Beating Impostor Syndrome
One of the fantastic commenters of Offbeat Home recently referenced “Impostor Syndrome” in a comment that Ariel then picked up on. I felt the need to share. This is a concept that has recently become a big part of life — because of these two little words, I feel I’ve come to understand how I was relating to my work a million times better, and this understanding has genuinely changed my behaviour.
My husband’s boss is coming over! Should I hide the zombies and naked ladies?
My husband just informed me that in a few weeks, his boss has so graciously picked our house to hold their monthly “briefing.” Our two front rooms, where everyone would be for this little get together, are full of my husband’s zombie and macabre paintings, and pin-ups. I don’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable or weirded out. I’m wondering if I should take some of the paintings out, get lots of flowers to distract from the gory goodness, or just let it be? How do you make such an offbeat space into a crowd-friendly one?
How do you mix tattoos and careers?
I am getting a tattoo on my right forearm, and am very proud of what it is. However when I go on a job interview, my could-be boss might not appreciate it. How do you mix tattoos and careers? Should I cover it up with a long sleeve shirt, be honest about having it, or just walk in and let the chips fall where they may?
I hate my career choice. Now what?!
What do you do when the career you worked for YEARS to break into turns out to be the wrong career choice for you? Quit? Work while you search for something else? Resign yourself to your fate? Our Homie needs your career advice!
Work clothes that aren’t made by little hungry children putting in 18 hour days
Good news, Homies! I just acquired my first white collar job in a while. My wardrobe is almost completely unprepared for this, and I really feel strongly about not buying sweatshop-made clothing.
I am normally a big thrift or vintage shopper, but as everyone who does this knows, it’s kind of luck-of-the-draw on whether you’ll find anything. I’m a mediocre seamstress, but not good enough to produce my own clothing en mass. Combing the internet for non-sweatshop goods, I find a lot of men’s bike clothes, a legion of organic hemp t-shirts, and a variety of beautiful things which are way too hippie to be my regular style, and not a lot I can wear to work.
If non-sweat shop clothing is also a priority for you, how do you make it work?
Offbeat job interview tips: 3 things you must ask your interviewer
Once a month or so, we get a little scope-creepy and take a look at budget and career issues. Today, I’mma put on my old corporate job hat and give you the three questions that YOU should ask your interviewer, to totally impress them and make them start visualizing all the ways they are desperate to have you working this job.
How can I minimize weirdness when hosting clients in my home office?
I run a business from my home, and I often have to meet with clients and collaborators. I’ve been meeting in coffee shops, but I want to make a change: some meetings require lots of materials or even room to spread out drawings and papers, and I hate lugging this stuff around and then splaying out my work in a cafe. However, I want to make sure I’m projecting a professional persona even when I greet a client at my front door and lead them through the living room to my office. My house is fine — it’s neat, though doesn’t have a ton of furniture. It just feels strange to invite people to see where I live AND work.
Am I silly to worry about this? Is there anything you can suggest to allay my twinge of weirdness about mixing business and personal worlds?
How to measure the days when you work from home
GOOD DAYS:
Shower
Wear a bra
Leave the house
No internet drama to deal with
Speak face-to-face with someone other than immediately family