Author: sm75wright

The idea of filling in an application form can fill you with dread.. how do you sell your skills and secure that interview with only 200 words per question? What can you do to stand out? How do you make yourself interesting? What are the company really looking for? You can send yourself into a whirl of panic and anxiety by over thinking the form. Often at this stage of dread, we talk ourselves out of this and say “Oh i would never have got it anyway” or the old faithful “there are going to be people with much more experience”. You grab a cup of tea and a bourbon biscuit and feel secure that you wouldn’t have got the job anyway. When you feel that way.. ask yourself what if i do get the job and apply for it anyway. I’ve seen thousands of applications over the years and here are some of my thoughts and tips about what not to do.

Use fancy verbose language that doesn’t make sense

Often we think we sound smarter and more professional if we use long words and business language. Nothing wrong with that in principle, but does what you are saying actually make any sense? People throw adjectives into a sentence without really giving them any context.. its great that you have business acumen and are proactive in managing complex scenarios related to precarious negotiations but what are you trying to say? You may want to appear intelligent but actually writing in plain English makes life so much easier. You need to think that someone has to read this and you need to be able to explain things clearly. We want to hear about what you’ve done and how you’ve done it rather than your theoretical strategic ideas. You may sound fancy and intelligent but also you might just be talking nonsense. Don’t fill your application with a series of big words that have no context.

Bad mouth the company

This sounds like super obvious who would slag off their previous company or the company that they are applying to in a job application? You would however be surprised. I know that you might want to just be honest and explain how much you hate your current job and everything in your life led you to working in TV, that’s fine but all i read is how much you hate your job. It can sound a little brattish and a little ungrateful. We’ve all done jobs that are not what we ultimately want to do but what have you learnt from them, what skills have you developed, what is transferable from that particular job.

You almost might think you are being ironic and clever by criticising the company that you are applying for but ask yourself, have they asked for your critique. On a recent application i saw someone wrote “I don’t watch your channel and i would love to come in and explain to you in an interview as to why i don’t”. Challenging, perhaps controversial maybe, but also why are you planning to work on a channel you don’t like. It just looks arrogant and rude. A little bit of humility goes a long way sometimes.

Not bothering to spell check 

This is one of my personal favourites when people talk about their great attention to detail and then half of their words are spelt wrong. We can all be guilty of this but double and triple check your spelling, grammar and punctuation. It just looks lazy and sloppy when you don’t. A lot of people in TV are pedantic about this so don’t give them reason to judge you. Also don’t use slang as well as that really doesn’t go down well.

Writing too little

This is very common and something that i presume people just panic about and don’t write very much so as to just got the application done and sent. Take your time with the application and if it says you have 200 words then use that. Someone recently when asked to suggest a programme idea on an application form wrote “n/a”.. i mean b***h please.. you are just shooting yourself in the foot with that.  Some people write short glib answers to questions, saying things like ” i think i have the necessary skills for the role”.. Great i am sure you do, but i am asking for examples, i want to know what you’ve done.. please sell yourself! I often find myself screaming that in the computer.. well screaming that inside my head so i don’t disturb my colleagues. We will be assessing you on your answers so if there is nothing there then we can’t really, it’s as simple as that.

Writing too much that doesn’t make sense

Sometimes we fill the space with a whole lot of words desperately trying to pad out the prose so you reach the 200 words. Try and be succinct though rather than saying something with a multitude of unnecessary words. This can also be confusing to the reader as they have to search through to find out what you are really trying to say. Sometimes you have to re-read and are no clearer as to what you really mean.

Not answering the questions

We can be so desperate to sell our ability, demonstrate our skills and try and be liked that we avoid the question being asked. We have a script in our head about what we want to say and sometimes we just say it rather than answering the question. The reader is looking for a direct answer to the question and they will be assessing you on that basis. It makes it difficult for them to assess you positively if you haven’t answered the question. Sometimes people like to list achievements or talk about the type of person they are in this situations. It’s great that you are “hard working”, “personable”, can speak to “people at all levels” (how noble of you) but that is not telling me what you’ve done or answering the question. So write your answer, re-read it and re-read it again. Until it makes perfect sense.

Over selling yourself 

It’s great to be confident and to know yourself and you can be so eager and ambitious to climb up the ladder of success. There is nothing wrong with that but right now you are not a Series Producer, you are not a TV expert and you are not “only looking for researcher roles”. Be a bit humble and talk about what you’ve done and what you want to do but be mindful that you still have lots to learn. You are applying for a traineeship, an apprenticeship, be open to learning and developing. People aren’t expecting the finished product. Also don’t over exagerate or use your TV experience to say things that you haven’t done or to see you worked as an Assistant Producer when you were really a runner. People see through that. It is also a small world and i’ve interviewed with many people who’ve said things like “she never did that on that programme” or “that wasn’t his idea that was mine”. So be proud, be truthful but be careful not to spiral into a sea of over exageration and falsehood.

Underselling yourself

I’ve often talked to and interviewed people who have been so unaware of their achievements and all the great things that they have done. They are over apologetic and wrapped in false modesty. It is only after talking that someone let’s slip out “oh i made a film”, or ” I won an award”. I’m generally like “Oh my God that’s amazing!” You need to shout about that, people need to know. I’m then confronted with, “I don’t want to sound boastful”. I get that, i really do, but if you keep all your achievements to yourself how are you going to sell yourself and get that job? This might be weird but imagine that you are talking about someone else and be really factual about what you’ve done. You’d happily sing the praises of a best mate or sibling so treat yourself in that way too. It’s really frustrating when you find out later what someone has done and they haven’t put it on the form.

No contact details or not responding to contact details

This is a real pain in the neck. You want to invite someone to an interview and there are no contact details (yes that happens). You have no choice but to not invite them and that feels such a waste. Also if you put an email on your form then please respond to that email. I’ve contacted people recently for assessment centres where i have clearly asked them to get back to me and i have had to chase two or three times to get an answer.. now that’s just rude. I’ve also emailed people and had no response. Just say if you can’t make it or you’ve got another job or you aren’t interested anymore. Particularly as then we can invite someone else to take your place. It really is selfish not to do that. I am aware as well that sometimes emails can go into people’s junk folders so regularly check them. If you’ve applied for a job then check your email and respond quickly.. it really looks like you can’t be arsed if someone has to chase you up.

Not be available to start work when stated.

