The Complete Guide
Career Confidence
You don't need another degree. You don't need another year of experience. You don't need permission. You just need to start.
The Moment I Realised We Have a Confidence Gap
I was standing at the front of a boardroom, leading a career development workshop for one of Australia's most respected financial services organisations. The room was packed with women of all ages, from mid-level managers to rising executives, all eager to learn how to take the next step in their careers.
I decided to try something new. I turned to the group and asked:
"On a scale from 1 to 10, how confident do you feel in your ability to step up in your career?"
Silence. The women glanced at each other, hesitant, as if waiting for someone else to go first. Then, slowly, they began writing their numbers down.
"Who put themselves at a 10?" I asked. No hands.
"An 8?" A couple of hands were raised.
"A 6?" Three hands went up. Just three.
"A 5?" More hands this time, but still, a lot of the women in the room hadn't moved.
"A 4?" More hands.
Then I asked, "Who put themselves at a 3 or below?"
One by one, the remaining hands rose. My heart sank.
This wasn't a room full of entry-level professionals. These were smart, capable women with years of experience, leadership potential, and glowing recommendations. On paper, they had everything they needed to take the next step.
But in their minds? They were stuck.
This was the moment I realised something profound: we don't have a skill gap. We have a confidence gap.
These weren't issues of skill or capability. They were issues of confidence. These women weren't held back by a lack of knowledge or talent. They were holding themselves back.
What I've Learned About Confidence
After 12+ years in recruitment and thousands of interviews
I've seen firsthand what separates those who land the job, get the promotion, and rise into leadership. And it's not always talent, experience, or hard skills.
It's confidence. The belief in your ability to figure things out before you feel ready.
It's the woman who applies for a job even though she meets only 60% of the qualifications.
It's the professional who negotiates their salary without hesitation.
It's the entrepreneur who pitches themselves unapologetically.
Confidence isn't just a "nice-to-have" trait. It's the deciding factor in who succeeds and who stays stuck.
Yet, through my workshops, recruitment interviews, and panels at major events, I've learned that most people, especially women, don't believe they have it. They downplay their accomplishments, hesitate to speak up in meetings, and second-guess their worth. As a result, they remain in roles they've outgrown, underpaid and overworked, fading into the background while watching others move ahead.
That stops now.
The Confidence Myth
First comes courage. Then comes confidence.
I used to believe that confident people were just born that way. That they had something I didn't. Some innate, unshakable self-belief that made them walk into rooms with ease, speak up without hesitation, and go after opportunities without second-guessing themselves.
I thought confidence was the prerequisite for success. You build confidence first, then you take action.
But after years of working with top professionals, coaching hundreds of job seekers, and interviewing some of the most successful people in the world, I've learned something that changed everything for me:
Confidence doesn't come first. Courage does.
Think about this:
Think about the moments in your life when you felt the most confident. Maybe it was after you nailed a big presentation, landed a job offer, or spoke up in a meeting.
Did you feel confident before you did it? Or did confidence come after you proved to yourself that you could?
This is one of the biggest myths about confidence: that you have to feel ready before you start. The truth is you'll never feel ready. And if you wait for confidence before taking action, you'll stay exactly where you are.
How I Faced My Biggest Fear
Public speaking terrified me. Here's what I did about it.
The fear of public speaking, known as Glossophobia, is one of the most common fears worldwide. According to research, 75% of the population experiences some degree of anxiety when it comes to speaking in public. And I am one of them.
In the early years of my career, I couldn't even stand up in front of my colleagues and say my name without almost passing out. My heart would race and sweat would pour every time I had to present. I knew this would hold me back in my career, so I took action and enrolled in Toastmasters.
I can honestly say every week, I almost talked myself out of going. It was massively outside of my comfort zone. But I knew I had to keep showing up and doing the work, as that's how I was going to begin overcoming my fear. Not by running from it, but by facing it head on.
Cut to a couple of years later. I had been invited to present at a Career Expo, an event filled with accomplished professionals and industry leaders. As I stood at the side of the stage, waiting for my turn, my mind started racing:
- "Who am I to be up here?"
- "What if I fall flat on my face, and everyone laughs?"
- "What if I forget what I'm supposed to say?"
- "What if they think I don't belong?"
The self-doubt was deafening. My hands were clammy, my heart pounded in my chest, and for a split second, I considered backing out. But then, I caught myself. I said "Georgie, you've got this. This is what you have been training for."
I reminded myself that if I waited to feel confident before stepping onto that stage, I would never do it. First, I must have courage.
