So listen to my declaration.
Finding an internship is not easy, especially when you’ve got a bad case of imposter syndrome heckling your every move.
I so desperately wish that I had the confidence of a wealthy, white man or that I was so confident that I sweated in Kanye. Unfortunately, all I have is a case of bad stomach every time I apply for something.
I suppose that makes me a part of the statistic. I learned in my intro to my I/O psychology class that women are more likely to see asking for things such as a promotion or an interview as a nerve-wreaking chore, versus men who are more likely to see it as a fun game.
Well the ball is in my field and I’m trying my best not to get a concussion.
It’s not that I am bad at promoting myself or saying good things about myself. It’s just I get thinking constipation every time I do so. But I’m a firm believer in faking it till you become it and an avid lover of improv, so my mouth is sprouting off great things about me even as my brain is stuttering along.
I think perhaps the most important part of getting others to recognize your potential and greatness is learning how to recognize it yourself. How am I supposed to get a job, if I can’t tell the hiring manager why they should hire me in the first place?
Thankfully I’ve developed a list to get me through the process of recognizing myself:
- Say the Mantra
The Mantra looks a little like the mirror rap moments Issa Rae performs in ‘Insecure’:
2. “Put my thing down, flip it and reverse it”
Practice makes perfect applies to almost everything. When you have your elevator pitch down, practice it so much that you can flip it and reverse it without breaking a sweat.
3. Back it up
Yeah you can say for hours how amazing you are, but if you have nothing tangible to back it up then who cares? Experience with other jobs and your portfolio is what employers want to see. Even doing something seemingly as small as writing this blog post helps me build my portfolio.
4. When all else fails, Wing it
You can’t plan for everything. Improvise whatever else you need and be ready to go with the flow. This keeps you on your toes, and your responses to anything fresh and creative!
To be honest, I don’t think I’ll ever not be nervous when it comes to the interview process. However, that will never stop me from applying because I can recognize the endless possibilities of myself and I’ve got a good idea on how to get people to see it too.
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