Starting a fresh career journey in Career Counseling. How do you overcome self-doubt and imposter syndrome?

It's important to recognise the difference between Imposter syndrome (IS) and self-doubt when making a career change. IS is a negative self belief which can feel intense and persistent, rearing its ugly head in even the most seasoned workers, making you feel like a fraud despite your experience and qualifications. On the other hand, self-doubt can feel milder and asking yourself the question, 'can I do this?' can be quite normal when embarking on a new career. If you think you're experiencing IS, or if the self-doubt is holding you back from the career you want, consider working with an accredited and qualified career coach to recognise it and understand it so it doesn't continue to impact negatively on you and your new career.

En alguna ocasión se nos pueden plantear dudas si lo que estamos sintiendo es falta de confianza o es el síndrome del impostor Algunos de los síntomas que pueden determinar este síndrome: - Decir que los logros obtenidos ha sido por la suerte y no por nuestro trabajo. - Buscar la perfección en todo lo que hacemos - Querer trabajar más por encima del bienestar. - Dudar de nuestras capacidades y habilidades. - Sentirnos sólo o buscar la soledad. - Sentir agotamiento físico o mental. - Tener miedo a que alguien descubra que podemos cometer un error. Este síndrome es muy común, no sólo lo sienten los puestos de trabajo con mayor responsabilidad o nuevos empleados/as. Toda persona en la vida lo ha sentido en algún momento.

To overcome self-doubt and imposter syndrome in career counseling, focus on continuous learning, seek support from mentors, celebrate achievements, challenge negative thoughts, and start with manageable goals to build confidence gradually. Stop doubting yourself and be confident about yourself. Learning can be a great factor to overcome these situation.

The first step in setting realistic goals is to conduct a thorough self-assessment. Reflect on your strengths, areas for improvement, and past experiences. Understanding your capabilities helps in setting goals that are challenging yet attainable. For example, if you have strong interpersonal skills, your initial goal might be to leverage these strengths by attending networking events or joining professional counseling associations. This self-awareness will serve as a foundation for setting goals that are both meaningful and achievable.

Four practical steps to apply the learner's mindset, include: 1. Seek out accredited programs. Review the learning outcomes and associated technical and professional competencies. Research national career development organisations: CICA (Aussie); CCDF (Canada); CDANZ (New Zealand); CDI & AGCAS (UK); and NCDA (USA). Explore career pathways beyond the program. 2. Inquire about mentoring and supervision. If not available, be proactive and seek it out. 3. Join LinkedIn groups to listen and contribute to discussions. Build your knowledge and confidence. 4. Engage in continuing education (CE) to maintain your networks and licence to practice. This will, in part, help to address self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Take your time!

Para superar el síndrome del impostor será necesario llevar a cabo algunas estrategias efectivas, como por ejemplo: - Reconocer y aceptar la existencia de esta experiencia que además es muy común en las personas. - Compartir siempre tus sentimientos con los demás. - Cuando se nos presenten pensamientos negativos, afrontarlos y desafiarlos con determinación. - Ajustar nuestras metas para que sean realistas y alcanzables. - Acudir a profesionales para abordar las causas y establecer un plan de acción. - Celebrar los logros.

Be clear about your why - it will keep you going through moments of challenge as you learn and grow. Be clear about what you need to learn. Focus on learning how to be effective and elegant in the way you coach. Finally, keep taking a step a day to keep moving forward. Enjoy the journey!

Lifelong learning, plus a lot of practice and reflection - especially for counselling in general and career counselling in specific. It will also be beneficial to have mentors and peers to give you feedback throughout the process.