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So, you've managed to make it through four years of college, passed your exams with flying colours and even landed your dream job.

Full of enthusiasm, you dive head-first into your new role, before quickly convincing yourself that you're waaaay out of your depth.

At this stage, your inner monologue will probably a sound a little something like this: 

“WTF am I even doing here? – I'm a total fraud and everyone knows it.”

Sound familiar? – You might be suffering from imposter syndrome.

First coined the 1978, imposter syndrome is a term used to describe the feeling of not being worthy of ones achievements – and it's actually more common than you might think.

According to The Guardian, some 70 per cent of successful people across all industries have experienced the phenomenon.

Albert Einstein, David Bowie, Serena Williams and Meryl Streep are just some of the well-known faces to admit to having felt inferior at some point in their careers – proving that the syndrome can indeed be overcome.

Here's some some tips to help you cope:

1. Stop being so hard on yourself 

People often feel like imposters in their own lives because they are constantly striving to be better. It's hard to feel like your talents are worthy of praise when you don't believe it yourself.

More often than not, we act as our own worst critics, and it's this self-deprecating attitude that causes us to believe we're not good enough. 

Instead, try to accept your skills and talents for what they are and work from there. And remember, your boss wouldn't have hired you if they didn't think you were capable. 

2. Confide in colleagues 

There's a pretty high chance you're not the only one in your job that feels this way. 

Share your concern with close friends and co-workers, and you'll soon realise that you are by no means alone. 

Knowing that there are others around you in the same position makes the fear so much easier to deal with – there's strength in numbers, after all. 

3. Don't compare yourself to others 

We'll admit, this one is easier said than done. 

It's difficult to watch college friends and colleagues climb the career ladder while you're still stuck in an entry-level job, but don't get too bogged down with other people's achievements. 

Sure, they probably worked hard to get where they are, but who's to say a little bit of luck didn't have anything to do with it? 

Your time will come. 

4. Learn to accept praise 

People who suffer from imposter syndrome often feel as though external praise lacks authenticity.

Well-deserved approval can sometimes be mistaken for a patronising pat on the back, and it's this kind of thinking that leaves us feeling like total phonies. 

Make a note of every "well done" and "great job" you receive, and read back over them when you're feeling inadequate. 

5. Keep pursuing your goals 

For lack of a better term, f**k the haters and keep doing what you're doing. 

It takes a lot of courage to set aside the self-doubt and continue towards your goals, but pushing through regardless of how you're feeling is by far the best way to overcome your fears. 

You'd be surprised at what you can achieve when you put your mind to it. 

 

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There are few things in life more nerve-wracking than your first day at a new job. After spending hours picking out the perfect outfit and rehearsing your handshake to the point when your hands no longer feel like they're attached to your body, there's little more you can do to kill the last of those first-day butterflies. 

Sure, you got a pretty good feel for the place when you went for the interview, but you're wise enough to know that these types of things don't always go as expected. 

"Where should I look? Am I talking too much? Will it look bad if I take my lunch now?" – the stress of f**king up in front of your new employer is enough to make even to most chilled human being break out in a sweat, but one careers expert has offered some advice about what not to do on your first day. 

Jason Sackett told jobs website Glassdoor that anyone looking to impress a room full work colleagues should avoid talking about themselves. 

"To start gaining respect of colleagues and superiors on the first day, make it about them, not about you," he said.

"A common first-day trap is to talk up your own past accomplishments and future ambitions, which makes people nervous or annoyed because they don’t know you."

Bad news if your go-to ice-breaker is a 10-minute synopsis of your life so far. 

Instead, Jason says the best to make a great first impression is to show an active interest in the lives of your co-workers and ask lots of questions. 

"Get curious and enquire about the roles, talents, and achievements of your colleagues to establish a persona as a listener, learner, and collaborator." 

So basically, hold back on the personal speil about how that trip to Thailand changed your view of the world, and smother you colleagues with praise instead. 

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The day of 'I'm just lucky to have a job' is gone – hard working, well educated young people deserve respect when entering the work force. 

One thing that employers ALWAYS get away with is the 'unpaid internship' – sorry but on what planet can a person afford to work full time, for NO MONEY? 

This rant is coming from someone who knows all too well what life is like as an unpaid intern. 