Often for schemes and apprenticeships it will clearly say that you need to be able to start on a specific day. It’s really frustrating when people can’t. I sometimes here after a big long process “can i defer for a year as i want to go travelling” Well didn’t you think about that before you went through the whole process. Or people booking holidays when they are due to start, i know some things can’t be helped but if you want a job and know when it starts then do try and start then!

 

January always comes around like a wake up call, like an alarm going off or a slap across the face.. you put down that tub of quality street (I mean you’ve eaten all the good ones), sign up for pilates, pick up that clean eating quinoa obsessed cook book that’s remained unopened on your book shelf for most of the year and you start to think, “I need a new job!” You look at your old CV which has not been updated for a while and start to update it and then a sense of dread descends as no matter how you word things, it always sounds a bit naff, a bit disingenuous and a bit show offy..  Having seen 1000s and 1000s of CVs over the years, here are few things that frustrate me and other employers and could be stopping you from getting interviews.

1. No contact details or incorrect details

This seems blatantly obvious but you’d be surprised how in the rush of sending a CV off people can mistype emails or forget to put on a phone number. Ordinarily if a CV is being emailed to you, it doesn’t really matter as you can simply reply, but if you are applying online through an automated application process then that information can get lost. People also like a phone number on the CV so that they can contact you and chat to you quickly. There have been a number of times when I’ve tried to get in touch with people to offer work or invite in for an interview and I just haven’t been able to get hold of them.. so make sure that the your contact details are correct and up to date, I don’t want to be calling and leaving messages for a random person thinking that it’s you. If you have multiple email addresses use that one that feels most business like, generally your name and initials work. Although I did love emails like slagsgotswag and hornytiger (actual starts of people’s email addresses), think about what your email address says about you and the impression that you are creating.. you may have loved Care Bears and One Direction at one stage  but keep them out of your email address.

2. Not enough info

This is where I need to get all Poirot and Sherlock Holmes and come to my own conclusions about what you did and what your role was in that job. This does you a disservice. Yeah you can put the word runner and no further explanation  and most runner roles are relatively similar but when you put no detail I will presume you did some filing and made coffee and won’t know about what you actually did. I am not suggesting that you go into heaps of prose about your daily routine but talk about your achievements and the level of responsibility that you had. If you think that you are ready for the next level then you need to demonstrate that with the work that you have been doing and that needs to be clear on your CV.  Employers can presume but by doing that they can jump to the wrong conclusions or simply put you to the bottom of the pile because what they are looking for is not jumping out from your CV. I often talk to people trying to break into the industry and as our conversation flows, I find out about films that they’ve made or skills that they have that aren’t on their CV, things that would get them an interview. So make a list of your achievements, the things that you are proud of and think about how relevant they will be to getting your next job and if you think they are relevant then get them on your CV.

3. Too much info

The opposite of not enough information is far too much information. A CV should really be no longer than two pages and when it stretches to five you know you have problems. You need to edit the information, ask yourself in the back of your head “so what” to each sentence until you get a finally honed concise sentence that really sells what you are trying to say about yourself. Remember that the person looking at your CV is generally a busy person who will have a list of things that they want from this hire, if they have to dissect through reams of prose about your dissertation to find out what they are looking for then the likelihood is they won’t be bothered with you. Keep it relevant and keep it focused to what they are looking for and ask yourself does this CV best reflect me??

4. Stats and graphs and ratings

This is a relatively recent phenomena and to be fair it does make your CV eye catching but what purpose does it really serve? If you are rating your skills in terms of out of 5 stars, or a graph or a chart, what are you trying to tell me? If you give yourself 3 stars for attention to detail then I will come to the conclusion that that really is not something that you are good at. Alternatively if you are 5 stars in everything – whoopee 5 stars in communication then I will go into the interview trying to discredit that.. By simply having a list of words or skills and your subjective rating of how good you are at them, doesn’t really tell me much other than your perception of yourself. You may be being honest when you say that you’re a 2 star communicator and even if everything else is 5 stars I will only remember the 2 star. You are drawing attention to things you are not good at and that’s all the reader remembers so stay clear of these things.

5. Having No References

The world of television moves quick and fast and often you see someone one day to start a job the next day. The world is also relatively small and insular and lots of people will have worked together before. Often you can be faced with two options and you take up references, if the references are there and easy to hand then that makes things easier. Also as people have invariably worked together before, managers may like to ring your references and check out what they have to say about you. Now they can easily ask you for the references but sometimes it makes life much quicker and easier and creates a rapport if they are already there on your CV. Do make sure that the people that you have as references know that they are your referee and are happy to give a positive reference. I’ve contacted references in the past who have no recollection of working with the person or that person just worked there for a day, or alternatively they did such a bad job that the referee couldn’t possibly give them a good reference. So make sure that’s all sorted and you’ve got the best referees you could possibly have before putting them on your CV.

 6.Using unnecessary business language

How do I make myself sound intelligent and ready for the cut and thrust of the business world.. well I will use some big words and put them in a sentence that grammatically and logically doesn’t make any sense. Why say something plainly when you can jazz it up with words that no one in everyday life really says. Now I am being sarcastic but I feel that this is the thought process that some people go through when writing their CVs. Especially in the opening paragraph when you are trying to sell yourself but just throw together a series of big words which effectively tells me you are great with people and like to organise things. Big words might impress some people but ask yourself, “does this sentence make any sense”? Often people use these words to impress or convey a superiority, some people are impressed with that but more likely people will think you sound pretentious. Also stay clear of phrases like “I can communicate with people at all levels”, bully for you, it sounds patronising and slightly grandiose (I’m using fancy words now).

7. Trying to be funny

Now we all love to laugh and be funny and irreverent, I know I most certainly do, but humour can often be so subjective and can often not easily translate when written on a page. You may be a crazy hilarious bantz merchant and have your friends in stitches at your wit, but when you try to relay this on your CV you can often look like a bit of an idiot. Sometimes it can work and can work well but often you look like you are trying too hard or not taking things seriously. Funny anecdotes about the places you have worked or learning experiences written in a bantering tone can be engaging but also can take away from the hard work you’ve done and your achievements.

8. Glamour shots

We’ve all learnt a lot from America’s Next Top Model, we’ve perfected our walk, we know how to smize and have mastered the subtle but effective differences between catalogue, commercial and couture and that’s great, really great for Instagram and great if you want to be a model or an actor but not necessary for your CV. It’s a very European thing to have a photo on your CV and it can make the reader remember the individual but it is unnecessary. I’ve been sent CVs for runners and researchers accompanied by beach shots, toasting a glass of champagne or leaning provocatively against a tree as if you are in Harpers Bazaar all rather lovely but unnecessary. Your work and your experience should get you the job not the way that you look. If you insist on having a photo on there a simple head shot is all you need, but be mindful people judge photos so best not to have one on their at all.