I took a deep breath, walked onto that stage, and started speaking. And you know what? It wasn't perfect. My voice shook at first, and my mouth was as dry as toast. But as I kept going, the nerves settled. The preparation and all the Toastmaster sessions were paying off. The more I spoke, the more confident I became.
If I hadn't taken that first courageous step and enrolled in Toastmasters, there's no way I would have delivered that speech, or had the confidence to say yes to any of the speaking opportunities that followed.
The 3 Cs That Steal Confidence
I'm always looking for patterns. These three behaviours are confidence killers.
Complaining
You know someone who is always moaning, blaming, and playing the victim. They seem to go from one problem to the next. It's the boss, the co-worker, the government, the economy, their parents, their spouse. It's never their fault. This victim mindset steals confidence and becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Blaming and complaining are one of the quickest ways to steal your power and chip away at your self-belief. The moment I stopped complaining and blaming was the moment I felt empowered to take back control.
The shift: Take radical responsibility for everything in your life. Focus on what's in your power to influence.
Criticising
I have a confession to make. I used to be addicted to judgment and criticism. I would not only judge myself, but I would also judge others. In my late 20s, it was so automatic I wasn't even consciously aware of it. I would put myself down and focus on my weaknesses. And to make myself feel mildly more adequate, I would put others down too.
Criticism and putting ourselves and others down is one of the quickest and most effective ways to erode our self-worth. I never felt good when I judged others. It was just shining a spotlight back on my own insecurities.
The shift: Become aware of your inner dialogue. Ask "What would make this even better?" instead of "What did I do wrong?"
Comparing
We live in a world where a touch of a button, a swipe of a thumb, and a flick of a finger can make us feel like we are the biggest failure and that we aren't where we "should" be. Never in the history of humanity has it been so easy to compare ourselves to complete strangers.
As if it wasn't enough to peek over the garden fence and keep up with the Joneses' perfectly striped lawn next door, now we're trying to keep up with the rest of the world. It's no wonder anxiety and depression are on the rise.
The shift: When someone achieves what you want, use it as direct feedback. If they can do it, so can you.
The 3 Cs That Build Confidence
These behaviours compound over time to create lasting confidence.
Courage
First comes courage, then comes confidence
I'll repeat this message throughout because I believe it's incredibly important: first comes courage, then comes confidence. We are entering a decade of change, and those of us who choose to be bold and brave will enter a season of opportunity and prosperity. Having courage is no longer an option. It's essential.
Courage looks like putting your hand up to pitch an idea, offering your thoughts in a meeting, learning a new skill, seeking out a mentor, attending a networking event. It's in these moments, when you choose to back yourself, that confidence begins to build.
Competence
Skill up to shut down self-doubt
Having the courage to begin is the first step, but it must be backed up by action and skill acquisition. "Fake it till you make it" will get you in the room, but without substance, it won't get you a seat at the table.
When you continue to upskill, take a course, read, ask questions, or seek mentorship, you're telling your brain: "I might not know this yet, but I'm capable of figuring it out."
Confidence isn't about having all the answers. It's about knowing you're capable of learning what you need to know.
Clarity
Know what you want and why
In a world full of distractions and noise, the more you stay anchored to your own values, ambitions, and goals, the more confident and successful you will be. Without clarity, confidence will be fleeting, as you will always second-guess yourself whenever you begin to think about something new.
When you know what you want, why you want it, and who you need to become to achieve it, confidence will show up as you take the right steps to get there.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
When self-doubt shows up, it's a sign you're growing.
Imposter syndrome often shows up at the exact moment you're evolving. It tends to surface not when you're stagnant or comfortable, but when you're expanding: stepping into a new role, stretching your skill set, or daring to raise your hand in rooms you once only dreamed of entering.
I've realised it's your brain's slightly clumsy way of protecting you from a perceived risk. But it's really signalling that you're on the edge of something powerful: growth.
Imposter syndrome is not a flaw. It's feedback.
Name It to Tame It
One of my favourite examples came from podcast guest Cathryn Arnold, who at the time was the Chief Technology Officer of Jetstar. Her career journey was extraordinary, she went from the call centre all the way to leading technology for one of Australia's biggest airline companies. But it wasn't without imposter syndrome showing up along the way.
Every time Cathryn stepped up into a new role, she would begin to doubt her abilities. Instead of believing everything her inner critic told her, she decided to give her imposter voice a name: Kirsty.
Whenever self-doubt crept in, she'd respond with: "Oh, Kirsty's back. She's trying to keep me small again. Thanks for your concern, but I've got this."
Ever since this conversation with Cathryn, I've used this hack in my own life. When that voice pops up, I call it out and say: "Ah, there's Sue again. I see you, but you're not in charge today."