I have done three internships in total – one in Ireland and two abroad. The Irish one? I got 50 quid a week to cover travel. 

I worked 9-5 (although, sometimes I worked MUCH later), Monday to Friday, and did the job of a person who should have been on a starting salary. 

Instead, I had to sponge off my parents, take out a loan and cease to have a social life for the best part of 4 months. 

What did I learn? 

To be honest, I took a massive life lesson with me when I left the internship – know your worth, and stick to it! 

I still remember how grateful I felt when I got the offer of my internship. So thankful to have a 'job'.

When you look up the word job in the dictionary, it is described as: 'A paid position of regular employment.'

Emphasis on the word paid please. 

'I get to pursue my dreams in an amazing company.' But, for no money, no benefits and

Nobody should have to work for free, and I cannot believe that companies are getting away with it. 

And yet, despite being unpaid, I worked harder than I ever have – with a determination to impress someone, in the hope of being offered a job at the end of my internship. 

That rarely happens by the way, but they kind of lead me on – like a mean boy who you fancy, but you shouldn't. 

They told me I was doing a great job, which only spurred me on more, resulting in me bringing work home at the weekend, working late and all that fun stuff.

FOR NO MONEY. 

'Life isn't always about money' I hear you say. 

I hate to bloody break it to you lads, but yes, yes it is. To be in your early twenties, working your butt off for nothing is a serious blow to your confidence. 

Self worth is something that employers need to get on board with. You cannot expect your staff to be happy working for nothing, even if they're 'just an intern'. 

I ultimately left the internship early, because I eventually copped on that I was being taken for a total ride. I did a little stint in London, and returned to the company I'm in now. 

Who actually pay me. 

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Job interviews are enough to send even the most laid-back and breezy folk into a fit of nervous sweats. 

No matter how well prepared and qualified you may be, there's always a fear that you'll say or do something that'll ultimately ruin your chances of landing the position and leave you questioning your ability to function as a fully fledged human.

Sure, on paper it all sounds pretty simple – make eye contact, be polite, shake hands, and ask questions. But what are the things we should avoid doing in order to convince our potential new employers that we're right for the role? 

Well, jobs website Simply Hired carried out a survey of 850 hiring managers to find out just that. 

Rather unsurprisingly, results showed that arriving late was the number one interview no no. 

Explain just how detrimental tardiness can be, and what to run if you find yourself running late, recruiter Jamie Hichens told Glassdoor:

“Being late to an interview with no explanation or without emailing or calling ahead to say they are running late. This one will knock out  99% of interviewees."

“At the very least, if you’re running late, call and offer an ETA, an explanation, or an offer to reschedule. And remember to apologise for the inconvenience.”

Next came on the list of interview deal-breakers came whining at 92 per cent, followed closely by lack of preparation at 89 per cent. 

Here's the full list: 

1. Arriving to an interview late (93 per cent)

2. Whining (92 per cent)

3. Showing lack of preparation (89 per cent)

4. Criticising a former boss (88 per cent)

5. Criticising a former company (87 per cent)

6. Making grammar of spelling mistakes in a covering letter (86 per cent)

7. Using poor grammar in an interview (84 per cent)

8. Having unrealistic compensation requirements (84 per cent)

9. Being underqualified (80 per cent)

10. Answering questions incorrectly (77 per cent)

So, if you're on the hunt for a new job, try to avoid doing any of the above at all costs. The most important thing is to be yourself and remember that you wouldn't have landed the interview if they didn't think you have what it takes. 

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Well, this is the most sexist thing we've heard in a while.

A new Abertay University study has claimed that women with ‘heavy’ make-up are less likely to be seen as good leaders.

The study showed participants various face-pairs of women, one with make-up applied for a night out and one without.

They were asked to choose which one of the two faces they felt would make a better leader – and they chose less makeup.

The results revealed that both men and women viewed women more negatively as a leader if she was wearing more of makeup.

Jesus lads, is nothing sacred?

Dr Christopher Watkins of Abertay’s School of Psychology led the study.

He discussed the results, claiming that: “This research follows previous work in this area, which suggests that wearing makeup enhances how dominant a woman looks."

“While the previous findings suggest that we are inclined to show some deference to a woman with a good looking face, our new research suggests that makeup does not enhance a woman’s dominance by benefiting how we evaluate her in a leadership role.