9. Gimmicks

This can work exceptionally well in many industries and can even work well in the TV industry but it’s about knowing your audience and doing something that stands out but for all the right reasons. Having an origami CV in the shape of a swan might be beautiful but can you read clearly the CV and your experience or do you need to spend half an hour delicately unfolding it all? . I know of someone who sent their CV on an actual front door for an entry level job which was actually pretty genius but not for the guy in the post room who had to cart it to the third floor.. or the talent manager who was left with a front door that they didn’t really need. It tends to work well though when a CV is attached to cakes or biscuits.. who doesn’t love that eh.. well maybe not in January when everyone is detoxing but that is one gimmicking thing that people love.. I’m not against gimmicks and done well they can really make you stand out but ask yourself honestly if I were to receive this would this annoy me or I would I love it..

10. Upscaling your experience

We all want to be seen as important and we all think about where we should be in our careers and exaggerate a little on the CV. Most of the time that is fine but be very careful about this as you can easily get found out. Oh you were a researcher on that show, oh why were you credited as a runner? You were instrumental in developing that idea, funny that someone I interviewed last week said the same thing. Oh you were on that show for 3 months, strange that the Production Manager thinks that you were there for a week. I totally get that you want to get the job and that you want to be seen in the best light but just be careful that your selling yourself doesn’t turn into lies.

 

 

TV is a competitive world to get into and once your in it, you’ll realise it’s a freelance world. Reputation is key and you’ll need a portfolio of companies that know you in order to ensure you’ve got plenty of work coming your way. You want to be in a position where people are fighting to hire you, and when you leave a company everyone sings your praises and can’t wait to hire you back. Here are a few tips to help you achieve that.

Stay out of politics

It can be easy to get sucked into office politics, sat with the team after work, knocking back a pint and revelling in everyone’s hatred for the boss or rumours about who’s having an affair with who. It can almost be addictive and give you a bit of power but remember people always think if they are speaking that way about a person what are they saying about me? It can feel great in your first week to be so involved with the team that they are telling you all sorts but try and maintain a healthy distance from gossip. Be neutral as it can often come back to bite you. If you are at the start of your career that’s not the reputation that you want to have.

Do the things no one has time/wants to do

Go above and beyond the job description and do this with humility.. It’s a balance between getting your job done and then finding solutions to make everything easier. You don’t want to be that person that is constantly bemoaning what needs to be different or that person who talks about what worked at your old company whilst putting down the place you work in now. If you see things that need fixing and you have preferably free ways of doing that that will save time for everyone then these things are always appreciated.

Be a good listener

In the fast paced cut and thrust telly world we often listen to respond rather than actually hear what is being said. In the incessant need to prove that we are doing a good job we can often talk about what we’ve done rather than respond to what is being asked of us. If you don’t understand something ask for clarification, “do you mean this?” Often in the need to prove ourselves we suffer in silence and struggle without asking for help or really what is required of us. This always leads to problems. It’s always better to ask and always best to really listen.

Do your job well

This sounds really really obvious but people can often come to a role particularly an entry level role with ideas of what they want to do rather than what is required of them. So know what you are supposed to be doing and get on with it. It can be tough, you can work with difficult people but be dignified at all ocassions. Learn from people and make sure you do the job the best that you can. No one is expecting you to be perfect but make sure you get through that to do list.

Don’t be nine to five 

If you are clock watching, always leaving on time when there is so much to be getting on with, well people really notice that. If you’ve done all you’ve got to do, no problem, but people do remember those that in the midst of a production crisis don’t muck in and stay late. It’s about working as part of a team and working towards the same common goals of creating a great programme. Everyone on the team has an important part to play. So ask, “do you need me to do anything before I head off”, or update people as to where you are with your tasks rather than quietly sneaking off and everyone wondering where you went.

Be able to read people 

Emotional intelligence is key to working in telly not everyone has this and not everyone can see beyond what’s going on in their world. So pick up on clues, they look stressed so is now a good time to talk about my personal development. Start of the day is generally better for that kind of chat not in the midst of production. If someone is in an intense conversation or working hard against a deadline suss out that maybe now is not the best time to talk about your weekend, or the student film you want them to see.

Don’t take it personally

You will come across stressed difficult people in television and the key is how you handle them. There will be an urge to eye roll and tell them exactly where to go but think is that going to be really helpful to your career. Spot that they are stressed and think what can I do to make things easier. Also know that it’s never really about you but more about what’s going on in their life. So keep it professional, keep it focused on the work and be clear about what you’ve done. Come up with solutions rather than blame other people and be positive and people will respect that.

Lose the attitude

You may well have been the best filmmaker in your college but you were a big fish in a small pond and now you are swimming with the sharks in the ocean. In the words of Kendrick Lamarr “be humble”, you have a lot to learn and be open to that. People love working with keen enthusiastic people and a know it all who thinks they are above certain things gets tired very quickly. So be nice.

Let people know you love it there

Don’t be sat in the corner sulking and pouting or blend into the background so much that you become part of the wall paper. Tell people you enjoy working there. Ask them what other productions are coming up. Say you’d love to work there again. Often people are so busy that sometimes unless you tell them that you are keen to stay they will presume otherwise. Don’t be too saccharine and fake though, a Disney princess is fine for the movies but can be annoying in the office.

Keep in touch 

Don’t wait for people to remember you, keep in touch. Let people know when you are coming free again. Let people know as you develop new skills and climb up the ladder. Also if you’ve watched one of the productions the company has made just drop them an email to say how great you thought it was. So keep chatting to them and they’ll remember you. Be wary though of verging into stalker ex girlfriend territory though.

You’ve been in your job for a while and you are sat at your desk, slurping tea and staring at the ever increasing number of emails that are darting into your inbox and all of sudden your head is full of thoughts of “I’m really s**t at my job”, “I’m going to be found out”.. You stare at your colleagues who seem to breeze through life and the office with unfaltering confidence, no element of fear in their eyes and you feel they are judging you and your apologetic ways. The instant reaction is heads down, get on with the work, as you type another email that begins with “I’m sorry to bother you…”.. Just keep working and you’ll be noticed for all the good work, but inside your confidence is shaking and your perceived place in the work force is slightly below everyone else.. We’ve all been there, but how do you snap out of it, give yourself a talking to and begin to grow in confidence at work.

