Imposter Syndrome Archives - Everpool Recruitment

Do you feel like a fraud in your role? You’re not alone. Imposter syndrome is common, particularly for individuals moving into new roles or taking advantage of promotion opportunities. In fact, around one-third of young employees suffer from imposter syndrome, and around 70% of all professionals encounter the experience at some point in their careers.

This phenomenon doesn’t discriminate. You can experience imposter syndrome regardless of whether you’re new to the industry or you’ve been achieving great results for years. In some cases, imposter syndrome even intensifies with success. As achievements mount and responsibilities grow, we often place more pressure on ourselves to excel.

Unfortunately, while imposter syndrome is common, it’s also extremely detrimental. It can harm your mental and physical health, decrease job satisfaction, and even lead to burnout.

Here, we’ll show you how to recognise and overcome imposter syndrome once and for all. You’ve earned your place—it’s time to stop questioning it.

Understanding Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome manifests in various ways. While everyone suffering from this condition generally feels like a “fraud,” people respond to this feeling in different ways. For instance, “the perfectionist” feels imposter syndrome because they hold themselves to unrealistic standards.

The “Expert” believes they’re an imposter because they don’t know everything about their role straight away. Some people experience imposter syndrome because they don’t believe they’re naturally competent, the hardest worker among their team members, or capable of doing everything alone. In all situations, you’re probably experiencing imposter syndrome if you’re constantly doubting yourself or attributing your success to external factors, like “luck”.

Many situations can also trigger or exacerbate imposter syndrome. Starting a new job, receiving a promotion, or even gaining access to new opportunities can heighten self-doubt. Simple praise and recognition can make some people feel like frauds.

The trouble is that we often make the situation worse by ignoring our competencies and wins, attributing them to external factors or telling ourselves we’re not “good enough.” Over time, this increases stress and anxiety and can even cause us to miss out on opportunities because we’re afraid we’ll be “exposed” as fraud.

Recognising Imposter Syndrome

The first step in overcoming imposter syndrome is recognising the signs. If you’ve ever thought you weren’t “good enough” for a role or questioned a promotion, you’re probably experiencing imposter syndrome. Key red flags to look out for include:

Behavioural Patterns

If you’re experiencing imposter syndrome in your role, your behaviour might change. You might avoid taking advantage of opportunities because you fear you’ll be exposed, or you might spend too much time on preparation to “compensate” for your inadequacies. Unfortunately, this can lead to burnout and reduced productivity.

Negative Thought Patterns

How often do you tell yourself “I deserve this”, and how often do you think, “I shouldn’t be here”? Persistent self-doubt and negative self-talk are common signs of imposter syndrome. You might even ignore your own accomplishments and try to attribute them elsewhere, telling yourself you were just in the “right place at the right time”.

Emotional Responses

Feelings of anxiety, depression, and guilt frequently accompany imposter syndrome. The constant fear of being exposed as a fraud can lead to heightened stress levels and emotional exhaustion. You might even struggle to sleep or relax after work. Even your physical health can suffer, as increased stress leads to aches, pains, high blood pressure, and fatigue.

Performance Issues

The constant pressure to avoid “failure” can lead to poor performance for professionals. You might avoid taking risks (limiting innovation and creativity) or say “no” to valuable opportunities. This could mean you don’t reach your professional goals as quickly as possible. You may even miss out on promotions and higher wages.

How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome isn’t just bad for your well-being; it stops you from reaching your full potential in your role. Fortunately, there are ways you can challenge and overcome imposter syndrome. Here’s how to get yourself back on track.

Prove Your Value: Collect Evidence of Success

One of the best ways to combat imposter syndrome is to start gathering evidence that you deserve the opportunities offered to you. Maintaining a record of your successes, such as positive feedback from colleagues or the results of projects, reminds you of your abilities.

Actively celebrating your wins can also help you counteract negative self-talk, giving you a different perspective to work with. Collecting evidence of your wins means you’ll be able to fight your corner when opportunities for promotions and new responsibilities arise.

Reframe Your Thought Processes

We all have negative thoughts about ourselves at times. You can’t always stop yourself from thinking “I’m not good enough”, – but you can question that thought process. Ask yourself why you feel that way, and look for evidence to the contrary. When you’re successful in your role, focus on attributing that success to yourself.

For instance, maybe you did get a lot of support from your team members on a project, but what did you do that helped drive the right outcomes? What skills and abilities did you use – even if it was just that you collaborated effectively with the right people?

Build a Support Network

Establishing a robust support network can be an excellent way to counteract imposter syndrome. Speaking to your colleagues or a mentor about your failures and successes can help you to think about them in a new way. Even just talking through your doubts with someone you trust can provide reassurance and alternative perspectives.

If you feel that imposter syndrome is holding you back, you can even build on your everyday support network (colleagues, friends, and family members) with therapist guidance.

