Day One of Training: How You Present Yourself

This afternoon, I had my first class in my 14-week long job 

training course.  The class consists of men and women of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.  Everyone was very nice.  As soon as I got to the school I saw two people in wheelchairs, a girl and a guy. I was hesitant to go up to them and ask if they were a part of the class because I didn't want to assume anything.  Maybe they were students of the school and they just happened to be in wheelchairs.  I did decide to go up to them and I met two great people who are taking the class with me.  

The main focus of today's class was about the way you present yourself to other people.  You have to be able to communicate verbally and non verbally.  People are always going to question you, so you have to know what you are talking about and understand what you are talking about.   That is how you gain respect and trust from people.  You have to be confident.

I've struggled with confidence for as long as I can remember, personally and professionally. People have doubted me so many times and I believed them.  People told me that I would never amount to anything, but I am proud to say that I have a Master's degree.  It is the biggest accomplishment of my life, but sometimes I still find myself doubting my abilities.  I don't like to make mistakes, especially in a job setting, but I know that it is the only way to learn.  

I had two job interviews in the last year, and I believe the reason why I didn't get the jobs that I was interviewing for was because of my confidence.  The interviewers probably sensed that I was nervous because I took long pauses when I didn't know how to answer a question.  I have to show that I am capable and confident in my ability to do what I am asked, even if I have to fake it.  

This is something that I really need to work on and I think this class will help me get through it.  I'm looking forward to seeing my growth and hopefully it will help me get a job in the near future!