How do I job search when I’ve lost my confidence?
Deciding how to position your previous experience is a lot more important than what you might've (not) accomplished.
Careers are deeply personal; most executive career advice isn’t. Crux is here to help.
Ask a Career Coach
I moved up the career ladder quickly in the first 10 years of my career. To be direct, I’m the kind of person who was often considered a superstar by her manager and her peers. However, in my most recent role, I found myself struggling to be successful and therefore wasn’t shocked when I got laid off a few months ago.
I’ve started interviewing for new roles, but I’m realizing that I’ve lost my confidence. Not only was I laid off, but I can’t point to any noteworthy accomplishments from that last role. I feel like the first 10 years of my career don’t count for anything since it all built toward this lackluster experience. How do I authentically position myself for the senior leadership job I know I can do? How do I get my confidence back?
In the midst of a career turning point or crisis? Crux wants to help. Send us your question to be answered (anonymously) by a career coach in an upcoming newsletter.
A Career Coach Says
First, it’s important to recognize that your career doesn’t boil down to one role, good or bad. Your first 10 years absolutely count — those years are filled with the wins, skills, and experiences that shaped you into a superstar. The fact that you thrived for a decade proves your capability and resilience, and one less-than-ideal chapter doesn’t erase that.
Here’s a way to position yourself for your next role that’ll also rebuild your confidence.
1. Reframe the narrative
Instead of focusing on what didn’t work in your last role, consider it a learning experience. Remember that layoffs happen often, so don't be too hard on yourself: It's how you position your learnings that's key.
Every professional journey includes detours, and senior leaders value people who’ve faced challenges, learned from them, and come back stronger. Use storytelling to show how this experience expanded your perspective or clarified what you’re looking for in your next role. For example:
"In my most recent role, I encountered challenges that pushed me to grow and evolve in my leadership approach. Including when X (specific story about a challenge in your last role) happened... It deepened my understanding of what it takes to build high-performing teams and align goals across departments—something I’m excited to apply in my next opportunity."
This shifts the focus from the struggle itself to your growth and the value you bring moving forward.
2. Highlight your proven track record and remember that experience never expires
Anchor your narrative in the successes of your first 10 years. These achievements are still your foundation, and they’re proof of your leadership abilities. Focus on measurable accomplishments and the skills you honed, like:
Leading successful projects that exceeded expectations
Building strong teams and mentoring high performers
Developing innovative solutions that delivered results
Make sure you have detailed stories and examples for each bullet point. Frame this as your toolkit for leadership—tools you’ve sharpened through your career and are ready to use in your next role.
3. Own Your Unique Story
Senior leadership isn’t just about accomplishments; it’s about your vision, values, and ability to inspire others. Craft a clear, authentic story that connects the dots between your past success, what you learned in your most recent role, and where you’re headed.
For example:
"Throughout my career, I’ve been known for turning challenges into opportunities — the best example is when X (challenge) happened and I (how you handled it)....
Whether it's building a cross-functional team from scratch or launching a new product in a competitive market, I’ve always delivered results by aligning teams with a shared purpose. My last role gave me valuable insights into what kind of culture and environment leaders thrive in, and I’m ready to use that perspective to drive impact at the senior level."
4. Rebuild Confidence Through Preparation
Confidence comes from clarity and preparation. To start:
Develop a "bank" of power stories showcasing your leadership and problem-solving skills. Practice sharing these stories with a coach or trusted friend.
Define the key characteristics of the leader you aspire to be—your leadership brand.
Shift your mindset from "I need this job" to "Do we align?" You’re evaluating them just as much as they’re evaluating you.
By focusing on your strengths and the lessons you’ve gained, you’ll be able to present yourself authentically as a resilient, insightful leader ready to deliver results. And you’ll find that you’ll regain your confidence along the way.
Meet the Coach of the Week: Priya Sam
In her own words:
Priya Sam is your Story Architect. Priya was a national news anchor and morning show host and that's where she became an expert at telling captivating stories that keep people's attention.
When you're memorable and know how to make meaningful connections with others in any setting — you get more opportunities.
That's how Priya went from working behind the scenes at a small television newsroom to being on national television in just five years. It's the same reason she doubled her salary in just two years while working at prestigious tech companies including Slack and Salesforce.
While working in tech, Priya started her own business to help women use storytelling to advocate for themselves in the workplace. Her passion for helping women build confidence and take up more space through storytelling is inspired by the countless deserving women she saw passed over for jobs, promotions, and opportunities in the corporate world.
Priya's superpower is to instantly see the magic and power of the story you NEED to share to stand out. She helps her clients land raises, promotions, and dream jobs by identifying their genius and the most powerful way to articulate it in 1:1 sessions, group programs, and workshops.
Priya’s Go-to Resources
Course: The Unleash Program: This group program is great for women who have reached early career milestones—the senior title, the six-figure salary—and are focused on getting passion and values-aligned opportunities. In this program, women build their power stories and learn how to effectively position themselves in job interviews and while building relationships with the leaders and executives who will open the doors to those dream opportunities.
Course: The Career Confidence Codes FREE Challenge: This is a free three-day challenge for ambitious women who are at a transition point in their careers, whether it’s post-layoff, maternity leave, or another big change. Over the course of three live sessions (Feb 4, 5, and 6) on Zoom, participants will be guided through building their Power Story, mastering the First Impression Formula, and building a Strategic Storytelling strategy that aligns with the current career goal.
Course: The First Impression Formula Masterclass: This is great for anyone at a transition point who is struggling to figure out their “tell me about yourself…” story for both the job search and networking.
Podcast: The Art of Speaking Up: This podcast empowers professional women to achieve their wildest career goals by helping them strengthen their voices and find their inner power.
Podcast: Fixable: I love this podcast because the hosts are leadership coaches who talk to guest callers about their workplace challenges and they offer actionable solutions in 30 minutes or less.
Book: How Women Rise: Break the 12 habits holding you back from your next raise, promotion, or job. I gift this book to all of the women in my group program. It breaks down the common challenges women experience in the workplace and how to overcome them. Every woman who reads this book has some big aha moments (myself included!)
In the midst of a career turning point or crisis? Crux wants to help. Send us your question to be answered (anonymously) by a career coach in an upcoming newsletter.
Heads up: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, so Crux may get a commission when you purchase them. But just like the coaches we feature, all of these products are things that we would personally recommend to our friends.