Name It to Tame It
Give your inner critic a name. Create distance between you and the fear by recognising what's happening and choosing a different response.
Best, Worst, Likely
Ask yourself: What's the best case? What's the worst case? What's the likely case? Often the worst case isn't the end of the world, and you'd get through it.
Keep Expanding
"You don't have to know everything. But you have to know enough to ask the right questions, and be willing to learn the answers."
What Career Confidence Actually Looks Like
It's not arrogance. It's owning the work you've done.
Let's be clear: confidence isn't arrogance. It's not pretending. It's owning the work you've done, the hours you've invested, the talent you've cultivated, and being okay with knowing that you deserve to be exactly where you are.
And that deserves to be celebrated.
Career Confidence Is...
Clarity
Knowing where you're heading, not just reacting to what lands in your inbox
Courage
Backing yourself when opportunities (or disruptions) arise
Choice
Having real options about your work, your leaders, and the reputation you build
The 24-Hour Confidence Challenge
Small, consistent actions are the key to creating long-lasting change.
Your task: Do one small thing in the next 24 hours that pushes you outside your comfort zone. Something simple but slightly uncomfortable. Just enough to create a stretch.
Speak up in a meeting when you'd normally stay quiet
Send a LinkedIn message to someone you admire
Ask a question in a group setting, even if it makes you nervous
Share an idea at work you've been holding back
After you do it, reflect:
How did that feel? What did I learn?
The goal isn't perfection. It's progress. Because confidence isn't a switch you flip. It's a muscle you build.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about building career confidence
What is career confidence?
Career confidence is the belief in your ability to figure things out before you feel ready. It's not about knowing everything or having all the answers. It's about trusting yourself to learn, adapt, and navigate whatever comes next. Career confidence shows up as clarity about where you're heading, the courage to back yourself when opportunities arise, and the choice to decide your own path rather than waiting for permission.
How do I build confidence in my career?
Confidence doesn't come before action. It comes after. You build career confidence by taking small, courageous steps outside your comfort zone, then reflecting on what you learned. Each time you prove to yourself that you can do hard things, your confidence grows. The key is starting before you feel ready, because if you wait to feel confident, you'll stay exactly where you are.
Why do I lack confidence at work?
Lack of confidence at work often stems from three behaviours: complaining (playing the victim instead of taking action), criticising (yourself and others), and comparing (measuring yourself against others' highlight reels). These behaviours erode self-belief over time. The antidote is courage (acting before you feel ready), competence (continuously building skills), and clarity (knowing what you want and why).
Is imposter syndrome the same as lack of confidence?
Imposter syndrome and lack of confidence are related but different. Imposter syndrome is the feeling that you don't deserve your achievements, that you'll be "found out" as a fraud. It often shows up precisely when you're growing, stepping into new roles or stretching your skills. The key is recognising imposter syndrome as feedback that you're evolving, not evidence that you don't belong.
How do I overcome imposter syndrome?
Three strategies help: First, name it to tame it. Give your inner critic a name so you can recognise when it's speaking and create distance from those thoughts. Second, act before you feel ready. Use the best case, worst case, likely case framework to evaluate decisions rather than letting fear decide. Third, keep expanding your knowledge. Confidence grows when you trust your ability to learn what you need to know.
Can you fake confidence until you have it?
Acting confident before you feel confident can help, but only if it's backed by real action and growth. When you speak up in meetings, stand tall, and make decisions decisively, your brain begins to believe you're capable. However, projecting confidence without doing the work leads to imposter syndrome. The better approach: act before you feel ready, but do the work. Step into it, face it, and become it.
What kills career confidence?
The three biggest confidence killers are complaining (blaming external factors instead of taking responsibility), criticising (harsh self-talk and judging others), and comparing (measuring yourself against others' curated success stories). Social media makes comparison especially destructive. The shift is recognising that when someone achieves what you want, it proves what's possible for you too.
How long does it take to build career confidence?
Career confidence isn't a destination you arrive at. It's a muscle you build through consistent action. Every time you step outside your comfort zone, reflect on what you learned, and try again, your confidence grows. The timeline depends on how often you're willing to take courageous action. Small daily steps compound faster than waiting for one big breakthrough.
About the Author
Georgie Hubbard
Georgie Hubbard is a career coach, keynote speaker, and author of The Bold Move. With 12+ years in recruitment and 8+ years leading her own agency, she's interviewed thousands of candidates and helped hundreds land leadership roles.
She hosts the Career Confidence Podcast, founded CH Solutions (IT recruitment) and Sisterhood Club (women in tech), and runs Bold Moves, a 60-day career accelerator helping leaders build career confidence and strategic positioning.
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