The unconscious bias and how it can affect our professional progress

Dear Doubting, You may be surprised to hear this, but this conundrum is quite common among job hunters nowadays, especially for young professionals.

There may be many things churning in your mind that can have you swimming in a sea of self-doubt, ultimately prohibiting you from applying for a new job. Sometimes your inner critic can be you worst enemy getting in your own way.

Fighting those inner demons may be tough, but here are a few pointers to help overcome them.

Confidence is EVERYTHING! Tony Schwartz, the president and CEO of The Energy Project and the author of Be Excellent at Anything: The Four Keys to Transforming the Way We Work and Live said, “Confidence equals security equals positive emotion equals better performance.” The first thing that should be addressed is your confidence.

Having insecurities doesn’t mean that you are inadequate.

We all feel this way sometimes.

The key is to identify and acknowledge it and make steps towards improving on the things that stifle your confidence.

What are the things that make you feel insecure in applying for a job? Change? – Inevitable.

Competition? – It will always exist. Lack of experience or qualifications? – Focus on what you can ultimately contribute to the job. What exactly are your abilities? Don’t undervalue yourself, be honest with about what you can do and what you know.

Have a winning resume Your resume is one document that you shouldn’t be too modest about. Remember this is where you make a first impression to recruiters who will be looking at deciding whether to even consider you among hundreds of other applicants. Now don’t let that be intimidating – let it be a challenge to showcase how awesome you are.

Challenge is good. Give yourself credit but don’t exaggerate. Don’t just highlight your tasks as outlined in your current and past job description.

Focus on things you have accomplished, projects you have worked on successfully and targets met. Grab a pen and a notepad right now and start writing down some of your achievements.

Success is 90 percent preparation, ten percent perspiration The next part of presenting yourself is the interview.

Practice, practice, practice! Conduct your research and practice the responses to potential questions that can be asked in an interview until they become second nature.

List the attributes of an ideal candidate for the job and use it to construct relevant responses.

Knowledge is power, so the better you are prepared, the more you will slowly start to diminish some of your inhibitions that hold you back.

Sometimes you win.

Sometimes you learn – Take the risk.

Be open to new possibilities and take some risks. Many people don’t know what they are capable of until they are truly tested. Go ahead and apply for the job and go to the interview. Research has shown that even if you are not successful in an interview, often times there are things you can do to improve on to increase your chances next time. At the very least, you should feel as though you have learnt something through the interview process.

Consider it a test drive for the real job awaiting you.

Positive energy Positive energy is a must! Many a times, this comes in the form of your network or the people you are frequently around – be it your family, friends or co-workers. These people are also the ones who can highlight some positive things about you that you are unaware of. This support system picks you up when you’re down and injects positivity in you whenever you need it.

However, in their absence, you can be that person for yourself.

Give yourself your own pep talk occasionally, if necessary.

Say “I’ve got this”, read an inspirational Pinterest quote, write something that’s beautiful about yourself on a sticky note.

This is all part of promoting a healthy attitude about yourself.

So, the next time a vacancy pops up that seems to have your name on it – release your inhibitions and go for it. Also, remember not to be too hard on yourself. The more you undervalue yourself and focus on your shortcomings, the more you will continue to pass up potential life changing opportunities.

Interestingly, once applied, these tips can not only improve on your career but also, your everyday life. The right mindset will significantly boost your overall state of being and performance. When you think positively and believe in your abilities, you’ll recognise success.

AFETT is a not-for-profit organisation formed in 2002 with the goal of bringing together professional women and engaging in networking opportunities, professional training and business ideas. ASK AFETT is a column meant to address issues and concerns of professionals seeking advice to assist in progressing in their careers.

Today’s response was written by AFETT member, Candice Fermine (MBA), compliance professional with over nine years’ experience in finance, investments and risk analysis. Learn more about AFETT at www.afett.

com, search for AFETT Events on Facebook, follow us @AFETTEXECS on Twitter or contact us at 354- 7130. Email us your career-related questions at admin.afett@gmail.com