Oops I… may be good at my job?

good at my job

Radical notion right? You’d think that after a Bachelor’s degree and halfway through a Master’s, I should be pretty confident in my abilities. It turns out neither are fully true. As the youngest person in almost every room I walk into, I constantly doubt myself. As a person, I am an ‘oh-so-fun’ mix of insecurities and an insane ego. Ya I know…fun right? A confident exterior masks a ball of doubt that permeates my life; my career is not an exception. I recently started an internship in Paris and after a rocky start, I’m finally getting the hang of it. My efforts are paying off and I’m proving that I am capable (and good at) doing a variety of things. 

What you can be good at too

A professor once told me,” Your employers aren’t hiring your experience or your degree, they’re hiring your imagination, strategies and thought process”. I had never truly understood that until now and it’s actually made me feel more appreciated than ever. My boss will ask me to write something or brainstorm something with them not because I’m an expert on the subject, but because they like my thought process. I can see patterns, generate ideas, and visualise things that they can’t, or that they see differently. 

“Your employers aren’t hiring your experience or your degree, they’re hiring your imagination, strategies and thought process”

I’m actually a pretty great writer (as you should know lol). I’m also a great creative and strategic mind, ideas and concepts are filtered through my highly visual brain to (hopefully) be presented in a relatable manner. I’ve often worried that the talents I thought to be developed or unique were actually commonplace. I grew up in a pretty small, sheltered community and often heard the familiar grumble of overachieving high schoolers being smacked in the face with the reality of academics and life in an unsheltered setting once they got to college.

Talent-driven environment

I’ve had the immense privilege of being raised alongside incredibly talented people. Whether the talent was musical, written, or physical, there was always someone who was slightly better than me in any given thing. I’m not complaining at all, while it was a tad frustrating, it was also inspiring and motivational for a competitive person like myself. What this blessing did do, however, is humble me considerably in terms of recognition of my own talents. If everyone around you paints as well as you do, flips higher than you do, sings more clearly than you, plays harder piano pieces than you, or constantly gets the A+ to your A, you learn to ‘realistically’ rank yourself in your head.

I’d like to think of myself as someone who doesn’t need validation (although my friends and family who constantly receive calls from me demanding LOVE and ATTENTION may say differently) and is highly independent minded. The latter is true on its own but validation, regardless of its want or need, is always appreciated. It’s different to think you’re doing a good job versus knowing that you’re blowing people’s socks off. 

So I’m telling you now, and myself as well, you are not an imposter. You did the work to get to where you are; you are motivated, talented. You are special and you are a beautiful blend of your experiences. 

Written by someone who’s good at their job 🙂