VULTURES AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM.

DEFINITION OF A VULTURE

(According to the Oxford Dictionary)

NOUN

1. A large bird of prey with the head and neck more or less bare of feathers, feeding chiefly on carrion and reputed to gather with others in anticipation of the death of a sick or injured animal or person.

2. A contemptible person who preys on or exploits others.

You might even be able to find some physical similarities between them.

An aspect of leaving the comfort-zone of study that through our entire lives has come to be second-nature to us, there is almost a culture shock in attempting to enter the work-force, you come across new situations and new kinds of people, and for the first time in my life I've come across people that I like to call (rather kindly if you ask me, there are many much stronger words that I could use) "Vultures".

They are labelled thus due to their nature of rooting for you to fail, something that is unprecedented for many in this stage in their life who, like me, were fortunate enough to be surrounded by supportive family and friends and be in an education system where for the most part the teachers and lecturers seemed to be actively rooting for and helping me to reach success.

THE VULTURE.

Somebody that has reached such a status that they demand respect not for the kind of person they are but for the amount they earn, they believe the money they have has earned them the right to say and do whatever they like without fear of repercussions (and unfortunately they are usually right about the no repercussions part).
They are in a position of power, constantly flying over you, waiting for you to do anything they could possibly pick at, watching and waiting and hoping for you to fail, doing everything they can in the mean-time to make sure you do such as, picking at any insecurities you might have, using their position of power to intimidate and manipulate you into thinking that you aren't good enough, that you aren't the person that the excellent character references you've built up over the years of schooling and extra-curricular activities had made you out to be, they will turn all your best qualities against you, you're confidence will become arrogance, you're people-skills and professionalism that you so pride yourself on will be dismissed and you're hope of a good testimonial to help you to move up in the world will be squashed.
They will have picked you apart until you are nothing but a carcass of your former self. Thus, the Vulture can survive off the remains of yet another young and naive calf.

But don't worry, there are some very important ways to combat the Vulture, a simple 5-step program.

Recognising

Remembering

Reinforcing

Composure

Eradication

5-STEP PROGRAM OF HOW TO DEAL WITH A VULTURE.

Recognise a Vulture, they are usually quite obvious but sometimes you may not realise that you are the victim of the vulture until you are already descending into the spiral of anxiety and self-doubt caused by one, the first step to defeating the vulture is recognising that they are one.
Remember that they must have grown up a much sadder life than you to think that the amount they earn measures them as a person, and to be able to show the lack of respect to others that they do. The second step is to remember that just like any bully, they hurt because they are hurting.
Reinforce yourself, your beliefs in yourself and your values, go back and talk to other people you have worked for or studied under before in order to reinforce what you knew all along, that all the work-place and personal values that you have been told you have and pride yourself on is who you are. Be sure to continue to live by them and not become what the Vulture is saying you are. The third step is reinforcement.
Compose yourself, take a deep breath and restore your composure before and after talking to them, you have now recognised that they are a Vulture, remembered that they are likely this way due to their own insecurities and upbringing and reinforced your beliefs in yourself and your values, now you must compose yourself in order to prove the Vulture wrong and continue to work in a way that you can be proud of and keep your values intact, the fourth step and best way to destroy a Vulture is through composure and believing in yourself and what you want to stand-for professionally and personally.
And finally the fifth and final step in eradication of all Vultures (a bit dramatic I know, but don't worry, I'm not talking about some kind of Vulture homicide). The only way in which we can all do our part in eradicating Vultures, is by not becoming one ourselves, if we are ever lucky enough to be as successful as they are and in a position of power, we have truly lost if we let them turn us into them. Remember this on our road to success, remember the feeling you get at having met a Vulture if you've been unfortunate enough to do so, and don't let yourself become a "contemptible person who preys on or exploits others"

VULTURES AND THE QLC

Meeting a Vulture exacerbates symptoms of the Quarter-Life Crisis (QLC) as they make you question yourself, doubt yourself and they create a huge amount of work-place anxiety that often transfers into your home life as well. Anyone can come across a Vulture but young people entering the work-force so usually 18-25 year olds are the most vulnerable to them. So meeting a Vulture at a time in your life when you are already vulnerable to anxieties, self-doubt and insecurities, can be devastating.
However if you follow the steps above as to how to deal with a Vulture, you should hopefully be able to keep the symptoms of the QLC under control for the mean-time, and be a much better, stronger person for it!

Leslie Knope knows how to fight off 100 Vultures at a time, what an inspiration.

-Emsy