Dealing With Imposter Syndrome
I applied to Google 10 different times. When I hit "Apply" the first time, I felt like a fraud. Nothing in my background hinted to experience in the tech industry.
I didn't hear anything back from my first few applications. Part of me expected that, like it was a test to verify my own beliefs. Regardless, I kept applying.
The first email inviting me to a phone screen created a massive wave of imposter syndrome.
"You were a firefighter and then an infantryman in the military. That doesn't translate to this company."
"You never interviewed at a company this big. Do you think you're ready?"
"Google hires some of the smartest people in the world. You didn't go to an Ivy League school. You never invented a new programming language. You're wasting your time."
Between YouTube videos, books, and web research, I spent hours and hours preparing. I knew the company's history, their year over year growth, their challenges and objectives.
I interviewed with the recruiter and then hiring manager, but didn't make it to on-sites. Immediately after the interview I thought of a thousand ways I could have answered the questions differently.
That was okay, because it flipped the switch in my head. It gave me the confidence that I could at least make it that far again. I went back to the drawing board to continue improving my interview skills. All the while, I kept a close eye on the careers page for new postings that matched my strengths and experience.
I interviewed twice more, making it to the on-site stage both times. One of those went to hiring committee, and eventually led to an offer. Did I still feel like a fraud, even with an offer in-hand? Absolutely!
And you know what? That feeling still creeps up quite often in the present day. When I'm working on projects that impact a large number of stakeholders that voice is always there. It's always second guessing if I have what it takes to succeed.
What I've learned is that feeling of being an imposter comes when we reach outside our comfort zone. It's uncomfortable, but that's how personal and professional growth is achieved.
Many people experience imposter syndrome, especially those transitioning from the military into a new career field. You can't let that feeling box you into a corner or prevent you from going after your big goals. Trust me, it will try to.
When that feeling creeps up, remember all of the challenging things you've already overcome. Deployments, PCS moves, difficult bosses, learning a new job, and the list goes on.
You're leaving the military with soft skills that are highly valued by employers. Some of these include:
Problem solving
Working in ambiguous environments
Teamwork
Communication
Learning and applying new skills quickly
Leadership
These are transferable skills that can be applied to just about any job. Scenarios when you utilized these skills also make great talking points during an interview.
Concluding, it's normal to feel a level of discomfort when you're exploring something new. The more you expose yourself to uncomfortable situations, ironically, the more comfortable you will become. Deep within, you have more potential than you give yourself credit for. Don't let imposter syndrome prevent you from going after what you want.
