Have you ever looked at your résumé and thought, "I'm not qualified for this job?" Have you ever looked around a classroom of other college students and said, "I'm not smart enough to be here?"
You, my friend, may be suffering from impostor syndrome. Impostor syndrome (also known as impostor phenomenon or fraud syndrome) is a concept describing high-achieving individuals who are marked by an inability to internalize their accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as a "fraud."
Upon scoring my first internship, I felt that I was unsuited for the job, and that I would inevitably be handed something that was not within my capabilities, and that I would be ridiculed, exposed for the fraud I was. And of course, the scenario culminated with my boss laughing at me as he handed over a pink slip and slammed the door behind me. THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN.
The thing about impostor syndrome is that when you have it, it becomes impossible to internalize your own accomplishments. It's the feeling of filling out a job application and realizing you have NOTHING, when in reality, you probably have a dazzling résumé that any hiring manager would be stunned by.
Possibly the most important thing about impostor syndrome is that no one is immune. Even the great Maya Angelou, an American author and poet, once shared, "I have written 11 books, but each time I think, ‘Uh-oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.’”
By this point, you're probably thinking, "I HAVE THAT!!" Don't panic, there are ways to combat impostor syndrome.
Remember the compliments you're given.
I'm not saying you have to take out an audio recorder and record the date and time you receive a compliment, but try to write it down, on a list or journal, so that when the impostor syndrome creeps up on you again, you can pull out a list of nice things that will reassure you.
Keep your résumé/CV up to date.
People with impostor syndrome tend to forget the noteworthy things they have done. Keeping your résumé up to date will prevent any oversights you might have when listing your accomplishments over time.
Accept that your successes haven't just been handed to you.
This one is a little difficult, but it is always important to remember that even though some great opportunities may have come your way, you have had a role in accepting them.
Use the buddy system.
Okay, chances are, this sounds kind of silly. Find someone you can confide in when you feel like a fraud so that they can help you through it. You never know, maybe your "buddy" knows what you're going through firsthand!
Have you dealt with impostor syndrome? Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any advice!
For additional information on impostor syndrome, click here.
