Mindset for life
Jun 22 Written By Rachel Baugh
The middle of June I finished the final project for my UX bootcamp from Springboard. Yay! After almost a year of hard work and learning, I learned the basic skills I need to help companies optimize products to solve their customer’s problems.
But it’s hard to celebrate.
Graduating feels like passing midterms. Now I have to work towards the final - an actual job. And at the point I start a new job, a whole new set of challenges will start.
So many thoughts ran through my head:
I don’t have the experience. My resume won’t pass the cut. No one is hiring Jr. Designers right now. I’m going to make mistakes and (despite working in UX) my bosses won’t be okay with that. Even if I work hard, will I learn to do what it takes? My skin isn’t thick enough for criticism.
I wanted to get out of the swirling vortex of panic. So I prayed and started listening to a book.
A while back I listened to a Call to Mastery podcast. I don’t remember the episode, but the guest recommended “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol Dweck, Ph. D.
Have you ever listened to the prologue of a book and winced? Yeah, that happened to me.
This book outlines two ways of thinking. See if they sound familiar:
Someone with a fixed mindset demands perfection. Their self-worth is tied up in their ability to win and gain approval. If something goes wrong, or they see the opportunity for failure, they collapse and retreat. They can also demand perfection from the people around them including co-workers, spouses, friends, and kids. Criticism is an attack on their identity, so they lash out or retreat.
A growth mindset sees challenge as a positive way to grow. These people prefer hard problems because they learn. And they can apply this in systematic, practical steps to all areas of life. Criticism is the job of the critic, and their job is to use it to get better. They take responsibility for their future and work to help others cultivate challenge as an adventure.
I can see part of my problem.
I start UX projects with the growth mindset. There is so much opportunity! But instead of doing the same with my job hunt, I approached it with a fixed mindset of impossible resume hurdles followed by grueling interview sessions. No wonder I’m not excited.
Here are more ideas that stood out:
You can have different mindsets about different things.
Your mindset can change.
Don’t force yourself to match an ideal - learn what you need to and then be your own person.
What do you want to look back on at the end of your life?
Take initiative for your learning - set goals and take steps to meet them.
So this is the new self-talk I’m working on:
I will gain the experience and hone my resume. The job process gives great opportunities. I’m a good worker and have skills to offer a team. There will be room for growth. And I won’t get bored!
I’m taking practical steps:
make a schedule and set goals for each week
connect with other designers
ask for feedback
I know when I slip back into the spiral of terror, I can redirect my thinking. Job hunting isn’t my favorite, but UX Design fits my long-term goal: use creativity and analysis to solve problems and help people in their daily life. I’m excited to get started!
Find more about Mindset: The New Psychology of Success at here.