Beating Imposter Syndrome: How to Overcome Your Feelings of Fraudulence

Imposter syndrome, also known as impostor phenomenon or fraud syndrome, can be extremely debilitating. Imposter syndrome is when you have the feeling that everyone else around you has more knowledge and skill than you do, and will eventually be found out as “fake”. This leads to anxiety, lack of confidence, and in some cases withdrawal from situations where a person might not feel up to par with other participants. While imposter syndrome is common amongst young adults, it doesn’t mean you have to let it control your career. 

What is imposter syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is a term that has been used in the last few decades to describe feelings of fraudulence. It's most often felt by those who have recently graduated from college or graduate school and are entering the workforce, but it can happen at any time. 

Even if you're experienced and established, imposter syndrome can still sneak up on you. The first step in overcoming imposter syndrome is recognizing that it exists and knowing what triggers these feelings for you.

The different types of imposters

There are several types of imposters, each with different approaches for how to deal with their feelings. 

1) The perfectionist

Imposter syndrome is frequently linked to "perfectionism" — it’s typical for some who experience the latter to also experience the former. According to Dr. Valerie Young, perfectionists frequently have very high standards for themselves, and even if they achieve 99% of their objectives, a tiny setback would still feel like a major catastrophe. Perfectionists tend to doubt their fundamental competency when mistakes occur, which can easily lead to thoughts of imposter syndrome.

2) The natural genius

Ever since childhood, the "natural genius" has always been at the top of the class and success was not difficult to achieve. However, as you develop and mature, you are inevitably faced with circumstances in which success does not come easily and where more effort is necessary in order to achieve their goals. Natural geniuses frequently experience imposter syndrome when you come across a task that is challenging, believing that your struggles to achieve your goals are evidence you’re lacking something that everyone else has. 

3) The soloist

The “soloist” imposter has a hard time asking for help because you believe that doing so invalidates your work or implies that your own skill set isn’t good enough. A crucial life skill is knowing when to ask for help, not just at work but in general. Asking for help is never a sign of weakness or failure — on the contrary, being self-aware enough to recognize when help is needed can be one of our greatest assets. After all, asking for assistance is much more efficient than taking twice as long to try and complete a task on your own.

4) The expert

If you consider yourself to be an "expert" type imposter, you probably want to take your time learning and researching as much as you can before starting something new. You like to approach new projects with knowledge and experience, and you regularly look for opportunities to expand your skill set or pursue additional education. This desire to establish yourself as an "expert" might, however, result in impostor syndrome, which prevents you from applying for employment if you don't satisfy all the requirements, or from speaking up in a seminar.

5) The superhuman

To prove their worth, "superhumans" push themselves to work harder than anybody else around them. You set higher standards and expectations for yourself than for other people, and you frequently experience an intense pressure to be successful in both your professional and personal life. If one area is weaker than another, you will experience impostor syndrome. To establish your worth or to hide thoughts of imposter syndrome, working harder than others might have a negative impact on your mental health and lead to burnout.

Common characteristics of imposter syndrome

With imposter syndrome, you are typically unable to internalize your accomplishments and attribute those achievements to luck or other external factors. You often feel like you can't live up to the standards you set for yourself. 

This is an especially common feeling among graduates and professionals in high-level positions who work long hours and often have a difficult time achieving all of the goals they set for themselves. A study conducted on faculty members in higher education settings discovered that 72% of participants had experienced symptoms at some point in their careers.

Symptoms of imposter syndrome in the workplace setting include diminished success attributions, concern over external factors such as gender and race impacting promotion opportunities, underperformance expectations, feelings of isolation and constant fear of being exposed. 

Ways to battle imposter syndrome

Imposter syndrome can be a hard thing to overcome, and it can lead you to experience feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy. However, with the right mindset, you can start fighting back against imposters syndrome and begin being more confident in yourself. Consider these tips to overcome imposter syndrome:

• Take care of your mental health. Make sure you're getting enough sleep, eating well and not taking on too much. 
• Give yourself credit where credit's due. 
• Get out there! It can be tempting to want to hide away when feeling like an imposter but that's only going to make things worse! 
• Focus on process instead of product. There's no way around feeling like an imposter if you're constantly comparing yourself against others, so find things about your work that make you feel proud and focus on those instead.
• Find support from others dealing with imposter syndrome or similar feelings.

NJIT makes confident leaders and professionals

You are not alone in experiencing imposter syndrome. Tons of students and working professionals suffer from imposter syndrome — after all, no one is perfect! Always give credit where credit is due and don’t undersell your achievements or capabilities. Remember that while everyone makes mistakes (and we all make mistakes), what really matters is that you learn from those mistakes and grow as a person. Discuss your emotions, adjustment to college, and challenges with your friends, family members, or a counselor at NJIT's Counseling Services

NJIT will give you the tools and proper knowledge to feel confident in your career. If you're eager to start a graduate program, select an online master's degree program or graduate certificate and submit your application today!