Not long ago, I listened back to a podcast episode where I was the guest. As I replayed it, I found myself cringing – not because of the content but because of how often I said “I think” before sharing my expertise. Hearing it back, I realised how much it diluted my message. Each “I think” made me sound hesitant, as if I wasn’t fully confident in sharing my knowledge, even though I knew exactly what I was talking about. This moment was a powerful reminder of how small language habits can have a big impact on how we’re perceived.

This is exactly what I see in my clients every day – from graduates nervously preparing for their first interview right through to seasoned executives preparing for C-suite roles. So many of us unintentionally undermine our years of experience by using words that make us sound unsure. Instead, we should be owning our skills and experiences with confidence.

Why we undersell ourselves

Many Australians, in particular, struggle with the idea of “selling themselves.” We’re taught not to boast, to stay humble, and to let our work speak for itself. But in an interview, there’s no room for understatement or too much humility. If you don’t articulate your strengths and contributions confidently no one else will do it for you.

Words and phrases that quietly diminish your strengths

“I think”

This phrase signals uncertainty and doubt in the recruiter’s mind, just as the podcast audience may have perceived uncertainty when listening tp my recommendations in the podcast episode. If you are prone to prefacing your comments with “I think”, then practise changing from “I think I’m a strong leader” to, “I have been confidently leading multi-disciplinary and diverse teams for over a decade.”

“Only”

Using “only” draws attention to what you see as a shortcoming. For example, “I only managed a small team” should instead become, “I successfully led a team of three that involved recruiting the best people, building capability and motivating the team to ensure we achieved results”.

“We” instead of “I”

The most common way I see senior clients undersell themselves is by reverting to using the word “we” when articulating their achievements. More often than not, it was their direct influence, but instead, they still refer to their achievements using the word “we”. Changing from “we” to “I” when discussing your achievements is an absolute game-changer in any interview.

Why this matters

When you undersell yourself, you give interviewers reasons to question your true experience and capability. In competitive markets, especially here in Australia, you need to leave no doubt about the value you bring. Confident language isn’t about arrogance – it’s about appearing confident and backing up your experience. It signals that you know your strengths, trust your abilities, and can back up your claims with evidence.

How to replace undermining language

👉 Use strong, specific verbs: “I led,” “I implemented,” “I achieved,” “I improved.”

👉 Develop responses that quantify your achievements where possible (even an approximation is okay) and the flow-on effects of that achievement, such as: “The project was delivered ahead of schedule by one week, enabling the client to launch their new service earlier than planned. This resulted in increased customer engagement and generated an estimated additional $250K in revenue during the first month. The success also strengthened our relationship with the client, leading to two new project opportunities within the next quarter.”

👉 Conduct mock interviews with a friend or family member and play back the recording. This will help you identify how many times you use the words and phrases mentioned above. You might be surprised at how often these words slip in unconsciously (just like I realised with my podcast episode!).

Whether you’re a new graduate or a seasoned executive, the language you use in interviews can either highlight your strengths or quietly erode them. By becoming aware of undermining phrases and replacing them with clear, confident language, you immediately position yourself as a stronger, more credible candidate. Remember: you’re not there to play small – you’re there to showcase your unique value. Practice owning your story and speaking with conviction. As I learned listening to my own words, the small language habits we don’t even notice can make all the difference.

If you want to nail your next interview, then you can find out more about our interview coaching sessions here or listen to Episode #21 of the Relaunch Your Career Podcast to up your interview game!

Until next time,

Leah