“This work is a good example of the diverse and interesting research ongoing within the Division of Psychology.”

Yeah, doesn't make it any less annoying though. 

Anyway, if you need us, we'll be the women smothered in makeup ruling the world. 

K, bye.

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No matter how much someone claims to love what they do for a living, we ALL have those days when we wonder if the grass is truly greener on the other side. 

Whether it's a disagreement with a colleague, a difficult customer or just one of those days when you'd rather be anywhere but your desk, it's easy to assume that all your problems will be magically solved the moment you hand in your notice. 

For the most part, we move on from these mini mental break-downs and get on with our jobs, so what are the reasons people leave their jobs for good? 

Lack of opportunity to advance 

At the end of the day, everyone wants to make to the top of their chosen career. The idea that we must start at the bottom and work our way up is widely accepted and, for the most part, totally fair – but what do we when all our hard work doesn't actually pay off? 

A study conducted by LinkedIn showed that career advancement is the number one reason people seek employment elsewhere, with 45 per cent of those surveyed admitting it was a concern they held. 

Poor communication

Research shows that employees who engage in regular meetings with management are far more enthusiastic about their jobs – which, to be honest, makes a lot of sense. 

No one likes to left in the dark when it comes to their workload and an open line of communication makes for easier conflict resolution. 

No work/ life balance 

Remember, you work to live, you don't live to work. 

Sure, if you're lucky enough to land your dream position there will be times when you're happy to take on some extra responsibilities, but we must never underestimate the importance of our personal time. 

Whether it's a massive work load or unsociable hours, an uneven work/life balance is one of biggest contributors to job dissatisfaction. 

Feeling under appreciated 

It can be extremely frustrating when you feel like your achievements are not being recognised, and even more frustrating when only your mistakes are highlighted. 

If an an employee feels underappreciate they are more likely to seek recognition elsewhere. 

Low salary/ wage 

This one is a bit of a no-brainer, but according to research conducted by EY, "stagnant wages" were cited as one of the top reasons full-time workers quit their jobs. 

As much as we'd all like to think we'd like to think that the number in our bank accounts doesn't dictate the kind of life we'll lead, the fact of the matter is that we've got rent to pay and mouths to feed. 

 

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Everyone wants to stand out from the crowd when they hand in their CV… and as a result, many of us end up using the same words to show just how unique we are when applying for jobs. Pretty ironic.

According to research conducted by LinkedIn, saying that you’re an ‘experienced, enthusiastic, and successful worker’ may not help you land your dream job, as they’re among the 10 most overused words in CVs.

Their analysis drew from the profiles of their world-wide membership, Red reports, including 23 million users in the UK, to see what the most common CV buzzwords are.

The following are the top 10 words to delete from your CV so you don’t seem like every other Tom, Dick, or Harry:

  • Experienced
  • Specialise
  • Motivated
  • Passionate
  • Skilled
  • Leadership
  • Excellent
  • Creative
  • Enthusiastic
  • Successful

Uh oh. Looks like we may need to do some tidying up of our CVs.

With recruiters using keywords to identify the ideal candidates, we’re encouraging members to ensure they’re using the right words to land their dream job,’ said Darain Faraz, LinkedIn’s Careers Expert.

‘There has never been a better time to ensure the words you choose are selling you as powerfully as they would do in an interview,’ he added.

If you are on a job hunt, the site thankfully has some advice to help you get that corner office.

Firstly, they recommend that you ensure your online presence sells you in the best way possible by listing all relevant skills that you’ve gained through your work experience. Startups hiring for engineers are sometimes looking for candidates online and if you have a good online presence, they might notice you and reach out to you.

As well, LinkedIn notes that it’s important to show some personality in your phrasing, while still remaining professional.

Show, don’t tell, is another big one. If you describe yourself as creative, why not include projects or design work that shows just how talented you are?

There’s a whole lot of fish in the job sea, so you only have a matter of seconds to capture a recruiter’s attention.

Finally, networking both online and in person can keep you up-to-date on what’s going on in your field, and put you in touch with the right people.

Happy job hunting, ladies.

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Back in the day, when we looked to our futures as adults, we aspired to be an amazing pop sensation like Britney Spears or an iconic actress like Alicia Silverstone. 

