Happy hump day all! It's the hump in the week when Monday motivation (if you had any) has gone and Friday is just that little bit too far out of reach... I'm hoping that my blog post might give you some inspiration to push through today and make the most of the end of the week! Today I want to talk about taking risks in job applications and why it is so important to take a chance on yourself and just GO FOR IT when something comes up that really fuels your inspiration.
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Around two weeks ago I saw a vacancy that interested me. Honestly, it wasn't the sort of role I would have gone for in any other situation for a number of reasons. It is a very competitive organisation to work for. It is a very challenging role and something that I do not have any experience in. I had the transferable skills needed and I could demonstrate my ability to do the role, but I just felt that I wasn't good enough for this sort of role at this organisation because they were more likely to take someone with way more experience in this role than me. But... it was at Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity.
Anyone who knows me knows that I was a volunteer at GOSH and really fell in love with the place. As a former patient at GOSH I wanted to give back and contribute, in a voluntary way, to an amazing and inspiring place. So to work there, be paid to be there, and contribute to the charity and all it does to support this wonderful hospital that is a blessing for so many children and their families would be an real honour. As I said though, it was a role that is completely out of my comfort zone, they would see that and they would know that I am not as skilled as someone else to do this role. I wasn't going to apply. But honestly I couldn't stop thinking about how amazing it would be to have a job that allows me to work for this organisation, in a role that is really helping people and making a positive impact on the lives of children and their families in hospital. That was what was important to me, not the practicalities of the skills and experiences needed for the role. So I applied about a week ago. The vacancy is now closed and I guess it is just another waiting game. Like my mum always says "there is nothing to lose but always something to gain" (she is my personal Ghandi - thanks mum).
So there we go. I did it. It didn't kill me. It didn't send me in to full panic, over-analyse-everything mode or anything like that. It actually motivated me to do something even more daring that my younger 16 year old, never-does-anything-courageous self would be shocked at. I knew of a company that is literally my vibe 100% (cliche and somewhat cringy but totally true). They are all about wellness, positivity, mindfulness, love, kindness, happiness and so on and so on and so on. But they are pretty much a startup company, not really well known, trying to find their feet in the wellness industry and had no vacancy's going. But wait... Paige had her brave superwoman pants on and decided to do something so daring she could hardly believe it (this is sarcasm FYI, I am just trying to build suspense...). In all seriousness though, I took a chance on myself and I decided to write to the company and just tell them a bit about myself, my passions, my aspirations, my current situation, my feelings of being lost in my career direction but having strong values and goals that I want to live by nonetheless, I shared my blog with them and I asked them to consider offering a position that I could apply for, or for some career advice!
Who knows if this chance will pay off I haven't heard anything yet. Either way, I felt really good about myself for doing something that gave me so much positive energy and drive after, that I don't regret it at all.
I am not going to lie, graduate life is starting to get to me. Not having had much success in job applications is just the tip of the iceberg. I have a general idea of what I want to get out of my career... helping people with mental health difficulties in a nutshell. Not too far off, what I would assume, a lot of psychology graduates are hoping for. But there is just something missing from that description for me. I am all about happiness, positivity, wellness, finding the light in a really dark day and all that jazz. I am so passionate about these things because I have cultivated them when I have needed them. I also know how infectious a little bit of happiness and positivity can be to making others' days a little brighter. So for anyone who is in the same position as me... first of all, hit me up! I am all ears. I know what it is like and I know it is nice to have someone you can vent to about all these feelings, especially when that someone is feeling the same way! Secondly, just tell yourself that there is nothing to lose by taking a risk. Applying for a job you don't have all the essential criteria for? Do it, your passion for it will shine through and that may be the defining factor. Want to apply for a job but don't feel experienced enough to do it? Apply for it, because if you have even just some of the skills to do it the job will give you the experience you need to succeed at it. If you are a bit lost like me and you are trying to find the courage to take a leap of faith, a chance on yourself, a change in career, a change in mindset... anything that seems big and scary, I hope you find my experiences helpful in pushing you that one step closer to doing it!
I guess the message I am trying to put out there is take a chance on yourself and do something that is really in line with your values, your passions, your dreams and you won't regret it. Even if you don't get the outcome you desire, you would have walked away with a sense of power and personal self-love that will only empower you to be the best version of yourself in everything that you do.
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