Tackle career fear and land the job you deserve with our top tips

VACANCIES have topped a MILLION for the first time.

But as we emerge from the pandemic, thousands of jobseekers are being held back by imposter syndrome.

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Even high-achievers often doubt their abilities and feel like frauds.

Big-hitters as varied as Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks, Lady Gaga and Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg have all spoken about this.

According to latest research, 85 per cent of us have felt incompetent at work, with women more likely to suffer than men.

There has been a 150-per-cent increase in Google searches for imposter syn-drome in the last year.

So how can you tackle career fear and land the job you deserve?

Christine Macdonald, training expert with TheHubEvents.com said: “Some of these feelings are normal. Innovating and risk-taking are normal parts of business and bring their own fears.

“By explaining how you deal with them, you help normalise these feelings.”

So here are some of Christine’s tips regarding imposter syndrome . . . 

ADVICE FOR BOSSES:

• Create an open environment where workers can discuss how they feel.
• Use regular positive feedback to reduce employees’ self-doubt.
• Recognise and praise accomplishments.
• Ask teams to create a “brag book” — a simple list of all their work wins, no matter how small.
• Offer up your own mistakes.
• Remind your teams that they are only human.

ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS:

• Admit you suffer from imposter syndrome. It’s easier to deal with problems we can name.
• Remember people are emotional. Don’t confuse your feelings with facts.
• Remember you’re self-involved. Other team members might think you’re doing amazingly.
• It’s OK to say you don’t know.
• Mistakes happen, so learn from them and move on.
• Make a list of your successes.
• Remember you’re an expert. You were hired for a reason.
• Successful people fake. The best way to be an expert is to pretend.

Wise up about dyslexia

PRINCESS BEATRICE has said her unborn child would be lucky to inherit her dyslexia, which she calls a “gift”.

And Kate Griggs, of madebydyslexia.org, believes employers are starting to share this thinking.

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Kate says: “The tasks dyslexics typically find more challenging, such as spelling and writing, are increasingly done by machines. The soft skills that are most valued in today’s workplaces – resilience, critical thinking and adaptability – are the skills people with dyslexia excel at.”

Here’s how to ensure employers don’t discriminate against dyslexic jobseekers:

• Offer the basics – extra time, quiet rooms for tests, clear questions.
• Forgive typos and spelling. They are not a reflection of commitment or ability.
• Traditional tests might not apply. These may not always showcase dyslexic thinkers’ full talents. Help them to show their abilities in different ways with a mix of skills-based assessment and interviews.
• Encourage applicants to tell you they’re dyslexic by acknowledging you value dyslexic thinking. Tailor the recruitment process to spot dyslexics.
•  No formal assessment. Don’t insist on a formal assessment to trigger reasonable adjustments, a self-declaration of dyslexia should be enough.

It’s chocs away

BUDDING Willie Wonka? Launch your career as a chocolatier by inventing a new bar.

Ocado and Love Cocoa are running a competition to create a unique flavour combination.

There are no rules on what ingredients can and can’t be used. The winning entry will launch on Ocado.com in time for Christmas.

Simply submit your flavour combination before Monday on Ocado’s Facebook page using #MyOcadoChocolate.

Love Cocoa founder James Cadbury said: “We can’t wait to read through the entries.”

Come join the club

IF you loved your staycation, you can get the holiday feeling every day with a job at The Camping and Caravanning Club.

The not-for-profit firm has a number of short-term contracts for this month and next.

It also has vacancies for holiday-site assistants, service- centre advisers and operations administrators starting next year.

The club’s Claire Mills says: “We’re offering a number of exciting roles to those who want to enjoy the great outdoors.”

You can apply for any post at campingandcaravanningclub.co. uk/aboutus/work-with-us/jobs.