Crush Your Confidence and Perfect your Professional Presence

Let’s be honest, it’s pretty hard to feel Smart & Sexy right now. The world is collapsing around us and our focus is on surviving not thriving. For many of the women who ACDN supports and through our member organizations, they can’t work from home. Most are trying to simply secure employment and that almost always requires leaving the house. 

Quarantine and chill isn’t in their wheelhouse. These women (and men) need to work or they can’t make rent and put food on the table. If you are looking for help during this tough time, we’re here for you. We’ve put together a video with Precious Williams, Founder and CEO of Perfect Pitches by Precious, where she’ll share tips for how to present yourself on an interview (in person or virtual) and get the confidence you need to get that job. 

Precious knows what it takes to pull yourself up by your bootstraps. Several years ago she was homeless and was a client of ACDN member organization, Bottomless Closet in NYC. Today she’s known worldwide as the #KillerPitchMaster and speaks all around the globe to inspire others to craft their perfect pitch. 

Zoom recording meets The Brady Bunch

In this video, Precious shared her secrets to: Crush Your Confidence and Perfect Your Professional Presence. Here are a few of the takeaways:

1. Play to the Skills You Have - Seek out roles and positions that are in your wheelhouse. Are you creative? Detail-oriented? Organized? Great with spreadsheets? Play up the strengths you already have, give examples and be clear about who you already are! 

2. You are More Than Your Resume - Highlight instances that showcase skills and talents for the position you are seeking. What talent do you have that someone might not expect? This is your chance to become more fully human. Stretch your examples and think outside of the box. 

3. Show You’ve Done the Research - It goes without saying that you should never show up to an interview not having done your homework on the company you are talking to. But can you go one further and find out things about them that require a little digging? Stand out in a way they aren’t expecting. Think about “interrupting the pattern.” MAKE them remember you. 

4. Be a Master Storyteller - Illustrate every point with a story. Make it memorable. And real! 

5. Have Confidence in Everything You Do - If you have to fake it til you make it, so be it, but be confident in who you are and how you present yourself. This includes written material like your bio, LinkedIn profile and resume, as well as in person or virtually. Don’t get caught off guard. Be ready for anything they throw at you. Focus on what makes them want YOU, not someone else. 

6. Come to Slay, Not Play - Write out everything about you and what you want to say and rehearse your story until you know it inside out and backwards. YOU set the tone. Don’t let them lead. Hold eye contact, sit up straight, don’t be afraid or desperate. Show them you know who you are and what you deserve. Now ask for it. 

7. Surround Yourself with Support - Never be afraid to ask for help. Your friends, family, neighbors, they all know people who know people. And they want to help. Let them! Tell them what you are looking for. Let them support you. 

Want to see more? Check out the full video.