How to build confidence at work: Alexandra's advice

Confidence isn't about having all the answers or never feeling nervous. It's about trusting yourself, speaking up and being willing to take opportunities, even when they feel a little uncomfortable.

We spoke to Alexandra Haider, Founding GTM at Elyos and former Trends & Insights Specialist at Pion, about building confidence at work, trusting your instincts and why you shouldn't wait for permission to go after what you want.

Alexandra has worked on youth trends and cultural insights reports and has been featured in publications including Vogue Business, CNBC and The Independent.

Confidence is a muscle

Alexandra has always considered herself naturally confident, something she attributes partly to moving between different schools growing up and learning to adapt to unfamiliar situations.

But she believes confidence is also something anyone can develop.

“Confidence is a muscle; you build it by using it.”

Her advice? Put yourself in situations that challenge you. Strike up conversations, meet new people and don't be afraid of being the new person in the room.

The more you practise, the more natural it becomes.

Trust your own judgement

Early in your career, it can be tempting to assume that everyone else knows better.

Alexandra believes it's important to listen and learn from others while still trusting your instincts.

For her, doing so has opened doors to unexpected opportunities, including projects outside her original responsibilities and conversations with people she might not otherwise have met.

The lesson is simple: you don't have to know everything to have something valuable to contribute.

Stop waiting for validation

One of Alexandra's biggest pieces of advice to her younger self would be to stop looking for approval from other people.

Confidence doesn't mean always being right. It means being comfortable contributing your ideas and accepting that you have something worthwhile to say.

She also believes there's real power in knowing when to stop explaining yourself.

You don't always need to apologise, justify every opinion or wait to be invited into a conversation.

Don't rule yourself out

Ever spotted a job you'd love, only to convince yourself that you're not qualified enough?

Alexandra's advice is straightforward:

“Apply anyway.”

Her point is that you don't need to meet every requirement in a job description before putting yourself forward.

Ambition, curiosity and a willingness to learn can be just as important, particularly when you're starting out.

Remember, nobody has all the answers

When self-doubt creeps in, Alexandra reminds herself that even the most senior people in a business are still figuring things out.

Rather than focusing on what she doesn't know, she concentrates on the knowledge, experience and perspective she can contribute.

Surrounding yourself with supportive people who challenge you to grow can make a huge difference too.

Your next step

Whether you're applying for your first graduate role, preparing for an interview or finding your feet in a new job, confidence doesn't have to come first.

Sometimes you build it by taking the opportunity.

Explore the latest graduate and early-career jobs at BrighterBox and see where your next step could take you.