How I Almost Missed an Opportunity of a Lifetime | by Bhumika Jamnadas

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Self-sabotage is a funny thing. It can hold you back from achieving your goals, or push us to achieve them. In my case, self-sabotage almost led me to miss out on an opportunity of a lifetime. 

 What Did I Do After A-Levels?

Panic. I panicked. What else was I meant to do after receiving the dreadful email notification that my UCAS application has been updated?

From early on, my family, friends and school made it seem like going to university was the only option to progress in my career- but was this really true? This question in my head kept on growing bigger. At one point, panic kicked in again and I ended up declining all my university offers at the last minute. For someone who isn’t spontaneous, this was a massive leap.

At first, I was excited about the prospect of taking a year off. I thought it would give me time to figure out what I wanted to do but as the year went on, I started to feel anxious. I had no experience, and I was running out of time to find a way to advance my career.

Panic Researching Saves My Gap Year

So, what did I do?

Step One: I needed to skill up and glamourise my CV. 

Step Two: I needed to find a career progression route. That's when I stumbled upon the concept of apprenticeships. They seemed like the perfect solution for someone who wanted to gain experience and learn on the job.  

Step Three: I needed to apply, apply, apply… I started applying to as many apprenticeships as I could find, but I was met with rejection after rejection. The most devastating heartbreak was finding out I was not selected, which was only brought to my attention by snooping through the company’s Linkedin page. It was the only way I was going to get an answer since the apprenticeship provider I applied with at the time was not responding.

The Great Battle

My gap year was coming to an end. Just when I was thinking that there wouldn’t be any more opportunities for me, I received an email from Miguel, an early talent manager at Multiverse. I was told to spruce up my Multiverse profile as a major company was going to be scouting for potential candidates.

After my profile got matched to the requirements of the company, I started feeling more hopeful. I was sent an email which entailed resources and prep sessions to help me prepare for the interview. Multiverse was already setting me up for success and I had no idea.

I ended up attending the online prep session where I was met with 80 other candidates. All of a sudden, a dark cloud of anxiety and imposter syndrome began to fall over me. Listening to the other candidates asking great questions and seeing how well-prepared they were, put me into fight or flight mode where I felt as though I wasn't good enough- so, why was I going to bother trying? 

Right after attending the prep session, I got an apprehensive feeling that led me to think that I should not continue with the interview process. When I mentioned this hesitation to Miguel, he gave me a call for support, and even then I found it difficult to ask for assistance. It was hard to get the words out because of how anxious I was feeling. He recommended me some podcasts and perspective quotes to persuade me to continue. 

I appreciated that I wasn't pushed to go on with the interview but instead was encouraged to do so. Having this support made me realise that I could use my self-doubt as a tool and indicator of when it was time to ask for help. I began listening to the Ted Talk that Miguel gave me called “The Discomfort Zone”. This gave me the nudge I needed to complete the interview. My goal wasn't to land a role at this amazing company but just to get through the daunting 4-hour interview.

Despite my anxiety, I maintained my composure and powered through the interview. I was more proud of myself for making it through than I was happy or disappointed with how it turned out. I thanked Miguel and had no expectations of getting an offer. 

Using Self-Sabotage As a Tool

I got a call from Miguel the next day. He asked me if I was applying for any other apprenticeships, sounding concerned. I was preparing myself to hear the words, “unfortunately” or “with great regret”. His tone of conversation suddenly changed for the better and he surprised me by presenting me with an offer at the company. I was in complete shock and panic (this time it was a happy panic haha).

In the end, my self-sabotage ended up being a cry for help, which used to be something I struggled to do. Multiverse made it incredibly easy for me to reach out and exceeded all of my expectations by providing tailored, quick, and practical help.

Whenever you catch yourself in this cycle of self-sabotage, use it as a tool. A tool to find the opportunity that is waiting for you, even when it seems like you’re running out of time...

Bhumika Jamnadas is in the Digital Marketing programme at Multiverse.