In a recent interview, Matthew McConaughey shared a powerful lesson that anyone involved in a job search can benefit from.

He shared how after his first movie role (in Dazed and Confused),  he could get auditions but no roles.

At this point, he had less than a thousand dollars in his pocket and was sleeping on his producer friend Don Phillips’ couch.

His anxiety increased as his resources dwindled and offers were nonexistent.

He told Don that he needed to get an agent.

Don shouted “You NEED it too much, this industry….Hollywood…it smells need… If Holywood smells you needing it…you’re done.”

He then tells Matthew to leave town and go ride motorcycles with some buddies and “get cool” and then they’ll talk.

So McConaughy does.

When he comes back a few months later, and they’re having dinner, Matthew is clearly emanating a whole different vibe.

Don says “You’re ready.”

The next day he has an interview with the William Morris talent agency and gets signed on.

That NEVER would have happened when he was in his “I NEED this” mode, observes McConaughy.

He goes on to say he would have tried to oversell himself and would have “dorked out” and by doing so, screamed DESPERATION.

Instead, he had more of a subtle “you need me” vibe. Not an obnoxious swagger, but a powerful confidence in what he had to offer.

What does this have to do with you and your job search?

You must “own your awesome”.

You must be really clear what makes you a real “catch” and feel it in your bones. It can’t be just an intellectual “Yeah…I know I’ve got some good experience…(but).”

Here’s How To Get Started:

  1. Identify all the ways you’ve provided value to previous employers and really let that sink in.
  2. Identify what makes you uniquely awesome.
  3. Collect stories that illustrate what makes you awesome, the skills you bring to the table, and your strengths. These stories will  help the reality of what you have to offer hit home more viscerally. They will also help you crush your job interviews when the time comes.
  4. Get feedback from friends and colleagues about what they see as your strengths and talents.
  5. If you got laid off or terminated, do the emotional healing work you need to do to let go of any hurt, shame, or resentment you might have so you can unambiguously feel and radiate confidence.
  6. If you want help and guidance in this process, feel free to reach out. Often someone else (especially if they’re skilled interviewers) can help you recognize strengths and qualities in you that you can’t, because you’re too close to the situation.

To dive deeper into this, here’s a blog post on  how to recognize your strengths and transferable skills.

If you want to see the video interview, cued up to the story, here’s the link.