you bridge those gaps to achieve your goals.

— Maintain a Flexible Mindset

Just because you’ve been in a specific industry or field for the last few years—or decades—doesn’t mean that it has to define your future career path. If your interests have changed, don’t assume you’re stuck. Permit yourself to explore other possibilities that are a better fit now.

Likewise, when you’re looking for open positions, don’t limit yourself to a job identical to the one you had previously. Consider your transferable skills and how they might apply to a new focus you’re more passionate about.

Growing a Fulfilling Career

When you take the time to get to know yourself and give yourself permission to follow your dreams and be true to yourself, you can grow a career you are passionate about. Take a step back and consider whether you’ve been approaching your job search from a place of honesty or habit. Then, make adjustments to ensure you’re bringing your true self to your job search every day.

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