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

If you aren’t a good candidate for a post, be upfront about it. PHOTO | FILE 

By SERAPHINE RULIGIRWA-KAMARA

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.