Has this happened to you? You see a job posting and think it would be a great place to work. But as you read the list of qualifications, you start to second guess whether you’re even remotely qualified. What’s worse is when the imposter syndrome kicks in after you start a job and wonder if you made a big mistake. It all boils down to fear. How do you get over that fear and go after what you want in your career? Here are some tips to help.
Trust What They See in You
If you have been contacted for an interview or even started the job already, don’t let imposter syndrome get the best of you. They believe in you, so it’s time to believe in yourself. If you haven’t even applied, trust that there will be something in your background that could be suitable for them. You have 100% of not getting a job you never applied for, so go ahead and apply.
Embrace Positive Thinking
Psychologists have demonstrated that people who think negatively about situations are much more likely to have a negative outcome. It really is true that what we think about is what we manifest. If you want the job, even if you feel you’re underqualified, go ahead and think positively about it. You may be surprised at what you can achieve.
Think of Failure as a Learning Opportunity
The act of failure isn’t the problem for most people. It’s what happens in the aftermath that will influence the rest of your actions. If you’ve failed before, don’t think you will fail again. Use what you learned from that experience to make a more positive effort the next time. So just because you didn’t get an interview for a job you applied to in the past doesn’t mean you won’t again. Keep applying because only one person needs to say yes.
Fake it Till You Make it
It may sound cliché because it is, but there is a lot of truth to the fake it until you make it mentality. There is only one aspect that you can’t fake, especially in a shipyard environment, and that’s safety. But you can learn safety, and you can learn all the other aspects of the job as you go along. It is possible to start out underqualified and still become an expert, even in a short period of time.