As someone without the social capital that others might have, thinking about applying to some of the most important places in the world was daunting. Would I be out of my depth? Would others be more prepared? Fortunately, my experience, which mirrored the experience of many of my peers, was extremely positive. The best supervisors (and there are many):
- Provide constructive feedback and are interested in your viewpoint
- Reach out to you periodically to see how you are progressing
- Introduce you to people and mentors that can help you in different aspects of your interests/backgrounds
For example, my supervisor at the DOJ was really keen on both our professional development and wellbeing, so she was really receptive when I asked if I could be introduced to any BIPOC/FGLI lawyers and she connected me with one!
Many interviewers and internships are looking for potential: Are you willing to learn? Do you have the soft skills and are you willing to build them up? While it may be true that some people might have more prior experience or might be more comfortable moving in privileged circles, you are as capable as them of doing a great job (and also recruiters are skilled in seeing if you’re a good fit for the role as well). D.C.is full of organizations that recognize merit and hard work so be sure to highlight that when searching for your internship! And once you get there, don’t be shy about asking questions and making connections.
For more resources on imposter syndrome:
Check out this article by the APA!
And this YouTube video by Ted-Ed
Or this podcast by Tiny Leaps, Big Changes!
Stay tuned next week to hear how money talks like Ms. Knowles Carter once sang “Bills, Bills, Bills”. Thank you for reading and stay tuned!
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