I had a really instructive session today with a "coachee" who is working on her job search. It seems everything we discussed generated some insight that I probably should have had long ago. Anyway, she has been doing product management work for some time without the benefit of an appropriate title, which is taking a toll on her confidence in interviews. She's well-spoken and has plenty of great experience, but her lack of confidence is perceptible. I thought I'd share a few bullets I generally share with coachees in this situation:
A big part of interview success is confidence. If you don't believe in yourself, who else is going to? I realize becoming confident isn't easy. However, it's important!
PM is a very broad discipline and NO ONE KNOWS EVERYTHING! You should be comfortable with some gaps in your knowledge and experience. It's normal. It doesn't necessarily make you underqualified.
EVERYBODY is (at least a little) full of sh*t. EVERYONE. We're all doing our best to put our best foot forward and hoping no one notices our inadequacies. It's just part of life. Don't punish yourself because of the mistakes you've made. No one else knows you've made them!
You can learn to be confident. It will take you out of your comfort zone but will, without a doubt, cause others to be more confident in you.
Acting more confident will make you more confident!
Try taking these points to heart and start practicing being confident. The people who do this naturally are probably no more talented or accomplished than you are. If you still have trouble, consider seeking out a coach or mentor who can accelerate this journey.
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