Here are a few tips to make you more confident in the workplace and thrive and enjoy work.

Remember you were given the job on merit

We always seem to forget this and think that my some fluke chance or there was no one else around that we’ve got the job. When we are sat staring at our to do list and panicking remember you were chosen, often above a lot of other people to do the job. People don’t give people jobs because they feel sorry for them, or out of desperation, they gave you the job because they believe you can do it.

You were given the job, because you were the best person for the job, remember that. Your skills and experience are exactly right. Day to day it might not feel like that but know that is why you were hired.

Quieten the voices in your head

We can often give priority to the negative voices in our head and the more we do that, the more we perceive that as our reality. Why do we do that, and dismiss the positive thoughts. When you start thinking along those lines, just simply say in your head not true not true.. It might be useful as well to start writing down every morning 10 positive things about yourself.. we are so quick and eager to think a long list of negative things about ourselves, but devote time to think about all the good stuff. There is good stuff, you might not instantly think it, but there is always something to be grateful for and appreciative about yourself. Some people like meditation, sometimes it’s just about getting away from your desk, making a cup of tea, or finding 5 minutes of quiet time, to just pause, find balance, take a breath and then carry on. So often when we are having a busy day our focus is all about what we have to do, that work just seems like a jumble of tasks and you don’t really know where to start. Take a step back, and all will become much clearer

Know what’s expected of you

If you don’t know what is expected of you, then make sure you ask your manager. That doesn’t necessarily mean going through your job description with a highlighter and a folder full of notes, “what exactly does clause 2;1 really mean”, nobody has time for that and your job description is there with a degree of flexibility. Too often miscommunication or a lack of asking questions, because you feel that you should know it, or a sense of pride takes over and a fear of looking stupid makes you think I’ll figure that out. So ask, do you mean I should do this, or my understanding is this.. ask for clarification then both parties know what’s expected. Also you then don’t spend hours doing something only to find out that’s not what they really meant at all. Seek feedback, not all managers are good at this, and some will say nothing or try and be passive aggressive through a veil of “niceness”. You leave the meeting and over analyse about “what that meant”, “were they being insulting”, so as scary as it sounds, just seek “what do you mean by that”, “what do you think I could have done differently”. Sometimes you might not get an answer, sometimes you might get an answer that you don’t agree with, but at least you’ve asked that question.

Don’t Take it personally

Offices are not always an oasis of civilised calm, work stress, personal issues, tiredness and insecurities can often lead to abruptness, rudeness, exclusion and miscommunication. Always remember when people behave like that, it is about them and not you. I used to sit behind my computer and over analyse a comment or slight as if I was in a late 90s American drama, dressed in plaid, looking angst whilst a rousing ballad played in the background. I would think “oh what have I done” and then I’d tip toe around and act apologetic or look wounded and sulky for the afternoon. It generally was nothing about me, or maybe it was my in opportune perkiness that had rubbed someone up the wrong way. Either way, I should have taken it less personally, realised it wasn’t about me and focused on getting the job done. I’ve since learnt to do that, but when you are starting out the move into an office environment can seem like a mind field of new ways to behave. So just think they are in a bad mood, and hey they might be an awful person but that’s their issue not yours.

Take time out for you

Try and have some time for you, try not to let work take over your whole life. You’ll be surprised that by simply spending an evening playing tennis, or doing a class, or running at lunchtime will increase your confidence. When we are consumed my work (and sometimes it’s hard not to be) that becomes our life and focus. So find time to spend time with people outside work, outside of your industry, do something fun for you, and that perspective and distance will help you not to get swallowed up my work, and realise there are other things going on in the world.

Stop avoiding things

We always try and do the easy things first, the easy things and the things that require our immediate attention. All the stuff that keeps your job ticking and all the stuff that you know how to do. So often we talk ourselves out of going above and beyond our job, you have this great idea, that stays in your head, yes it would be great for the business but what if no one likes it, what if I look stupid. You know you can do more but there is something stopping you, it might be time, it might be priorities or it might simply be fear. “I’d be amazing at that job” but I don’t think I have time to apply, what if I’m rubbish at it, or I think they really need me hear and I don’t want to rock the boat. What you are doing there is staying in your comfort zone, not raising to the challenge. So right down a scary to do list of all the things that you would like to do and make sure you do one thing, one step each day/week to get closer to that. Then you don’t even notice how far you’ve come or how much you’ve changed..

 Don’t try to be everyones best friend

Work isn’t high school although it can often feel that way, it’s exhausting trying to be everyone’s friend, being in the cool gang, sharing insider jokes and laughing about Barry’s dancing at the pub on Friday. If it all feels natural and you gel with people then great, but don’t equate your confidence to other people’s opinions of you, don’t feel like you have to be liked by everyone to gain respect. You can gain respect by being great at your job and being professional and easy to work with, besides being popular is a lot of hard work. If you are too focused on being popular with the in group, or senior managers, that can distract from your work, or you can be know as the fun one that gets the drinks in on a Friday (nothing wrong with that) but ask yourself is that who you want to be?

 Focus on your strengths

We get stuck in a cycle of thinking about what we can’t do, what we think we are not good at, and think everyone can see that. How often do we take time to appreciate what we are good at it? Start thinking about your strengths and how you can really use them in the workplace and you’ll see your confidence rise. Good managers will always highlight your strengths and positives and give you time to develop areas of improvement. Successful teams are built with different people with different strengths and that is too be celebrated. Bad managers often through insecurity will neglect to see your strengths and will focus on the negatives or their perception of negatives. Often it is simply you work in a different way to that person and for reasons of control they want you to work like them. That is about them, know and appreciate what you’ve done. At the end of a job or project write down ten things that went well, leave it for a good while then write ten lessons learnt. That will really help give you perspective.