We pinned posters of Britney (featuring dangerously low-rise jeans) to our walls and watched The Craft over and over again in the hope of perfecting our own craft of acting. 

Nowadays, however, it seems that kids are aspiring to grow up to be internet celebrities, rather than masters of the arts. 

A survey of UK primary school children revealed that working in social media is a major career aspiration for youngsters.

Ninety-four percent of teens access the internet using their phone every single day, according to a 2016 Pew Research study, so it's not surprising that the upcoming generation view the internet famous as legitimate celebrities. 

'For more and more children and young people, online celebrities and YouTube gaming 'vloggers' have taken the place of TV and movie stars,' reads the reports, according to Breaking News.

Many online celebs start out as teens, with the likes of Acacia Brinley, Shane Dawson and Lele Pons uploading content online when they were still in secondary school and having now culminated millions upon millions of followers.

'It could be argued that this is due to the growing fame and attraction of YouTube and video blogging stars, who are especially popular among younger audiences,' reads the study.

'Also, these choices may also speak to children's present worlds. Many seven to 11-year-olds will spend their time gaming and perhaps simultaneously watching celebrity gaming bloggers instructing them how to do it.' 

Luckily, traditional aspirational careers such as sportspeople, teachers and vets still topped the charts, with YouTuber coming in fourth.

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Yasmin Hamouda is an up-and-coming fashion blogger with a passion for street style.

She hopes to combine her passion for marketing and fashion to bring something a little bit different to Dublin's fashion scene.

“Dublin is just full of so many amazing creatives and I feel so so lucky to be able to work and create with some of them," she says.

Here she chats about the journey to self-employment.

I loved school but I was far from a model student. I hated being told what to do to the point that I would completely ignore the class in progress and instead proceed to take out my own books on what I thought was worthwhile – as you can imagine I was an absolute hit with the teachers.

Surprisingly enough, I came out with a fairly decent Leaving Cert., and went on to college because, well, that’s what you you’re supposed to do, right? But I was as lost there as I ever was.

I can laugh about it now, but I definitely worried about it a lot at the time. All of the girls I’d been at school with seemed to be flying and really enjoying the college experience, and I just wasn’t at all.

I wasn’t a student that was getting money thrown at me from home, so I proceeded to get a job and ended up getting two. I “studied” Monday to Wednesday, and on Thursday and Friday day time I worked in a bar in Temple Bar until about 4am,  and I was there all weekend too.

And you know what? I learned more pulling pints of Guinness, chatting to customers and cleaning up cigarette butts at 4am than I did in my three years of furthering my education.

It gave me the life experience that I think so many young people underestimate the importance of. It taught me key business lessons that weren’t on my college curriculum like what hard work means, how to deal with people (if you can deal with the drunk stags on a weekend in Dublin you can deal with just about anyone).

Fast forward two years and after many more experiences and those inevitable few waves of crap that life will throw your way, I’m now at the beginning of starting my own marketing consultancy business.

After such a long time feeling like a disaster simply because I didn’t fit into ‘the system’, I have to admit I’m super proud of myself for taking the road less travelled.

Building my own life for myself has given me so much absolute joy and happiness. I think that that’s something that those who choose to build their lives around others will never understand.

What I will say though is that it’s definitely not easy and probably not for everyone. Going it alone first of all is really scary. I have bills to pay at the end of each month like everyone and you just don’t have 100 per cent security. I always have a niggling feeling that I’m not doing enough and it can be challenging to have an “off” mode.

But if I think that it’s in you at all, you just have to do it. There’s no other way. Even when it gets tough – you’ll love every moment. You fall in love with the process, the journey – it’s exciting, I suppose!

Also, a quick note for any young person thinking about being their own boss – In the beginning, you will really have to push to be taken seriously in whichever industry it is. I’ve definitely learned that you need to have 100 per cent belief in what you have to offer and have a really  “don’t take no sh*t” attitude if you want to develop a reputation as a business person.

At the end of the day it doesn’t matter what age you are – it’s your experience and know-how that counts.

I’ve recently also combined my love of fashion and marketing through my blog and I love it – it’s my baby! My friends think I’m mad spending my weekends out shooting my latest fashion finds and working on content, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’ve met so many amazing people in the industry and I’m just so grateful for all the exciting things coming up! I think when creativity meets business its magic.

