This matters more than your resume
Knowing yourself is the ultimate job search advantage
When people think about standing out in a job search, they often focus on resumes, credentials, or learning the “right” way to answer interview questions.
But according to BJ McKay, a long-time leadership development consultant at ADVISA, none of that matters if you don’t start with confidence.
And confidence doesn’t come from external validation. It comes from knowing yourself.
In a recent conversation on Job Hunt Indiana hosted by Olu Burrell, BJ shared why self-awareness is one of the most underutilized (yet, one of the most powerful) advantages in a career search.
Whether you’re actively interviewing or quietly questioning your next move, his message is simple and deeply human: Confidence is the currency of productivity.
When confidence erodes — as it often does during a long job search or a tough career season — even the strongest credentials lose their impact.
The good news?
Building confidence starts with something entirely within your control.
Key takeaways
- Confidence is built from self-awareness, not credentials
- Knowing what gives you energy is a competitive advantage
- There are no “right” answers in behavioral assessments
- Performing as someone else leads to misalignment and burnout
- Owning failures signals maturity, grit, and leadership potential
- The Predictive Index® helps turn instinct into language you can use
Actionable insights
Confidence begins with self-awareness
Many people enter a job search carrying self-doubt, anxiety, or even shame — especially if the search has gone on longer than expected. BJ doesn’t dismiss those feelings. He names them as real, common, and understandable.
But he also reframes the situation.
Instead of asking, How do I perform better? the more powerful question becomes: Do I actually know what I want — and why?
Too often, people can articulate the surface-level goals:
- A certain salary
- A particular title
- A specific industry
But when asked why those things matter, the foundation starts to crack.
Without clarity around personal needs, values, and motivators, it becomes almost impossible to advocate for yourself with confidence. Interviews become performative. Networking feels draining. And eventually, people find themselves repeating the same misalignment in role after role.
Self-awareness changes that equation.
The real work is beneath the surface
BJ often sees talented people struggle not because they lack ability, but because they’ve never paused to understand what actually gives them energy.
That includes questions like:
- What kind of work environment helps me thrive?
- What drains me, even if I’m “good” at it?
- What do I need in relationship — with my manager, my team, and my work itself?
This kind of reflection isn’t always easy — especially when financial pressure or urgency is involved. But over the long arc of a career, it’s what separates durable confidence from constant frustration.
When you know who you are and what you need, you stop chasing roles that require you to perform as someone else.
Two practical ways to start knowing yourself better
For people who find self-reflection difficult or abstract, BJ recommends two accessible entry points:
1. Use a behavioral assessment to put language to what you feel
Behavioral assessments help translate internal instincts into clear, usable language. Tools like DiSC, Enneagram, Myers-Briggs, and The Predictive Index give you a structured way to understand:
- What drives you
- What environments support your best work
- Where your confidence naturally comes from
Rather than guessing how you “should” show up, assessments help you see how you already do.
Importantly, there are no right or wrong results.
A valid assessment isn’t a test, it’s a mirror.
2. Start with the outcomes you think you want, then peel the layers back
Another approach is to begin with the most material version of success you can imagine:
- The salary
- The title
- The lifestyle
Then ask deeper questions:
- If I had this, what would I feel?
- What would it allow me to do?
- Who would I become?
The initial goal is rarely the real goal. It’s the doorway to something more human — security, autonomy, impact, or belonging.
Understanding that difference helps you pursue roles that actually fulfill you, not just impress on paper.
Why you shouldn’t “game” assessments or interviews
One of the biggest traps BJ sees is people trying to answer assessment questions the “right” way — or trying to become who they think an employer wants.
That strategy backfires.
When you perform in a relationship — whether personal or professional — it becomes exhausting, anxiety-producing, and unsustainable. The same is true in a job search.
Employers aren’t looking for a perfect candidate. They’re looking for you — someone who can learn, adapt, own mistakes, and grow into the role.
And remember: You are interviewing them, too.
“There are no right or wrong answers in a valid behavioral assessment.”
Owning your failures is a sign of confidence
One of the most counterintuitive insights BJ shares is this: your failures may be your greatest advantage.
Strong interviewers aren’t just listening for success stories. They’re listening for:
- Self-awareness
- Accountability
- Grit
- Curiosity
- Growth
When you can clearly articulate a failure — what you learned, how you adapted, and who you became because of it — you demonstrate the exact traits most organizations struggle to find.
“The things you’re most afraid to talk about are often the most valuable.”
Confidence isn’t pretending you’ve never stumbled.
It’s knowing what your setbacks taught you.
How the Predictive Index helps you show up more confidently
The Predictive Index (PI) is a short, science-backed behavioral assessment that takes about five to six minutes to complete. It reveals your core drives and needs, and how those translate into behavior at work.
The output gives you insight into:
- What motivates you
- Where you naturally get energy
- What kinds of environments fit you best
- What may cause stress or burnout
Most importantly, it increases self-awareness — the foundation of confidence.
👉 Take the free Predictive Index assessment
ADVISA’s Director of Leadership Coaching, Mike Elliott, says, “You never need to apologize for who you are — but you are responsible for it.”
PI isn’t a label or an excuse. It’s a tool to help you take ownership of how you show up and how you manage yourself in different situations.
“You never need to apologize for who you are — but you are responsible for it.”
Take the free Predictive Index assessment
If you want to better understand what drives you, where your confidence comes from, and what environments allow you to do your best work, we invite you to take the free Predictive Index assessment using ADVISA’s special link. It takes only a few minutes and delivers immediate, eye-opening value — not just as an employee, but as a human being:
Knowing yourself is not a “nice to have.”
It’s a strategic advantage — in your career and beyond.
About Job Hunt Indiana
Hosted by Olu Burrell, Job Hunt Indiana features experts and guests from all industries to help people who are seeking jobs and careers to learn how to navigate the sometimes unclear or unfamiliar paths of getting to where they need to get to.
Topics include interviewing skills, how to present well, and how to put your best foot forward. Plus, landmines to avoid, industries to tap into, and new opportunities.
In addition to hosting Job Hunt Indiana, Olu Burrell is an Executive/Leadership Coach, People Strategy Consultant, and Knowledge Philanthropist.
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“When you know who you are and what you want, you become almost indestructible.”