Take advantage of opportunities

Sometimes if you want to be more confident in the work place then you just have to throw yourself at opportunities, a kind of sink or swim mentality, that will undoubtedly fill you with dread. Whether this be joining the company netball team or simply just going for that job in another department, sometimes you have to make it known that you are here. It is so easy to talk ourselves out of new opportunities and I have done that on numerous occasions, that thought process or trying to claw out of your comfort zone, but its oh so comfy in here, is like getting out of bed on a cold dark morning when the duvet is your salvation. Think to yourself what is the worst that can happen, you may agonise over potential disasterous consequences but ask yourself is that true? Too often we can feel that we are going to be noticed just for the good work that we do, sometimes that happens but sometimes you need to let people know. The more you wait for someone to give you an opportunity the more likely when they don’t your confidence will start to wain and you will begin to believe that there is something wrong with you. So at least once a week try and do something that feels outside of your comfort zone, something that shakes up the routine. It can be as big or as small as you make it but it’s about taking tiny steps not massive leaps to a more confident you!

Don’t compare yourself to others

We all do it, we all look and judge other people, smile politely whilst they show off their engagement ring, or tell you about their new flat that they’ve just bought, inside though we are thinking “I hate you” and why does life some so so easy for them and not for me. You look at their achievements rather than your own and feel insignificant. You cave into a shadow of yourself or turn bitter and bitchy when you go down this route, and it’s affecting your confidence. So don’t, everyone has their own journey and only they know what they’ve been through. By comparing yourself to others, you are not looking at yourself honestly but merely as a reflection of what other people have achieved or behaved. So why care about other people and how great they are at their job, sure, it can make you competitive but the only person you should be competitive with is you. Look at how you work and then try and simply improve it, without being harsh on yourself reflect on how you could have dealt with that situation or delivered that project. People will try and compare you to others, sometimes cruelly or sometimes unintentionally, but don’t raise to it, and always with your best fixed smile, respond “good for them, they deserve it”

 

Stonewall recently reported that about only 31% of LGBT people in London feel comfortable being out at work. 77% of trans and one in five LGB people reported they have experienced bullying

Coming out is not just a one time thing, yes you might tell your family and friends at the same time, but you are constantly meeting people, starting new jobs, doing your daily stuff where you find yourself coming out in a range of different ways. The simple “how was your weekend” conversation at work, can make you do a sense check in your head of “how much do I reveal”, do I mention my partner and if I do, do I give them a non gender pro noun.? Experiences growing up can make you hesitant to be open and whether we do this consciously or not, we listen, we listen to how people describe and discuss people like us, and then we decide whether to step up and be open or whether to shut down and get on with our work. Workplaces have the power to be inclusive and equally exclusive. Prejudice disguised as casual banter can make us less willing to be our authentic selves. We throw ourselves into our work, with a prove them wrong mentality and many people succeed and become successful but at what cost to our mental health, isn’t it exhausting pretending to be something you are not or hiding a big part of your life. In some companies this might not be a problem as they have the culture of no one talks about their private lives, it’s all work, but if you are surrounded by people living authentically and talking openly about their straight lives, you not being authentic can be damaging.

So how do you find a company where you can be happy, and be your most authentic and productive self?

Do your research, find out as much as you can about the company and work out whether it’s the right company for you. In the field that you work in there may be a limited number of places that you can work in. You may always want to go and work with the biggest brand as that will enhance your CV and open doors. I totally get that, but look at that company, look at their website, do you see people like yourself on there? Do they talk about inclusion, do they talk about culture, when you read the information do you feel in your gut that this is a place that you want to work in? What are people saying about the company, do you know people that have worked there? Now everyone has their own experiences of working in a place and other people’s experiences don’t always mirror what your experiences would be. However look for common themes but don’t let them totally cloud your judgement.

Do the companies pride themselves on diversity, do they have an LGBT group and do they publicly praise this. Do they partake in pride events, have talks and speakers and celebrate diversity?  Are they in the stonewall index of best companies to work for? These may not seem significant but they genuinely reflect how the company feels about their LGBT staff.

When you get to the interview stage this can be a real indicator of the company. When waiting in reception have a look around, see how people are, are they stressed? Do they look unhappy what is the general vibe of the office.?  Listen to office banter if you get the chance, how are people with each other?

In the interview itself, questions can often veer towards family and I’ve been in interviews where people want to know what your hobbies are? What you do in your spare time.. You can feel the need to lie to tell them what you think you want to hear, like awkward conversations with taxi drivers where you talk about politics or football to be polite and then try and wing it to get credibility.. Just do you, just be authentic. Employers should not be asking about your marital or parental status in an interview.. Although some do. Often in interviews people want to validate that the interviewee is similar to them and has the same interests. They may think they are looking for cultural fit, but whether or not you have kids, whether you like gardening or ballet, rugby or crown green bowling.. It’s itrelvant these things will not make you better at your job. When it comes to your turn to ask questions, ask questions around diversity in the company? Around how staff are developed, what is the culture of the company? How would they describe that and how would they describe someone who succeeds in that company.. It’s fine to ask those questions and it will give you a real understanding of the company and help you to make a decision as to whether the company is right for you.

People who are allowed to be authentic in work without shame or judgement perform better, they have greater loyalty to the company and are likely to stay longer. If you feel that authentic and valued then you will enjoy work more, it’s as simple as that.

Happy job hunting and just remember that you’re fantastic and there is only one you.. So just do you…

I don’t know about you, but it took me a while to realise, “not everyone is going to get me” and that’s ok.. You work that out generally in your 20s with your friendship groups but at work it always seems a bit trickier. We are thrown together with people, many of whom are different from you, which should be a really positive thing. However some people don’t always see it that way and you may feel pressure to change your behaviour, to dull your shine to fit in. Sometimes that can make perfect sense, we don’t want you hollering “whoop there it is” whilst roller blading around the office (but that would be fun) and there is office etiquette for obvious reasons. You know though when you stand out, when you are different from other people and you know when people embrace that and when people don’t. So how do you be yourself without completely absorbing into “corporate spice” (the lesser known spice girl)?

Sometimes you are not made to blend in, whether that’s the way you look, or sound or your ideas or more often than not your confidence in yourself, these things can annoy people. Insecure people are threatened by confidence and difference, it’s easier for everyone to conform to their ideals. Even when I was being bullied at high school I never really thought I should change I just couldn’t see why they didn’t like me. Maybe my voice was to soft and my mannerisms too camp, but hey I wasn’t doing anything wrong. I never felt the need to assimilate I was always “just do you”. To some people that can be threatening. We are taught from an early age in school ways to behave and ideals based on our gender and not to question authority and to blend in.. But why shouldn’t we in learning question everything.. Doesn’t that make us inquisitive rather than disobedient.. These behaviours can be mirrored in the work place. Supportive bosses will encourage new ideas and debate and develop you as the next generation of leaders. Other bosses may find this threatening and going against the status quo. It’s finding that balance between getting ahead on your own merit and not alienating or pissing off your superiors…you need to manage their expectations whilst being the authentic you. There are number of studies about the importance of authenticity in the work place and authenticity makes people be happier at work and work more productively. Diverse and different teams make successful teams.. Companies should embrace that as it makes total business sense, but people often  still recruit in their own image. Unconscious bias training in companies is essential to look at this and to ensure that the best person not the person you think you would be friends with gets the job.

