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I've been thinking a lot about impostor syndrome recently. Some of it is, obviously, character based.
But some of it is *context*.
If I ever had any impostory thoughts, let me tell you about an experience that really crippled them - talking to a specialised recruiter.
But some of it is *context*.
If I ever had any impostory thoughts, let me tell you about an experience that really crippled them - talking to a specialised recruiter.
This was a woman I met through the Boston postdoc networks, who is an expert in placing scientists (the academic kind) into science jobs (the non-academic kind).
Often this requires a specialist. Forget http://seek.com or whatever - focused applicant, focused job.
Often this requires a specialist. Forget http://seek.com or whatever - focused applicant, focused job.
We talked, maybe for about half an hour. That's all it took. I left with a completely different perspective.
The written version of me we finished with was like looking in a fun-fair mirror. But in a good way. Maybe more like a face-in-hole board, actually. Where you look dope.
The written version of me we finished with was like looking in a fun-fair mirror. But in a good way. Maybe more like a face-in-hole board, actually. Where you look dope.
So, specifically, what happened?
*Just reframing*.
I went in thinking 'I wrote a bunch of papers', I left thinking 'I initiated and managed scientific projects across five separate countries' or something similar. Every single facet of my fairly normal career was like this.
*Just reframing*.
I went in thinking 'I wrote a bunch of papers', I left thinking 'I initiated and managed scientific projects across five separate countries' or something similar. Every single facet of my fairly normal career was like this.
Every single thing I'd done had an analogue that made it sound different to me. It had initiative. Skills. Focus. That I couldn't articulate.
(And not in business-speak, which is largely puffery and faux sophistication, and brutalising nouns into verbs, in real language.)
(And not in business-speak, which is largely puffery and faux sophistication, and brutalising nouns into verbs, in real language.)
The problem is: we think everything we do is NORMAL. I thought everyone set up an analysis pathway, convinced collaborators to help them for nothing, worked nights for three months on something fiendish, then convinced someone else it was worthwhile, etc. That's just Tuesday.
But for big chunks of the world, that ISN'T normal, it's pretty fierce. If you translate what you've done into non-ac language, it completely changes your perception of yourself.
And there's businesses who value the skills you have - even if you're incapable of expressing them.
And there's businesses who value the skills you have - even if you're incapable of expressing them.
There's other elements, of course (like how to cut all the crappy academic clutter out of your resume), but the reframing really, really stuck with me.
It was ... maybe 4 years ago, and I can still remember the conversation.
It was ... maybe 4 years ago, and I can still remember the conversation.
Anyway. It isn't free, but it isn't that expensive either. And it's a superb investment in yourself.
(In my experience, at least.)
I guess what I can say with confidence is: if I was leaving academic science from scratch, all over again, it's the first thing I'd do.
(In my experience, at least.)
I guess what I can say with confidence is: if I was leaving academic science from scratch, all over again, it's the first thing I'd do.
P.S. She still does consultations on this stuff. I checked. If you want details, DM me.
