Embarking On A New Career: Don’t Let Impostor Syndrome Hold You Back

Have you ever thought to yourself that you must have got your new job just by a “lucky accident”, because you were on the right place and in the right time or because you knew the right people? Do you often compare your ability with that of those who are around you? Do you find yourself thinking that people that are important to you will find out that you are not capable as they think you are? Or have you been appointed to lead an important project but feel that you don’t deserve it? 

If that is the case, you have probably experienced effects of the Impostor Syndrome phenomenon.

The impostor phenomenon is a very real and specific form of intellectual self-doubt. Impostor syndrome can affect anyone, regardless of their success, job or social status.

In a few words, the impostor syndrome is all about not being confident about your skills, accomplishments or capabilities. Even many of high achieving, successful and famous people have suffered from the impostor syndrome. Like Tina Fey, Michelle Obama, Barbara Corcoran or Sophia Amoruso have spoken about their experiences with impostor syndrome in interviews amongst others.  

The impostor syndrome, sometimes called as fraud syndrome, has been first used by psychologists Suzanne Imes and Pauline Rose Clance in the 1970s.

Impostor syndrome is not recognised as a formal psychiatric condition; however, the impostor idea has inspired numerous studies related to career topics of prestigious publications.

In the original study from 1978, one academic believed there must have been a mistake in the selection process when they received their appointment, as they did not see how they could be deserving of the role.

According to Clance and Imes, there are three defining features of impostorism:

-      Feeling that other people have an inflated perception of our abilities.

-      Fear that your true abilities will be found out.

-      Persistent tendency to attribute success to external factors.

The recent studies show that over 70% of people will experience impostor syndrome at some point in their life.

The condition is particularly likely to strike in the event of starting a new job or taking on new responsibilities.

If you are in a process of changing careers or starting a new job after a long-term unemployment, it may come that after leaving the safety and comfort of the previous job, you actually are nervous about starting something new, worried and in certain moments experience feelings like an impostor.

Here are some tips how to maintain and increase confidence when embarking a new career and overcome impostor syndrome:

Pay Attention To Your Negative Thoughts.

Every time you recognise “impostor” feelings write them down as they arise. Writing them down and seeing the list of your negative thoughts will help you to think and reflect on them from another perspective. Whenever you experience negative thoughts, challenge them by converting them into positive ones.

Keep A Record Of Positive Feedbacks From Others.

Keep an up-to-date file of positives feedbacks you received from others and read them when you have moments of self-doubt, feeling bad about yourself or are about to take on a challenging task. It will increase your motivation, boost your confidence and positively impact your mindset.

Celebrate All Your Accomplishments, Including Small Wins.

With embarking a new career, you may be utterly new to the field or business sector. We all get motivated by achieving bigger goals, however when you’re starting a new job, it’s expected that you don’t know everything. Accept and acknowledge small wins as a stepping stone to success.

Tracking down all the small wins and achievements in a new job is a great tool to enhance and maintain your motivation. Don’t be too hard to yourself and remember it’s okay and important to reward yourself.

Build Trusted Relationships With Co-Workers.

Fearing that asking for help can reveal incompetence can be a sign of an impostor. There is no shame to ask for help or guidance if you’re new in a job and organisation. Create a trusted network of positive and optimistic work colleagues.

Building strong and trusted relationships with colleagues and team members can take time and it requires patience. Once you’ve built your trusted network, you will feel more supported in a new working environment.

Talk About It. Find A Mentor.

Don’t isolate yourself from receiving accurate and supporting feedback from others. Take and seek out a constructive criticism. Sharing feelings with or getting feedbacks from a trusted colleague, friend or a mentor can help you to develop a more realistic perspective on your abilities and competences.  

Accept Imperfection.

The reality is, no one is perfect. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Making mistakes is an inevitable part of our lives. It’s important to accept that the things will not always go the way we want and accepting this can increase our resilience and well-being.

Nurture your healthy self-esteem and self-worth. 

The Key Is To Recognise And Address It.

Many people experience symptoms of impostor syndrome for a limited time, such as the first few weeks of a new job, for others the experience can be lifelong. Impostor syndrome is not a recognised disorder, however, in rare cases and when the symptoms persist it may help to work with a mental health specialist. 

Are you seeking a professional support to increase your confidence when starting a new job?

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