Punk Rock HR Episode 109:
If you’ve ever wondered, am I qualified? Or am I the right person for this role? You are going to enjoy this week’s conversation with Amanda Nachman. With graduation season upon us, Amanda is perfectly positioned to talk about looking for a job in a pandemic. She is an author and professional speaker who is passionate about helping emerging professionals become career strategists and achieve their dream careers. She’s also a motivational speaker at Find Your Passion Career and the CEO of the College Magazine.
In this conversation, Amanda and I talk about her new book #Qualified: You Are More Impressive Than You Realize, her journey developing College Magazine, and the growth of her career. Amanda has lessons for you, whether you’re a new grad or someone who has been doing your job for twenty years. You don’t need to wait around for someone to tell you that you’re qualified. You can build this experience on your own.
In this episode you’ll hear:
- How Amanda turned her idea to create a guide that would help students be successful in what is known today as College Magazine.
- About Amanda’s new book #QUALIFIED and how you don’t need to wait around for someone to tell you that you’re qualified. You can build this experience on your own.
- What’s going to have the path of least resistance isn’t always what’s most exciting or what’s most fulfilling for us. And I think we lose sight of that.
- Amanda’s message for somebody who feels average and unqualified.
- Some of the bumps Amanda has had on the road to her success.
- The importance of making courageous connections.
- How to level up your story first, so you’re ready for moments of rejection.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
WHO SHOULD READ THE BOOK #QUALIFIED: YOU ARE MOST IMPRESSIVE THAN YOU REALIZE, BY AMANDA NACHMAN?
The book is for students and professionals who want to focus on what they want for their career and start going after it intentionally.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO MAKE A COURAGEOUS CONNECTION?
Here is Amanda, in her own words, describing what a courageous connection is: “It’s tough to reach out to someone you don’t know, someone that you admire. And it could just be someone that you didn’t even know you knew or you admired. But as you’re looking on LinkedIn, you’re looking for someone that’s in a role that you may want one day; to then reach out and make that connection with a stranger is pretty intimidating. But it is such gold. If you hit that send button on that message because that person rarely receives a message from some stranger out there in the world, saying ‘Hi, I saw you wrote this article in New York Magazine, and I was so inspired by your story. I aspire to be a KPOP journalist too…’ You’re going to make an incredible connection with someone that’s doing what you want to do. And that’s powerful.”
WHAT ARE SOME WAYS GRADS OR PROFESSIONALS CAN SHIFT THEIR MINDSET AROUND REJECTION?
Our brain perceives rejection the same as it does pain. Therefore when we experience rejection, the anxiety eats away at our self-esteem. We start to tell ourselves we’re not good enough. So, here is what Amanda suggests we do, “I would say, level up for that moment, prepare for when that moment comes if you haven’t experienced that rejection yet, because you’re going to. We all do. Recognize what it is that you care about. Understand your interests, strengths, and values. Understand your story. And if you think that you don’t have a story to tell, ask your best friend, because your friends see you in all the ways that you are shiny, and they do see you that way. And if you ask them, they’re going to be more than happy to tell you all the ways in which you shine. So level up your story first, so you’re ready for those moments of rejection.”
Resources from this episode:
Amanda Nachman on LinkedIn
Amanda’s website
#QUALIFIED: You Are More Impressive Than You Realize
College Magazine
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