Have courage to say no to a job opportunity if it’s the wrong fit

Positivity is my undying sermon. Positivity means “yes” in any language. But what if “yes” is not your frame of mind on an interaction? What if the first thought in your mind is “no”?

You may not say it out loud to remain polite or tactful but you strongly feel a “no”.

The average person selling anything is wired to say “yes” to most would-be buyers even when it is the wrong answer. This may be so for most employers.

If, however, you’re as good as you should be, you want to be honest about your capabilities to avoid any misunderstanding later in the relationship with your employer.

You’ll be amazed by the sheer number of people who have difficulty saying “no”.

“My experience is limited to area X”.

“My skill set may a little lower than what you need”, or “I am not the right person for this opportunity”.

If this happens to be your position, you do not earn any brownie points for pretending to be something you are not.

The ability to clearly state what you do not or cannot offer, knowing it could mean passing up an opportunity, is uncommon but is a most liberating frame of mind. It is freedom from desperation.

If there ever was a measure of self-confidence, it doesn’t get any better than that.

Whenever you find yourself in such a situation, know that the evaluation is not a one-way process. You are evaluating your prospective employers just as much as they are interviewing.

If you come with a tinge of desperation, your end of the bargain will always be a lot shorter than it needs to be. You become the underdog.

Walk into the interview confident and ready to let the opportunity go in case you are not a good fit. This will instantly magnetise your prospective employer. There are not many like you and you are in high demand. Your stock is much higher than the average professional.

If you aren’t a good fit for a situation, be upfront about it. Wanting it does not change the fact that you are not right for it and you can’t accept a position hoping to just wing it.

Say “ no” if that’s the right answer and you instantly become the right candidate.

Most people are hard wired to say “yes” hoping the prospective employer will not interview them downwards, to the “no” side. It simply shows that they are out looking for any opportunity that comes around. Nobody chooses to work with such a person.

You are not meant for just any opportunity. You are not here for just any job.

No one can make you come to this realisation. You have to voluntarily come to it when you are good and ready.

If you do not, you are equal to a hostage sitting in a cell with the key in the lock. You can choose to turn the key and change your status and life forever or just sit there mopping about it.

No one is capable of treating you with the respect and dignity that you can accord yourself. Start delving into the heart of matters to resolve your inner conflicts and align yourself to become the authentic person that people will be happy to hire and work with.

Until then, you are operating your whole life on a need for a job rather than being the person that the world needs you to be. You are a hostage staring at the key in the lock.

Seraphine is an expert on attitude and human potential. [email protected]. | @SRuligirwa