“I just got lucky with this job”
“I don’t know what I’m doing”
“I don’t deserve to be here”
“I’m not good enough”
These are all thoughts I’ve had (and still sometimes get) since I’ve started my Content Producer Apprenticeship with a major streaming platform.
Being surrounded by so many experienced professionals can make you feel like you may not belong there, so today I’m going to give you some advice on how I have dealt with my imposter syndrome throughout my apprenticeship.
Everyone started where you are now
Believe it or not, everyone had to start in a similar position to you. Especially in the media industry, it is very rare to be able to go in at the top – everyone had to work their way up! If you talk to people within your team, I’m sure the majority will have started as a production assistant, or a runner. I know a lot of producers who thought they would never get where they are now, but experience and dedication are key factors in growing as a professional.
It’s okay to ask questions (no, really)
I feel like a major drawback of imposter syndrome is that it stops you from wanting to ask questions – at least that’s what I experienced. I assumed that every question was a silly one, and that I was meant to already know the information. As time has gone on, I’ve learnt that no question is a silly question, and that it’s better to ask, instead of trying to ‘wing it’. It’s such an important part of growing and learning in the workplace. One rule most senior producers seem to agree on is: It’s okay to ask any question, as long as you don’t ask it more than twice. Basically, they want you to make notes when you get an answer so that you’ll have that knowledge going forwards – but it’s okay if you need to loop back! Everyone needs to ask questions from time to time, so please don’t be afraid of it!
Make notes
Following on from my last point, making notes is crucial for any job role. Making a habit out of note taking during meetings, conversations and presentations can be so helpful in the first few weeks or even months of a job. When I first started my apprenticeship, I would make a note of every sentence or word that I didn’t understand – so that I could either ask my manager or Google it afterwards. It was a great way of making sure I learnt all of the necessary acronyms and industry wide language for the future. It also served as a great confidence booster, as I had a list of everything I had learnt since joining the company – it helps me to see how far I’ve come. I’ve also found it really useful to have a separate doc for each of the projects that I’m working on, which has every piece of information needed (links, POCs, deadlines, references). This helps me to feel a lot more confident when being asked a question about a project, as I have everything in one place.
Attend team socials
It seems obvious, but work socials are where I really started to feel more confident and included in my team. It’s a great way to get to know your colleagues on a personal level, and also to gain advice and knowledge from them. Some of the advice I’ve been given in the last 2 years has been over a pint with a colleague. It doesn’t have to be drinks either! If there’s someone in the office who you get on with or you’d like to know more about their career – invite them for a coffee, or suggest grabbing lunch together. It can be scary to do it the first time, but it allows you to have a much more informal conversation – and I can almost guarantee they will have some stories from when they’ve dealt with imposter syndrome!
Your work doesn’t have to be perfect (spoiler alert, nobody gets it right 100% of the time)
Something I’ve always struggled with is receiving feedback or criticism, especially when I feel like I’m not good enough to be in my current role. The truth is, nobody gets it right 100% of the time, and the longer you’re in your role, the more you’ll see this to be true. It’s easy to be upset or offended when someone gives feedback on a project you’ve put a lot of effort into, but the thing you have to remember is that almost nothing is perfect the first time. Especially when you’re new to the industry, it will be the first time that you are having to complete these kinds of tasks – so of course there might be room for improvement. Another thing, feedback doesn’t mean that you’ve done poorly – even if something is already good it can still be improved. I struggled to gain that mindset, but I’m slowly getting there.
You deserve to be there, they chose you for a reason
My final and most important piece of advice is simply that: if you didn’t deserve to be where you are, they wouldn’t have chosen you. We are all constantly learning and growing, and being in a junior role is the perfect time to soak up all of that knowledge. No-one is expecting you to be perfect from day 1, and I’ll tell you a little secret, they’re not expecting you to be perfect 10 years in either. Be patient with yourself, and lean on your colleagues for support, they’ve all been where you are now.
For more information on imposter syndrome, visit https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/imposter-syndrome
