You have a job interview coming up and you’re experiencing some job interview anxiety. It’s normal, but it’s also uncomfortable. This is the time to use career affirmations and affirmations that let you know your worth.
They will help you remind yourself that the doubts you’re experiencing have no bearing on your actual worth or abilities. You’re capable, so try out the 20 affirmations below so you can start believing it, too. Scroll down to find to download a PDF version of these affirmations.
This post is all about affirmations for a job interview.
What are positive affirmations?
Positive affirmations are the good things that you tell yourself so that, eventually, your subconscious mind believes them. These job interview affirmations simply affirm the truth and silence the doubts. This is what makes them such a powerful tool.
It takes time to believe them, so take the time to say them in front of a mirror. Give yourself the space to affirm what you’re doubting as you prepare yourself for a successful job interview.
AFFIRMATIONS FOR A JOB INTERVIEW:
1. I am a strong candidate who will excel in this position when I am chosen for the job.
A positive mindset starts with you acknowledging your value. It’s okay if you struggle to believe the affirmations as you say them. This is especially true if this is the first time you’ve dealt with positive statements as a way to alleviate anxiety and increase confidence.
Remember that there’s power in voicing positive thoughts about yourself. So, if this feels uncomfortable or like a waste of your time, then focus on the words you’re saying.
Visualize the way you feel when you believe them, whether that means you stand up straighter or see yourself accepting the job offer with a handshake from your interviewer. Start there with this affirmation.
2. I am entering this job interview as my best self.
Take a moment to think about what your best self looks like. It may be a little different for everyone, so try to think about the version of yourself that makes you feel the best.
Maybe you’re smiling at your partner on a beach vacation paid for by the great salary you are paid for a job you love. Maybe your best self is meditating on a yoga mat at home before you start your remote job. Or maybe your best self looks completely different.
Whatever that best self looks like, they probably are at peace. So, hold onto that feeling of peace as you enter the job interview and voice this affirmation aloud.
3. I have strong communication skills that will help me articulate strong answers to tough questions.
It’s normal to enter the interview space and feel nervous. If this happens to you, know that nerves are not a bad thing. They are preparing you to be extra alert during the interview.
Use this affirmation to remember that you have innate skills to rely on during this interview, even if it feels like you’re mind is blank.
Take a deep breath and focus on the interview question being asked because you are prepared to answer them. Repeat this affirmation until you remember that you are ready for this difficult experience and can meet the challenge.
4. I am a valuable addition to the team where I am applying and I look forward to promoting my ideas.
So much of the time, we struggle to believe that we deserve the job we’re applying for. This is especially true for women and people of color, who are repeatedly told by society’s messaging that they are not deserving of it. (Look here, here, and here for information on that.)
However, this is your chance to remind yourself that you are, indeed, deserving of the position. You will add to the team in innumerable ways and serve as a vital teammate. Keep this affirmation in mind as you enter the interview.
5. I can rely on my inner power to help me through this stressful process.
Inner power sounds strange and vague when you first hear the term. But, the more you think about it, the more you start to feel like you know what it means for you.
Maybe it’s the voice in the back of your head that knows the reality of the situation despite what your anxiety or stress is telling you. Maybe it’s the voice you struggle to listen to because there are lots of other voices that are louder.
That inner power is key for you to walk into the interview room and know that not only are you meant to be there but you have the requisite skills to succeed.
6. This interview is the next step towards me achieving all of my career goals.
Career goals can feel scary because it makes you think you have to figure everything out right now. You don’t have to know how this job is going to propel you forward in your career. If you do know exactly how this job fits into your career path, then that’s fantastic.
However, it’s also worth noting that any differences between what actually happens and what you have planned to happen are okay. They don’t mean that you have failed.
So, use this affirmation as a reminder to trust the process and recognize that this job will help you only in the way that you need it to. That may also mean that you realize it’s not the job for you and alter your career goals a bit.
7. I can present myself in the best possible light when I interview regardless of my stress levels.
To avoid this affirmation becoming intimidating, take a moment to think about what you want to interviewer to remember about you. It could be that you are incredibly knowledgeable and demonstrate expertise.
But, it’s okay if you don’t remember everything you’ve ever learned both on the job and off. It’s possible that the best possible light means that you show your personality off.
It may also mean that you demonstrate the fact that you’re willing to learn and grow on the job, that’s probably just as good and possibly creates a more lasting impression anyway.
8. I can demonstrate mastery of the subject matter that will be discussed in my interview.
You know what you’re talking about if you’ve gotten this far. It’s clear that you can excel in the position since you’ve gotten far enough to be interviewed. Anything specific to the job can be learned once you start working in the position.
Beyond that, you know what you need to know. This affirmation can help remind you of that. What you say during your interview will make it clear that you know how to do your job, so walk in with this affirmation fresh on your mind.
