Imposter syndrome has become a major reason why many people are not where they are supposed to be. Here are tips on how to overcome this.
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It is easy for us to take our resumes for updates, get a professional to review our LinkedIn profile and even go back to school to gain more knowledge. We do all this to have a more competitive advantage in our journey to fulfill our career dreams and goals. However, when all is done, we feel broken that we have not reached where we wanted to be even after all the hard work. And we ask ourselves, what could be wrong? Imposter syndrome could be the answer to your question.
A shocking 96% of employers have experienced imposter syndrome throughout their career life from the recent study made by Roar.
What is imposter syndrome?
This is an internal experience of believing that you are not as good or competent as others perceive you to be. Heartbreaking, right? Imposter syndrome at your workplace is simply the failure to accept your achievements and the ability to get the work done even if others believe you can. It not only affects you now but also your progress as you try to search for better opportunities.
What are the signs of imposter syndrome?
The signs of having imposter syndrome are not physical but behavioral and psychological. Just like our definition says, it's an internal experience. If you are wondering how to evaluate yourself against this ‘virus’, here are a few signs;
1. Feeling like a fraud.
You must be having flashbacks right now and convincing yourself that this is not you, but read on. Ever raised a pertinent issue in the meeting that you believe is affecting the company greatly, but later on, rewind the scenario in your head and you think maybe you should have kept quiet? Perhaps the issue wasn’t as big as you portrayed it, and you start feeling like a liar or somewhat unserious. This is how imposter syndrome manifests in your work life.
2. Believing that the only way to get work done is by breaking yourself.
We have given ourselves the motivational speeches of giving 120% to your work, sleeping only two hours just to finish the assignment or report, and worst of all, missing meals to get that contract signed! I am not belittling determination or enthusiasm, but you can get the work done at the right time it is supposed to be done. So if you are convinced the only way to get results at work is through sacrificing your sanity, then you may have imposter syndrome.
3. Beating yourself up for minor mistakes.
This is disastrous! Did you know that you could spoil your entire day just because you misspelled the word ‘Thank you' in your email in the morning and you cannot seem to get over it? Mistakes are human, but if you believe that you should be 100% perfect all the time, you are likely to be dealing with imposter syndrome.
4. Failure to accept praise.
As I flashback on my career, I see many times I felt like I didn't deserve the praise because someone else was doing better than me. It can also be simply as failing to accept a compliment that you look good and responding that it is just an old dress.
With the above signs, I am sure we are getting on the same page. There are very many small things that creep into our lives and become big. Having imposter syndrome can greatly affect your career progress because it injures your personality as well as productivity.
How is imposter syndrome deterring your progress in your job search?
There are many times I have failed to apply for a job, not because I do not have the right qualifications or experience, but because I convinced myself that the company was too big for me or maybe they wanted someone better. Just like me, this could also be you playing small because you believe that's where you belong.
The one reason why you don’t qualify for the job is more important to you than the ten reasons as to why you deserve it.
You look through the job requirements and you are only focused on getting the one requirement that will disqualify you. This will not only limit the number of applications you send out, but you will end up withdrawing completely from applying to jobs because you believe you are not yet enough.
You think that your weaknesses in the job interview are more important because they will make you look honest before the panel.
You get so stressed out when asked about a role you are not familiar with and immediately disqualify yourself because you have no confidence in being able to learn and get the work done. With such an impression, the hiring manager is already disappointed in you even when your CV showed that you were capable. That is how imposter syndrome is affecting your job search.
You are afraid to say no to every opportunity because you think there aren't many options.
After graduating from the university I was so afraid that If I turned down a job, I would never get another one. At the end of the day I realized that if I sold myself short, I was bound to face the circumstances and not anyone else. With such a mindset like the one I had, you are likely to face a hard time in your job search.
You expect rejection in your job applications and after interviews.
If you leave the interview room feeling like you would have given more of yourself or done better, then you are struggling in this area. Being a pessimist affects your progress in your career, even after doing all you can, you expect the worst-case scenario. Sometimes you convince yourself that you are just being human, but honestly Sis, this is getting in the way of your job search.
You are ready to settle for the least offer.
We have been programmed to settle for less through the different motivational speeches we hear. They make you feel that you should not have a standard or else you will not make it anywhere in the job market. Graduates are always encouraged to take whatever comes their way, and I will not say it is bad, but this has given birth to imposter syndrome. You go through your career life thinking you are being helped or favored. You take on the worst offers because you are afraid there is no better offer anyway.
How to overcome imposter syndrome
When all is said and done, you now agree that you could silently be suffering from imposter syndrome. There is no reason to beat yourself up After all, a problem shared is half solved. Let’s see how best you can stop thinking like an imposter and fully explore all your opportunities in the job market:
Expect good outcomes.
After sending that application, be excited and expect that you will receive good news. Imagine yourself going through the process of recruitment with ease because you know that you have all the desired requirements and qualifications and above all, you can get the job done.
Let the reasons as to why you qualify for the job outweigh the reasons why you don’t.
Ivan Nkono, an HR Professional at Future Options agrees that if you have 70% of the requirements in the job advert, then go for it. There is no better time to apply for your dream job than now.
Genuinely accept your achievements.
Be happy when you are celebrated at work. You do not have to explain how you made the target and how it wasn’t so much work. If you got it right, own it. This will make you have confidence in your job interviews which gives you a greater probability of landing the offer.
Every ‘No’ is a step toward the big yes. Do not be trapped by emails of rejection after applying for a job. Wake up the next day and believe that you are soon going to receive that congratulatory email. Therefore, stick to applying to as many jobs as you wish to get and keep your head high. If they did not give you the offer, then it’s their loss, not yours.
In a nutshell, Imposter syndrome is not a chronic illness. It is about changing your attitude, accepting yourself, and knowing that you can be whatever you want to be. Life has no limit to success nor does the career world. Get up and shoot for the highest challenge because you have got all it takes.
