Judgy McJudge

Getting judged by others can be a terrifying prospect, especially when there’s a lot at stake.  Think back to your time at school or your career, there will have been times where you’ve had to put yourself out there in certain situations such as an interview setting, or giving a presentation for others to assess.  Believe me, you’re not alone in feeling the crippling nerves that make you think your legs are going to give way at any moment.

I remember our class having to do a dance performance as part of our P.E curriculum.  The teacher had us practising for weeks doing the hoedown and other ridiculous routines, but it was okay because he said there would only be a handful of pupils watching us on their lunch break ….. what a load of bollocks that was.  Peering through the stage curtain on performance day there was a sea of smirking teenage faces all waiting for us to wow them with our country and western style moves (or more probably waiting for us to cock up!).  Anyway, I stumbled my way through and managed to escape relatively unscathed, but it wasn’t what I would describe as an enjoyable experience.  When I think back on times like this, although it is tinged with a sense of revulsion, I realise that it has helped build resilience and character when faced with similar situations.

When seeking a job the entire application life cycle can feel like one big judging competition.  Your CV gets assessed, you get judged on a telephone interview, you get judged in a face to face interview, and any other hoops the employer or recruiter asks you to jump through.  What’s important throughout is that you try and remain positive, and even if you are not right for the position that you take learnings away that can help you in the future.

To achieve success in your working life you have to put yourself out there more and more, exposing yourself (not physically) to key decision makers that can have a real impact on your career.  My advice would be to do your due diligence on the company and the vacancy you are applying for.  Find out about their culture, how they operate and how the role fits into the business.  This won’t stop the judgment or eradicate criticism entirely, but it will certainly put you in a more advantageous position.