Adopt a Growth Mindset

Everyone makes mistakes and fails to achieve their goals from time to time. That doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve the opportunities you’re given. Instead of viewing every failure as evidence that you shouldn’t be in your role, look at them as learning opportunities.

Ask yourself what you can do to be more effective in your role. This could mean investing in better time management practices or taking courses to develop new skills. A growth mindset will help you constantly improve and counteract your weaknesses rather than be overwhelmed by them.

Develop Your Confidence and Self-Esteem

Finally, few people are naturally born with high levels of confidence. We need to cultivate our self-esteem over time. Setting realistic goals, acknowledging our progress, and reminding ourselves of our successes can help foster a sense of competency.

Practising self-compassion, such as treating yourself with the same kindness you would offer a friend, can mitigate harsh self-criticism, too. Recognise your feelings of imposter syndrome, but also remind yourself of your value and worth regularly.

Dealing with Imposter Syndrome: Your Daily Plan

Imposter syndrome can be difficult to overcome. You can’t just reframe your thoughts once and expect never to feel self-doubt again. Every day, you need to work on becoming more confident and positive. Set aside time in your schedule for:

Morning Affirmations: Begin your day with positive affirmations to set a confident tone. Statements like “I am capable and deserving of my success” can help reframe negative thought patterns.
Success Journaling: Dedicate time each day to document your achievements, no matter how small. Recording these successes provides tangible evidence of your capabilities and gives you a resource to revisit during moments of self-doubt.
Feedback Integration: Don’t fear feedback – it helps you grow in your role. Actively seek and reflect on feedback (both positive and negative) from colleagues and mentors. Use their insights to guide your growth.
Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments, big or small. Treat yourself, share results with a friend or colleague, or just give yourself a mental pat on the back. Don’t overlook your accomplishments.
Keep Growing: Maintain that growth mindset by constantly looking for opportunities to improve. Embrace setbacks as part of the growth process and focus on the effort rather than the outcome

Remember to measure your progress, too. Pay attention to how reframing your thought processes and leveraging your support network improve your confidence and self-assurance. Track how your achievements evolve and how often you take advantage of new opportunities.

Monitor your willingness to take on new challenges and your frequency of contributions to different projects. Over time, your efforts will positively impact your career.

You Belong Here: Own Your Success

Imposter syndrome may be persistent, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. The first step to overcoming it is believing in your own worth and recognising that you deserve your achievements. Investing in personal growth through reframing thoughts, tracking successes, and building a support network.

Prioritise daily practices like affirmations, success journaling, and feedback integration to reinforce self-belief. With consistent effort, you’ll see long-term gains: greater career satisfaction, expanded opportunities, and a healthier mindset. You are not a fraud—you are capable, talented, and exactly where you belong.

Searching for the ideal role can be exhausting, frustrating, and mentally draining. It’s natural to begin to doubt your abilities and value over time, particularly as you deal with an increasing number of unanswered applications and rejections.

Up to 72% of job seekers say that job hunting has had a negative impact on their mental health, damaging their confidence and leading to issues of “imposter syndrome”.

Fortunately, while self-doubt is common, it’s also manageable. With a strategic approach, you can adjust your mindset, build resilience, and maintain the confidence you need to impress interviews and forge a path to success.

Here, we’ll show you how to conquer your inner critic and nurture your self-esteem, regardless of how complex and exhausting your job hunt might seem.

Understanding Self-Doubt in Job Hunting

Self-doubt is more common among job seekers than you might think. According to a YouGov study, most people display at least three out of seven signs of imposter syndrome. Feeling that you’re not “good” enough is particularly common when looking for a new job.

Whether you’re re-entering the workforce or moving to a new position, it’s easy to question your abilities. Many candidates compare themselves to others during the job search, exacerbating their weaknesses and overlooking their strengths.

Whether real or imagined, skill gaps and a lack of experience in certain areas can make you feel less competent or suitable for a role; at the same time, a challenging economic environment and an unpredictable job search can increase feelings of stress and fear.

Unfortunately, as your feelings of self-doubt increase, they don’t just harm your mental health; they can hinder your journey towards a new role, too. Anxiety and self-doubt during interviews can lead to self-deprecation and downplaying your achievements. You may end up under-selling yourself in your CV, cover letter, and conversations with employers.

You could even avoid applying for new roles based on your feelings of imposter syndrome. This leads to a malicious cycle of missed opportunities that feed your insecurities. Plus, you could end up accepting less than you’re worth from an employer because your imposter syndrome prevents you from participating in salary negotiations.

That’s why it’s important to recognise self-doubt early and build a framework that enhances and improves your confidence.

Building a Confidence Framework

Psychology tells us that confidence is a learned skill – just like any other ability, you can develop and improve your confidence with the proper strategic framework. Your ability to project a sense of self-belief and overcome self-doubt starts with three core things:

Self-Assessment and Brand Development

The first step to overcoming self-doubt in your job search is developing a clear picture of who you are as a candidate. When faced with endless unanswered applications and rejections, it’s easy to focus on your weaknesses. That’s why you need to remind yourself of your strengths.