If you find yourself sticking out, when you realise you are not part of the gang, realise that that is ok. Think about the job you are doing.. And make sure you are doing a brilliant job.. Check with your manager what they want and when they want it and over deliver..If you are different this can be used as an excuse to find fault in work.. So don’t give them that excuse.. Also steer conversations to common ground and kill people with kindness. Remember you were hired to do the job and you got the job on merit, and you are doing a great job.

There is somewhere for everyone and if you feel unvalued and unheard then maybe the place isn’t for you.. . Ask yourself what am I getting from this role. What am I willing to put up with.. Is this part of my career plan?  Oh and the world would be a very dull place if we were all the same. So let your freak flag fly, and just do you! It can be tough being an individual but there is only one you.. So don’t pretend to be someone else

The word networking often strikes fear in the heart of otherwise confident together individuals. It can become this beast that takes over and your thought process flips from “I hate networking” to “I’ll never get a job if I don’t”, to “how does she find it so easy.. God I hate her..” We envisage scenes of gulping wine standing against the wall at an industry do, frantically looking for a familiar face and thinking why am I missing Game of Thrones for this. Is that what networking is really all about though? Don’t we do it naturally on a day to day basis? I know lots of people at all levels, some very senior people who are happy to facilitate other people’s careers, “let me introduce you to John” but the moment they need to talk and promote themselves a terror of appearing arrogant and show offy (I’ve made that word up and I like it) transcends upon them and they become an apologetic mess about all the great stuff they have achieved. I’ve been that person more interested in chatting to the person checking my coat in than the big wig I am supposed to be schmoozing. Feeling like a sulky teenager downplaying your achievements or making daft jokes out of nervousness or reflecting on the weather. I’ve also been someone people have networked and been bombarded with facts about their CVs or being told “I don’t know what your company does” (get off snapchat and google it love). I’ve seen the good, the bad, the you really think I’m going to give you a job and the no love no types of networkers. So here are my top ten tips about networking. It’s not the music charts so these are in no particular order.

Engage and ask questions

I’ve been at many an event where someone has talked at me, literally  shouting their CV at me as if their life depended on it. Often at events people will hustle to chat to you, talk over other people and literally scream “notice me notice me”. Now I get the world of TV is competitive and you want to get noticed but think about how you go about that. Talk to me not at me. Engage in a normal conversation talk about the event, ask questions, even compliment me on what I’m wearing.

The most senior person is not always the person who can help you the most 

We often think we need to grab the CEO and they are going to notice us and facilitate a wonderful new career for you. Sometimes that works for people but it can often me someone at your level that can help you get that job. In TV talk to production managers they are key to hiring and also talent managers as well. Don’t be dismissive of those at the same level build your contacts up. You never know that runner that you just don’t think is important could one day end up being your boss.

Networking isn’t just about formal functions

You don’t have to be at a fancy reception sipping champagne and wondering when the fererro Roche are going to be bought out when it comes to networking. Networking can and should be a regular thing. Whether that’s simply chatting in the lift. Complimenting someone on Twitter about their latest production or simply asking people for advice based on their experience do what you can to be seen and heard. This can seem scary but don’t overthink it, it’s not about pestering but more about showing an interest and seeing how you can help.

Are you using your own networks
Often we ask ourselves how will I get that job? Oh I don’t know anyone who works there, there’s nothing advertised, I’ll not bother contacting anyone. We often neglect our own network for help, sometimes for feeling too cheeky or sometimes we are too proud. It’s often difficult to ask for help.. But how will people contact you about jobs if they don’t even know if you are looking. You’ve probably done it a million times put a friend in touch with someone who can help them find a job, well then it’s about time you did that for yourself..

Know about the company the person you are talking to works for 

If you are speaking to someone at an event do some research, find out where they work and the programmes that are produced there. It will give you a head start and a conversation opener if you can talk positively about things they’ve worked on. Don’t be dismissive if you’ve not heard of the company I remember at a careers event someone came up to me and said “I don’t know what “company name” is and what you do, what can you do to help me get a job”. Now this person might not have known the company but my impression was someone that hadn’t done their homework and was all about how can I help them rather than how can they be a great asset to the company. So do your research if you know certain companies are attending or before you go and speak to them do a quick Google search on your phone and find out a bit more.

Know what you want to do

Have an idea about what you want to do, what areas you are passionate about and research the roles that are in tv. This idea my change with time but a confident person with a passion and an interest in a role will always get taken more seriously then as someone said to me “I just want to try tv and see what it’s like”. The industry is far too competitive for you not to have a focus.

Keep in touch but don’t stalk

Once you’ve networked keep in touch, now that doesn’t mean go total ex girlfriend syndrome. By that I mean emails on an almost daily basis of “I sent you my cv why have you not got back to me” or the passive aggressive, ” I see you are looking for a runner why haven’t you contacted me?” You need to cultivate a professional relationship, talk about new skills you’ve acquired or new jobs you’ve worked on that would benefit the company. Or simply email and say “really enjoyed the new series of … That your company made, I’d love to work and something like that because my passion is for…” Tie it into them and what you can do to help rather than what they can do for you.

Make your own opportunities 

Don’t always get in touch when you need a new job, I know that is often the aim of networking but use your network for advice and help. I know people frustrated at not getting into the industry who’ve set up their own networking events and attracted a wide range of influential people in the industry to speak. This use of initiative really impressed many senior people in tv and raised the profile of the organisers.

Pay it forward 

Help others network and put them in touch with people that can help them. Now you don’t want to be a total martyr and be constantly helping others above yourself but show a little kindness and it will come back to you. You also get to expand your network and don’t feel so bad asking for help when you’ve already helped someone.

