How to Sound Confident When You're a Young Person

You're young, you've either just finished school or you're getting ready to leave and suddenly everyone seems to be asking the same question.

"What are you going to do next?"

You think about applying for your first job, thinking about an apprenticeship or deciding whether to continue studying.

It's an exciting time, but it can also feel like there's a lot of pressure to know what you're doing.

You might be comfortable speaking to your friends, but when it comes to job interviews, meeting new people or having conversations with adults, you suddenly feel less confident.

So, how do you start feeling more comfortable speaking about yourself?

You're Not Expected to Have Everything Figured Out

There is nothing wrong with being young. But in society people always seem to have an expectation that we should already know what we want to do with your life.

Some of your friends might have university places confirmed. Others might have secured apprenticeships or started working. And you're still unsure of what you’ve chosen or you’re exploring your options.

That's completely fine.

You don't need to have your entire future planned before you can talk confidently about yourself.

If someone asks what you're planning to do, you can say:

"I'm looking at a few different options at the moment. I'm interested in business, but I'm still deciding what business to start."

There's nothing wrong with being unsure.

You can be confident about where you are now without pretending to know exactly where you'll be in five years time.

Your First Job Interview Might Feel Scary

Imagine you've applied for a weekend job in a shop.

You've been invited to an interview, but you've never had one before.

The interviewer asks:

"Tell me a little bit about yourself."

Suddenly, you don't know what to say.

Do you talk about school? Your hobbies? Your GCSEs? Your personality?

The question sounds simple enough, but it can be difficult when you're not used to talking about yourself.

Instead of trying to impress the interviewer with complicated answers, think about what they'd actually like to know.

For example:

"I'm currently finishing my studies and I'm looking for my first part-time job. I enjoy working with people and I'd like to gain some experience in customer service."

That's enough to get the conversation started.

You can then talk about your interests, what you've learnt at school or any responsibilities you've taken on.

If you struggle to think of answers when someone puts you on the spot, our article how to speak on the spot explores ways to help you articulate yourself better.

What Happens When You're the Youngest Person in the Room?

In your job, everyone around you seems older and more experienced. They know how everything works, they understand the terminology and they already know which colleagues are their friends.

But being young doesn’t mean that you can’t learn quickly or you’re not smart enough for the job. Any young person has lots to offer and companies do like employing young people because they can see the growth in their employees.

To learn quickly is to ask as many questions as you can and apply the knowledge in real time. If someone explains a task too quickly, you can say:

"Sorry, could you go through that last part again?"

And if you have an idea, you're allowed to share it. You might not have the same experience as your colleagues, but you can still offer a different perspective.

Learning how to give clear instructions can also help you understand how to communicate more easily in the workplace, especially when you're learning new responsibilities.

You Don't Have to Agree With Everyone

Another part of being a young person is learning to make your own decisions. When you're younger, it's easy to go along with what your friends want because you don't want to feel left out. Perhaps everyone wants to go somewhere you don't feel comfortable going. Or someone makes a comment you disagree with, but you don't want to start an argument.

You can have your own opinion without being rude.

You could say:

"I don't really fancy doing that today."

Or:

"I understand what you're saying, but I think we could do this slightly differently."

And you also don’t need to apologise for saying what you had in mind either. Just because you are young doesn’t mean we have to agree with everyone, we have our own mind and we can choose what we want for ourselves.

What If Everyone Else Seems More Confident Than You?

Everyone may seem more confident than you if you’re not confident about yourself. You may now know someone who can speak for absolutely ages. They can walk into a room, introduce themselves and make friends within minutes. But who’s to say they are not just faking it till they make it. Everyone has their own insecurities and sometimes we all show them in different ways.

You might prefer to listen first and get to know people gradually. That doesn't mean there's something wrong with your confidence. People have different personalities. Some enjoy being the centre of attention. Others prefer shorter conversations. The important thing is being able to express yourself when you want or need to.

Your Confidence Will Change as You Gain Experience

Think about something you used to find difficult. It could have been travelling somewhere on your own, ordering food in a restaurant or speaking to a teacher about a problem.

The first time might have felt uncomfortable. But after doing it a few times, it probably became easier. Speaking works in a similar way. You become more familiar with different situations by experiencing them.

Your first conversation with a manager might feel awkward, but after a few weeks, you may find yourself chatting more naturally.

If you feel nervous there are lots of different exercises you can try whilst you are having different conversations with people. Sometimes, the confidence comes after you’ve spoken.

Your Age Doesn't Decide How You Speak

Being young means you're still learning about yourself, the world and the people around you. But that doesn't mean your thoughts and opinions are less important.

You should be able to ask questions, make suggestions and express what matters to you without feeling that you have to prove yourself every time you speak.

At Speaking Voices, we believe young people should have a voice of their own and not feel the pressure to fit into an environment where they aren’t able to say what they want to say. Our Speak With Confidence programme is designed to give you practical speaking experience in situations that matter to you. We offer concessionary rates for young people so give us an email and we will happy to discuss the options available to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Sound Confident in My First Job Interview?

Prepare a few examples from school, volunteering, hobbies or other experiences. Practise explaining what you enjoy, what you're good at and why you're interested in the job.

How Do I Speak Confidently to Adults?

Speak as you normally would, they are human as well. Just because they are older than you it doesn’t mean you have to change the way you speak, listen to their questions and take your time answering. You don't need to use complicated language or pretend to have more experience than you do.

Is It Normal to Feel Nervous About Leaving School?

Yes. Leaving school can involve lots of changes, including new responsibilities, people and environments. Give yourself time to adjust and learn through experience.