Conduct a thorough self-assessment.

Document and list all of your past achievements, skills, and abilities. Create an “elevator pitch” outlining your values to companies. This gives you the tools to build a personal brand that attracts employers and a resource you can return to when you need to maintain your self-worth.

Mastering Mindset and Self-Care

For most people, confidence doesn’t happen naturally. They must constantly work to nurture and develop their self-assurance and confidence by adjusting their thought processes. Developing the right mindset doesn’t necessarily mean ignoring any weaknesses you might have. Instead, it means reframing them with a “growth mindset” perspective.

View yourself as someone in a process of constant development. Instead of saying, “I don’t have as much experience as my peers”, tell yourself “, I may be less experienced, but I’ve already achieved [x], and I’m constantly improving.” Positive self-affirmations and reminders of your continued growth can help silence negative thoughts.

Building Your External Support Network

You don’t have to tackle your job search alone. The external network you build for yourself can open the door to more opportunities and help you overcome self-doubt. Work with professional recruitment companies and use their advice to determine which skills you should focus on and how to improve your CV or interviewing abilities.

Consider connecting with career coaches, professional counsellors or peer support groups who can provide new perspectives when you feel overwhelmed. Find a mentor and ask them for help to eradicate self-doubt and build confidence.

Practical Confidence-Building Tools

Once you’ve built the initial framework, improve your confidence by taking additional steps to avoid self-doubt. The following practical strategies will be helpful throughout your job search.

Invest in a Job Search Preparation Strategy

According to the Harvard Business Review, effective preparation is one of the best ways to mitigate self-doubt during a job search. Start with a skills audit, identifying your strengths and the weaknesses you want to overcome and build a plan for self-development.

Maintain a document listing all of your success stories and accomplishments. This will give you something to reference when self-doubt begins to surface, and it will help you prepare to answer competency-based interview questions with in-depth, engaging stories.

Before applying for any role, research the company and its priorities so you know how to tailor your CV, cover letter, and interview answers accordingly. Practice mock interviews with friends and research salary ranges so you’re ready to negotiate the right offer.

Create a Confidence Nurturing Routine

Confidence is built over time through small actions that reinforce a positive outlook. Establish a daily routine with specific tasks dedicated to confidence-building. This could mean regularly reviewing your progress in developing new skills or practising positive affirmations.

It could involve regularly visualising success in your career or celebrating simple milestones, like completing a certain number of applications or landing an interview.

Nurturing confidence also means prioritising self-care. Make looking after yourself a part of your job hunt routine. Focus on finding time to relax, exercise, and connect with others to alleviate stress and avoid burnout.

Develop Grit and Resilience

Resilience is a crucial attribute for any candidate. Finding the right job can take time, and you may need to handle a lot of rejection along the road. The key to success is embracing a long-term perspective and remembering that setbacks are part of the journey.

Recognise every tiny piece of progress you make, whether you successfully get an interview, find new network connections, or improve your interview skills. Focus on becoming more adaptable, seeking new learning opportunities and increasing your abilities.

Additionally, develop a comprehensive strategy for dealing with setbacks and rejection. Look at every hurdle in your job search as a chance to learn and improve rather than simply telling yourself you weren’t “good enough”. Dedicate some time to looking after your mental health and practising self-care, then update your job search strategy based on your knowledge.

Moving Forward with Confidence

Job hunting is difficult, particularly in a competitive environment. But you can’t allow imposter syndrome and self-doubt to get the best of you. Take a consistent approach to finding ways of boosting and maintaining your confidence in the face of ongoing challenges.

Create an action plan: Develop an action plan outlining ways to boost your chances of success, such as seeking out a mentor, expanding your network, or building new skills.
Seek out resources: Invest in personal and professional development with resources such as online courses and networking groups. Maintain a growth mindset.
Feed your motivation: Stay motivated by celebrating every win, visualising success, and turning to your support network for new perspectives.
Be proactive: Find proactive ways to support your job search, such as updating your LinkedIn profile, practising interviewing techniques, or working with a recruitment company.
Document everything: Keep an up-to-date list of your strengths, weaknesses, achievements, and growth strategies.

Overcome Self-Doubt in Your Job Hunt

Self-doubt is common when searching for the ideal role. But don’t let it hold you back. Jump into action and start building your confidence, whether that means developing relationships with valuable members of your network, building your skills, or taking stock of all your achievements so far.

Building your confidence and resilience is a process, not a single step, and each small action contributes to a greater foundation. The more you invest in developing your confidence, the easier it will be to silence your self-doubt and stay strong throughout your journey.

You Belong Here! Getting Rid of Imposter Syndrome (in the workplace)

May 19, 2025