Don’t get too personal 

You may have checked out someone’s Facebook or Instagram page but at this first point of networking it’s not wise to be like “oh you looked hot at the gym last week” or “that wedding in Devon looked lovely”. Keep it professional, there is the danger after nervously downing the free drinks to pluck up some courage to speak to someone that you in a Bridget Jones style fashion start talking about your favourite member of one direction or your best spice girl memories or that ex that you’ve never quite got over. If booze makes you behave in a certain way whether that be flirty, loud or agressive know your limits and don’t go over board with the wine.. You don’t want to be known as that drunk person at a do.. That will get you remembered for all the wrong reasons.

So don’t be scared of networking, don’t over think it and most importantly just be yourself.. You can tie yourself up in knots talking about news night when you’ve never seen it!

We’ve all had interviews that have gone well and some interviews that have totally sucked.. You kick yourself afterwards (hopefully metaphorically speaking not actual kicking) and go over the I wish I’d said this scenarios in your head.. This goes on for a while and then you find peace with the fact that it just wasn’t meant to be. I’ve interviews 1000s of people over my 15 year (gasp) career in television and I thought I’d highlight some of my biggest no no’s when it comes to interviews..so here goes.

Lying

By this I don’t mean coming into the room and lying on the floor and catching 40 winks although I did have someone fall asleep in a group assessment once, I mean telling lies about what you have done. Whilst it’s great to shout from the roof tops about your accomplishments it’s also really easy to spot when someone is lying.. As an interviewer you think why would they be given that responsibility at that level, so as an interviewer you probe and question and it all becomes apparent. Even if someone is a convincing liar when you are chasing up references then you might get a different picture of the level of responsibility. I’ve seen people change their job titles on cvs and talk about working at a higher level. Now I know in the world of telly everyone tends to work higher than they are but acknowledge that in the interview “I’m contracted as a runner but I’ve had great opportunities to do research on…” It pays to be honest. I’ve known offers withdrawn when it’s been revealed that people haven’t been truthful on their CVs. It’s a small industry and people know each other so don’t let them know you as the person that made up half of their CV.

Bad mouth previous employers

It’s true you might have worked with some difficult people, that last gig was a nightmare but save those conversations for your family and friends. We want to see your resilience on working under difficult circumstances but that doesn’t mean throwing all your colleagues under the bus. I’ve seen people berate companies, colleagues and bosses in interviews and whilst they may have been justified on occasion it smacks of unprofessionalism. Think about how you phrase things and keep it very factual, “we had a limited budget and two weeks to go so I suggested we do..” Think about how you’ve resolved a situation rather than the problems other people have caused. It’s a small industry and lots of people have worked together before and whilst some might agree with your verdict on an individual some might not, in fact some might be close friends, partners or relatives of the person you are slagging off. Try and keep things positive even when the situations were far from positive, think about what you gained and how you dealt with people rather than blaming people.

Name drop excessively 

I’ve seen this a number of times from name dropping the CEO to producers to on screen talent.. One candidate waxed lyrical about knowing Cameron Diaz and it transpired later that they had just been in the same restaurant at the same time. Name dropping is a bit of a no no from me, it’s fine to say I worked with such and such that also works here on a certain programme, absolutely fine but when you are calling the Director General of the BBC Tony and talking as if you are best friends when you are a researcher then that doesn’t seem to ring true. Talk about your accomplishments rather than the people that you know and their accomplishments. Being associated with people doing great things doesn’t necessarily mean you are great so talk about what you’ve done and what’s relevant to the role that you are going for.. The same goes for universities as well, it’s fantastic that you went to Cambridge and you are obviously academically gifted but give me more than that as to why you should work in tv.

Be racist/homophobic/ prejudiced in any way

This seems super obvious and you’d think nobody would do that well think again.. Whilst running an assessment centre for the BBC we asked candidates to come up with a radio debate show for a popular programme, some of the titles we heard were “is it ok to be racist?” “Are white people just more intelligent”? and “if same sex marriage is legal can I marry my sister”. These ideas were all from so called educated people who saw nothing wrong with having these debates on a BBC show, they didn’t see that they were being prejudiced. One said because I’ve never been prejudiced against I don’t know understand it.. You are being offensive,Open your eyes love and educate yourself and speak to people was the response I said in a more formal way. Do not presume that your interviewers share your same views “oh there is no creativity up north” said one person to the northerner interviewing them; “i don’t like working with gay guys” said the candidate to the guy gay interviewing them.. To the more subtle “well I’m not sure you’d like rugby”.. Why why is that?

Be late

Now trains and buses can run late but if that’s the case email or phone as soon as you know. At least then the panel will not be waiting and wondering where you are. If you are unsure of how to get somewhere then do a dummy run beforehand. Being late makes you flummoxed and you look unprepared. I’ve done it myself going to an interview and getting hideously lost I knew arriving 20 mins late and in a state of panic that the job wasn’t mine. If you are late then apologise as the first thing you do and reiterate that it wasn’t your fault. After waiting 20 minutes for a candidate she turned up and said “oh I was just catching up with Sarah who works here we used to work together”. My eyes rolled to heaven at this level of disrespect and from that moment that candidates card was marked. They didn’t get the job.

Be over familiar

No one wants to interview someone who is stony faced and serious (well depends on the industry but I generally don’t). It’s great to interview a friendly interesting person and the conversation can flow freely as if you are old friends. It’s at this point that you can feel a false sense of security and fell that you are old friends and secrets start coming out. “I love that club near here I was so drunk there the other night” or “I was looking you up on social media and your boyfriend is handsome oh and how was the Beyoncé concert”. You can lose sight of the fact that you are in an interview, so reign it in talk about you and your work accomplishments save those bonding chats for when you are working there. Also this is not X factor, keep your personal tragedy stories for another time.. Be known for what you’ve done rather than what has happened.. Your ex might have been a bastard but the interview is not the right venue to discuss that.

Turn up hungover or still drunk

Again you gasp who would do that? Well I’ve had people attend a 9am interview reeking of booze masked ever so slightly with Lynx body spray.. Or people that have been blatantly too hungover to function and completed the interview in a daze and just ruined their chances. I’ve seen people going to interviews after boozy lunches where the interview becomes a spiral of bravado and nonsense.. It doesn’t look good and that’s what you are remembered for. So cancel plans the night before an interview and get it together.. Go and celebrate all you want after the interview.

Have no knowledge of what the company does/ what the programme is?

