Interviewers want to hear a reasonable story about the past, present, and future. - Meg Jay

Confidence doesn't come from the inside out. It moves from the outside in. People feel less anxious — and more confident — on the inside when they can point to things they have done well on the outside. Fake confidence comes from stuffing our self-doubt. Empty confidence comes from parental platitudes on our lunch hour. Real confidence comes from mastery experiences, which are actual, lived moments of success, especially when things seem difficult. Whether we are talking about love or work, the confidence that overrides insecurity comes from experience. There is no other way.

Real confidence comes from mastery experiences, which are actual, lived moments of success, especially when things seem difficult.

Twentysomethings who don’t feel anxious and incompetent at work are usually overconfident or underemployed.