Looking for a job requires a complex interplay of confidence and humility. You must clearly outline your strengths without seeming arrogant. You have to sell yourself without alienating others. Many of us have a misperception of humility, equating it with self-deprecation. Such a misunderstanding can have costly results in your job search. C.S. Lewis once insightfully observed that true humility is freeing. He wrote, “Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him…He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.”
Humility is being liberated from the distractions of insecurity to engage fully with another person. Here are three ways self-forgetful humility will serve you in an interview:
1. Celebrate teammates’ victories wholeheartedly. Humble people work as part of a team toward a shared goal. They are not preoccupied with grabbing credit. They recognize and praise others’ accomplishments without feeling threatened.
2. Own mistakes candidly. When you are secure in your strengths and abilities, you can be honest about your shortcomings and the ways you manage them. This reflects a focus on performance and outcomes—something potential employers are sure to appreciate.
3. Express passion clearly. Arrogant people care about themselves. Humble people have more important causes to support. When you are not worried about feeding your ego, you have energy to give to your mission and values. Share the principles and passions that guide you with your interviewers.