This is a favourite of mine and one which happens more often than you might think, and at all levels. There is no excuse not to have done research on the company and the programme. Even if you are away on holiday before the interview find somewhere with wifi and find out more. YouTube, I player and other platforms will probably have old episodes so watch them. Talk about them and share your ideas. You automatically close off when someone doesn’t have a clue what your company does and what the programme is. The excuse of i didn’t have time is not acceptable. Oh and get it right don’t be like a candidate when asked what her favourite BBC programme was she said Downton Abbey.. Know the right output for the right broadcaster.

Under sell yourself 

I see this a lot, people giving people credit for their achievements or downplaying their own achievements as being “no big deal”. We are not interviewing a team we are interviewing an individual so tell us what you did. “I don’t want to appear big headed or arrogant” i do get that, it can seem false and weird to talk about our own achievements. We can talk all about what our friends and family have done but when the spotlight is on us it can feel very different. So think about it factually, think about it not being you. Look at what your responsibilities were and what you did and what made you proud. Jot these down as part of your research before the interview so that you are prepared. We just get on and do things that we rarely take the time to reflect and see what we have done so spend some time on you and your achievements.

Dress inappropriately 

I’m not talking about wearing a suit or bearing too much flesh, the media industry is relaxed on interview fashion but at the same time what you wear speaks volumes.. Wearing a t shirt saying “I know what boys like” (that happened) creates an impression as does half your lunch down your shirt. I know accidents happen but acknowledge it, I’m so sorry someone spilt coffee on me before the interview.. Be comfortable be you, be confident but not too confident that you have swear words blazoned across your sweatshirt (that also happened).

You are great at your job, you’ve worked hard to get there, your family couldn’t be prouder of you, it’s what you’ve always wanted to do but something still isn’t right. You head to work every day and when you are there you feel like you either stick out like a sore thumb or blend so far into the background you match the wallpaper. Many people feel different or an outsider at work, I’ve definitely felt it in the past and here are a few tips to deal with that.

Are you bringing past experiences along with you

Ask yourself is it true? Am I really being treated differently. Sometimes we can take experiences from the past, from school, home life, people we’ve dated and impose them on a situation. People remind us of people that have been mean to us in the past and we can project those feelings of hurt and anger towards people simply because they may look or have similar characteristics to people we have known. Are we incorporating this outsider status simply because that’s what makes us most comfortable. That might sound a bit weird but if we are used to never being part of the cool gang there can be some sanctuary in not even trying. “They won’t like me” “I’m not like them”. I’ve seen it in the work place before and people can be painted into villains simply by not being over friendly or too busy. So put yourself out there and be friendly and professional before you make a snap judgement. You may be right about that person but you also may be wrong about them.

Do you feel a pressure to change ?

The new company you’ve joined is so trendy.. Everyone lives in shore ditch, gets their lunch from a vegan deli and all their clothes are vintage.. You squirm as you sit there with your boots meal deal in your favourite Primark Cardigan. Thoughts race through your head about how you even got to work here, and automatically you make yourself inferior and think I definitely  won’t have chips for lunch tomorrow. You start then to change, the over whelming desire to fit in takes you back to your 14 year old self. You take up yoga lattes or whatever the latest exercise trend is because everyone in the office does, you go to see obscure synth bands when in your heart you’d rather be making up dance routines to Little Mix. I’ve seen strong accents melt away to almost non recognition just to fit in and get ahead. How tiring eh? Remember though love what you love and don’t feel the need to morph into someone else. You may find that people are threatened by your confidence and security with whom you are, but that only highlights their insecurity.

Is it the right company for you

Interview stage is a great time for you to really suss out a company. Look around when you are in reception, are people stressed, is it a bitchy environment, does everyone look and sound the same. What does your gut tell you. If it’s saying I feel comfortable and I like it here then brilliant but if it says this is not me then acknowledge that. I know you gotta get a job and actually for short term contracts you’ll put up with more shit but listen to your gut reactions and you can then deal accordingly. Listen to the questions that are being asked of you, and think what type of person do they mean here. Trust your initiative. I was at an interview for a company that was near a theatre rehearsal space, it was summer and the windows were open. The sounds of beautiful gospel music could be heard everywhere. My interviewer said “what a racket” I said “oh my goodness it’s the cast of kinky boots rehearsing such a good show” he looked at me, gave me a weird “oh right” and practically through his demeanour  i felt judged. I didn’t get the job. In my current role which I love I was asked what tv programmes do I watch and I said amongst others rupaul’s drag race which my interviewer loved.. I felt confident to be myself. Daft examples but it is so important to feel that you can be yourself at work whoever yourself is.

Focus on your work

It can be so easy to focus on feelings of not being part of the gang that you lose sight of the fact that you are there to do a job. You’ve been hired for a reason. You are the best person for the job. If you perform well and deliver that is what is important. Cliques fall in and out of favour and it’s better to be known for your great work than being the most popular person in the office.

The advantages of being an outsider

Outsiders have empathy and see things differently from other people. They can see the bigger picture and don’t need to feel part of a group to know their self worth. You treat and see people in a more kind and empathetic way because you don’t want them to feel left out or different. That is a wonderful trait to have. It might unnerve people that you don’t look or like the same things as them or they may project stereotypes upon you.. They may see you not as an individual but as a mix of stereotypes based on your race, sexuality, disability whatever.. It continually surprises me when people categorise in this way.. Yes I’m gay but that doesn’t mean i fit into your perceptions.. Think about what positive change you can make in the company even if it’s tiny and being a supportive ear to someone that really helps.

Be professional

You might want to tell the mean girls or the pretentious hipsters exactly what you think of them which may make you feel good in the short term won’t do you any good long term. Be professional, focus on your work, rise above it all. Think about all the positive things going on in your life, embrace that you are doing a good job and this is the career that you want. I remember a previous boss saying to me “those people treated you appallingly but you handled yourself with dignity” now I shouldn’t have been treated badly in the first place but the way I handled it, reflected well on me. It’s really tough but focus on you..

Make notes of bullying behaviour

If you feel people are being unfair, you are being left out, everyone is out for lunch together and you are sat in the office with a BLT then make notes of the behaviour. You might not actually be bothered but if you are make notes of bullying behaviour. Bullying doesn’t have to be just someone being mean to your face, a lot of office bullying focuses on exclusion. Makes notes of incidents and chat with someone you trust about it.

What would Beyoncé do?

This sounds strange but think of people you admire be it Oprah, Beyoncé or whoever. How would they react in your current situation . What hurdles did they get through and how did they find their inner strength.. Some of the worlds most successful people have been outsiders and have had the drive and passion to change things up.. So ask yourself “what would Beyoncé do”.