I actually think it's gas that girls are following me for fashion inspiration, because I’ve always been such a tomboy! But I have a huge passion for finding and owning your own personal style, so it’s just so fun to share.

In writing this, if I can help even one person who may be feeling totally lost in life, that would be amazing.

I’ve been there, and I’m only at the beginning of finding myself. All I can say to you is that life is very short and we only have one, so living to please others or to fit in just makes zero sense.

Follow your dreams with everything you have, have patience, work really hard, stay curious, stay true to your morals and just keep taking baby steps every day. Most importantly, be kind and live with the best of intentions – that’s a recipe for life in itself.

Working on building your best life will inevitably bring with it stresses, sacrifice, and from time to time that feeling of being all too much, but it will also be the greatest gift you will give yourself.

Slowly building the life of your dreams will be the most incredible journey you will ever take.

You can keep up to date with Yasmin's adventures right here.

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If you've ever dreamt of being a real life princess who travels the world for a living, we suggest you keep reading.

Disney is currently on the hunt for wannabe princes and princesses to work on its luxury cruise ships in a variety of exciting roles.

From character performers and DJs, to nursery counsellors and housekeeping managers, there's a position to suit every qualification.

Each role will of course require some specific skills, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that all Disney staff must go the extra mile to make the cruise experience as magical as possible.

According to the company's website, the “amazing crew members are a big part of why Disney is known as a world-renowned leader in the entertainment industry.”

“With incredible itineraries that visit exciting destinations around the world, crew and officers can chart the course for an unforgettable adventure with Disney Cruise Line.”

Sounds amazing, right?

Of course it does – travelling the world via the happiest boat on earth – what's not to love?

Well, there's just two small catches.

  1. The roles are based in the US, which means you'll have to be willing to move.

  2. You need to commit to a seven-day working week with limited time off.

But if the idea of being ferociously happy seven-days a week hasn't scared you off, you can apply for a role at disneycareers.com.

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So, there comes a certain point in every working day when emails are piling up, deadlines are getting closer, and you've just remembered that dress you saw on ASOS the other day and decide that now is the perfect time to make the purchase.

It'll only take five minutes, and you didn't leave for lunch until 1.03 today, so it's totally fine, right?

Well, it turns out that using the internet for personal reasons during work hours could actually be detrimental for your career goals.

A new study published in The Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, claims that 'cyberloafing' is associated with a number of 'dark' personality traits.

Yikes.

In the study, researchers looked at how internet consumption affected the participants behaviour and found that checking news websites and online shopping were the greatest hindrances to an employee's productivity.

What's more, the report also claimed that those who regularly engage in 'cyberloafing' are more likey to be manipulative, socially exploitive and narcissistic.

Speaking to Stylist magazine, career coach, Evelyn Cotter, said 'cyberloafing' is “an attempt to replace something that we're lacking, but we never get that 'filled-up' feeling.”

She also said that since the intertnet plays a huge role in many modern jobs, employees are more likely to give into temptation, and in turn, are more likely to suffer the career-damaging consequences.

So, next time you feel like taking a little break, grab a coffee and save the online shopping for home time instead.

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So, the whole point of taking a holiday is to relax, unwind and indulge in that all important 'me time', right?

Wrong.

According to Cpl Resources' latest Employment Market Monitor, one in three of us actually feel more stressed after taking some time off work.

The report suggests that the expectation to be in constant communication puts many workers at the risk of burning out.

The findings also stressed the importance of having incentives and benefits in place in order to maintain employee moral.

Peter Cosgrove, Director, Cpl Resources said: "New opportunities still appeal to contented workers, so it is important to provide employees with enough incentives and benefits to keep them.

"Companies often invest a lot of time and money in hiring new candidates, but these figures show that it is worth focusing on managing the talent already in the company."

It also emerged that 60 per cent of workers prefer email for communication and while this might be an efficient means of getting messages from one place to another, workers are missing out on vital colleague interactions.

Mr Cosgrove said: "More typing and less talking may be good for efficiency, but it negatively impacts the amount of face to face interaction and relationship-building within the office and with clients."

But hey, even if our stress levels are set to peak, we probably won't care when we're sipping cocktails by the pool.

Sayonara! 

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