How the Language You Use to Talk to and About Yourself Affects Your Ability to Get a New Job

The words we use when we talk to and about ourselves have a profound impact on our mindset, confidence and, when job seeking, our ability to secure a new job. Whether you’re navigating unemployment, transitioning careers or striving for a promotion, the language you choose can shape your personal brand, influence your self-perception and determine how you present yourself to potential employers.

Here’s how your inner dialogue and external language choices affect your job search and how you can adjust them to increase your chances of success.

1. Shaping Your Confidence Through Self-Talk
The way you talk to yourself directly affects your self-confidence, which in turn impacts how you approach the job search. Positive, empowering language fuels self-belief and motivates you to take proactive steps toward your goals, while negative self-talk can hinder your efforts.

For example, telling yourself, "I’ll never find a job in this competitive market" can trigger feelings of hopelessness, lowering your energy and effort. This mindset may lead to you applying for fewer jobs or presenting yourself less confidently during interviews. On the other hand, saying, "I have valuable skills and I am capable of finding the right opportunity" can energise you and boost your resilience.

Tip: Practice replacing negative self-talk with affirmations that emphasise your strengths. Focus on what you can control, like improving your CV, enhancing your skills or networking more effectively.

2. Defining Your Personal Brand
The language you use to describe yourself professionally forms the foundation of your personal brand, which plays a crucial role in the job hunt. When writing your CV, LinkedIn profile or cover letter, how you talk about your experiences, skills and achievements shapes how potential employers perceive you.

For instance, consider the difference between saying, "I was responsible for managing projects" versus, "I successfully led cross-functional teams in delivering complex projects on time and under budget".  The latter paints a much more dynamic, results-oriented picture. Employers are more likely to take note of candidates who use confident, active language that demonstrates impact.

Tip: Use action verbs and quantifiable achievements when presenting your past roles in your CV and at interview. Highlight your contributions and the results you achieved to make your narrative compelling and focused on your strengths.

3. Impacting Interview Performance
As we all know, the way you speak about yourself in interviews can make or break your chances of getting the job. If your language is overly modest, uncertain or self-deprecating, interviewers may doubt your ability to deliver in the role. Conversely, using confident, assertive language shows that you believe in your own value and are ready to contribute.

Consider the difference between these two responses to a question about a challenge you faced: “I tried my best but I struggled to meet the deadline" and “I identified key obstacles early on and worked with my team to reallocate resources, ensuring we met the deadline". 

The first response signals a lack of confidence and control, while the second demonstrates problem-solving skills and leadership. Employers are more inclined to hire candidates who speak with conviction about their abilities and experiences.

Tip: Before an interview, practice framing your answers using positive, solution-focused language. Avoid minimising your contributions or attributing your successes to luck or external factors.

4. Creating a Growth-Oriented Mindset
Your internal and external language can also influence whether you adopt a fixed or growth mindset—a concept coined by psychologist Carol Dweck. A fixed mindset is characterised by the belief that your abilities are static and unchangeable, while a growth mindset embraces the idea that skills and talents can be developed through effort and learning.

If you frequently tell yourself, "I’m not good at this" you reinforce a fixed mindset that can limit your opportunities. In contrast, adopting language like, "I’m still learning and I’ll improve with time and practice" cultivates a growth mindset that opens up possibilities for development and new career paths.

A growth-oriented mindset allows you to embrace challenges, accept feedback and stay open to learning new skills—qualities that are highly attractive to employers.

Tip: Shift your language from limitations ("I can’t") to opportunities for growth ("I can learn"). This mindset will not only help you in your current job search but also contribute to long-term career success.

5. Communicating Professional Value
How you communicate your professional value influences whether you stand out in a crowded job market. If you talk about your skills and experience in a vague or uncertain way, hiring managers may overlook your true potential. The key is to position yourself as a confident, solution-oriented professional who brings tangible value to the table.

For example, instead of saying, "I have some experience in marketing" try, "I have five years of experience in marketing, where I helped increase brand visibility and drove a 20% growth in online engagement”. The latter demonstrates your expertise and makes it clear how you can contribute to the company’s success.

Tip: Be clear and specific when describing your skills and accomplishments. Use language that demonstrates how you add value, aligning your experience with the needs of the employer.

6. Influencing Networking Opportunities
Your language doesn’t just impact how employers view you, also shapes how others in your professional network perceive your abilities and readiness for new opportunities. If you downplay your experience or express doubts about your skills, people in your network may be less inclined to recommend you for positions or make introductions.

On the other hand, communicating your ambitions and value confidently increases the likelihood that others will support you in your job search. When you talk about yourself with clarity and assurance you build a reputation as a capable, skilled professional ready for new challenges.

Tip: When networking, focus on sharing your goals and achievements in a positive, forward-thinking way. Let people know what you’re looking for and why you’re well-suited for the opportunities you seek.

Language is Power
The language you use, both in your internal dialogue and how you present yourself to others, can either propel you forward in your job search or hold you back. By cultivating positive self-talk, choosing assertive, specific language to describe your skills and adopting a growth mindset, you position yourself as a confident, capable candidate. In doing so, you’ll not only improve your chances of getting an interview but also boost your overall career trajectory.

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