9. I have important ideas that are worth sharing and I look forward to showing that to my interviewer.
People need to hear your ideas. They matter and they add a new perspective to the situation. Your ideas are shaped by every experience you’ve ever had, the way that your brain may work differently than your coworkers’ brains, and your personality.
You can rest assured knowing that all of this combines to create interesting ideas. So, you deserve to be enthusiastic about your ideas and show that enthusiasm to your interviewer.
10. I am worthy of this job whether or not I am given a job offer at the end of the day.
You can be the most perfect candidate for the job and still not be what the job seekers are looking for. That doesn’t mean you did anything wrong or deserved the job any less.
It does mean that you can use these affirmations for your next interview to remind yourself that your worth does not depend on a job. It also doesn’t depend on what anyone says about you. You can’t change the opinion anyone has about you.
So, focus on being an excellent candidate on maintaining a positive attitude. You can still be sad if you don’t get a job offer, but remember that it likely has nothing to do with you and it’s definitely outside of your control.
11. I’m in the right place and I belong in the interview room.
You belong in that space. No matter what happens during the interview, what your interviewer says about you, or what the outcome of the interview, you belong in the room. If you didn’t, you would not have made it as far as you did.
If you’re reading this blog, you are concerned enough about whether you belong to know that the negative thoughts are winning out. While we want to encourage positive thinking, we also want to acknowledge all of the reasons you doubt yourself.
It’s not your fault that those voices exist to make you doubt yourself, but you can work against them. That’s the key to this affirmation.
12. I can rely on the hard work that I have done up until this point to excel in this interview.
You’ve done the work in one way or another. Whether you have studied the details of the company, learned on the last job you worked, or studied how to ace an interview, you’ve got this.
It’s clear that you have done the hard part and you’ve put in the work. So, now, it’s time for you to rely on that and trust in it. Let this affirmation be your reminder of that.
13. I am worthy of success.
Say it and say it again until you feel it in your bones. Everyone thinks of success differently, so take some time to reflect on what success looks like and feels like to you.
Since society can have a huge impact on what we think success is supposed to be, spend some time on it to figure out what success really means for you.
14. I can make a good impression even if I’m nervous because I have prepared.
Your nerves are not your enemy. The only way they hurt you is if you treat them like the enemy. So, instead, accept them as a part of the process. Your body is helping you out by preparing you physically.
It may be frustrating that you are shaking your leg or that your thoughts are racing. But, it’s your body’s way of helping you out. Work with the nerves rather than trying to fight them. That may look like deep breathing or even repeating these affirmations.
15. I am imbued with and exude positive energy.
First of all, positive energy doesn’t equal toxic positivity. Avoid using this as a way to squash negative feelings. Instead, remind yourself that every feeling is temporary. It will wash away.
In the meantime, while you’re sitting in a negative feeling, accept that it will end and let it happen. It’s okay to feel bad. It’s okay not to enjoy every emotion you experience. But, it’s also important to take every opportunity to look for reasons to be grateful.
Find natural positivity in the world. Natural positivity simply means that you can forget about toxic positivity because it’s harmful and you deserve to let yourself feel the hard stuff just like the easier stuff.
16. I am worthy regardless of what happens during the interview process.
You may feel embarrassed. You may get awkward. Or you may just feel so nervous that nothing seems like it’s going well. Typically, in this case, you’re being harder on yourself than the interviewer ever will be.
Regardless, your feelings are valid. It’s okay to reflect on the process and feel terrible about how it happened.
Maybe it didn’t go well. It’s not the end of the world. You will have other interviews and job opportunities that will go well and you will improve every time you attend the next job interview. Your worth is not tied to your success ever.
17. I am desirable to potential employers.
People want to hire you. If you haven’t found evidence of that, then keep looking. You will find the interviewer and employer who wants to work with you.
They will be the ones who see you are a valuable asset. So, if you’re not feeling valued at your current stage in the job search, know that it’s coming and it will be worth it.
18. I am the ideal candidate for this position and that will be clear in the interview.
You are the right person for the role. That doesn’t guarantee you’ll be hired because of how much goes into that type of decision. However, it does mean that you’ve done everything you can and that’s all that you need to do.
19. I deserve to be hired for my dream job.
You deserve the job you want. Not everyone has the privilege to work in their dream job and not everyone has a dream job. Still, if you get the chance, then take it because you deserve it. Maybe it won’t happen this time, but it will happen for you and you will deserve it when it does.
20. I deserve to be here, interviewing for this new job.
You got to the interview for a reason. Yes, you’re nervous about your upcoming job interview and you’re questioning a lot. Maybe you’re questioning whether you are ready for a job like this. This is normal, but it’s also not a reflection of how prepared you are for the job.
You are the best candidate for the job even if you don’t get it, so remind yourself that you deserve to be interviewed for that job no matter what your doubts say.
