Picture this: You’ve set your email alerts on job search websites and edited your resume about 500 times. Suddenly, a new email arrives in your inbox with an alert about a position at your dream institution. Fate!
You read it and there’s a sinking feeling in your stomach. It requires a handful of things that you definitely have, but it also requires one or two that need justification. You find yourself wondering “am I really qualified for this?”
Since it’s graduation season, it’s also job searching season. As one of those job searchers, I’ve had times lately where I’d look at a new posting, write a cover letter, or shift things around on my resume and imposter syndrome would rear its head. Imposter syndrome plagues us all at one point or another, but it can be extra troubling when it touches on just a hint of truth. That’s why one of the hardest parts of the job search is staying true to yourself. That’s also why being #SAFit during the job search can be so hard.
To be truly #SAFit, we have to take care of ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. To make that possible, we also have to put ourselves into situations where we can be authentic and confident. This becomes difficult when we have to justify our experience or skills in the job search and when we have to decide if a specific position is right for us. For example, I find myself wondering: Does my experience even count? Would I ever fit into the team in this office? Am I good enough to stand out from the other applicants for this position?
Imposter syndrome is like that, and the job search makes you doubt and compare yourself to the competition. Plus, people say that applying to a job should be like a full time job on its own. All those expectations make it hard to take care of yourself. Instead, I try to remind myself to take the #SAFit approach to job-searching.
Being #SAFit is about being confident in your skills, taking pride in your identities, and being authentic in your beliefs. Although I try to be #SAFit every day of the year, there’s no time more important than during the job search. I can’t imagine a time more important to value our authentic selves than a time that is designed to compare ourselves to the competition. Instead of doubting myself, I’m committing to #SAFitness in my job search. I hope you do too!
This post is part of our #SAfit series for May. With the constant hustle and bustle of our profession, we can’t forget to put ourselves at the top of our to-do list sometimes. It is essential that we remember to take time for self care and this series highlights how our colleagues work #SAfit into their lifestyles. This can look different for each of us and your journey is your own. For more info, please see Mandi Stewart’s intro post. Be sure to check out the other posts in this series too!
> BONUS <
Podcast With Ed Cabellon on The #SAFit Community
