Do you ever feel like you don’t belong in your company or that you’re not qualified for the job you accepted? This is called the impostor syndrome, and you’re not alone! In fact, 62 percent—or nearly two out of three employees—feel the same way.¹
In this blog, we’ll help first-time employees overcome impostor syndrome and truly align with the organization they chose.
What Is Impostor Syndrome?
Impostor syndrome happens when an employee undermines their own skills and accomplishments. For example, an academic high achiever may feel incompetent when they finally land their first job and realize they’re not sure what they’re doing.
Related article: The First 90 Days: How New Graduates Can Succeed (and Stand Out) in Their First Job
People experiencing this syndrome doubt their capabilities, reducing confidence and self-esteem. Unfortunately, it can also cause them to isolate and eventually feel burned out.
People with impostor syndrome feel like their work wins are undeserved. They may attribute their achievements to luck. But remember, no one is flawlessly perfect at work!
5 Types of Impostor Syndrome
As a new employee, how can you tell if you are experiencing impostor syndrome? Knowing the five different types might help.
1. The Perfectionist: Quality at all costs
Achieving high standards and excellence is a great work quality. However, there is a fine line between your best work and unreasonably unattainable perfection. Even with commendation, praise, and reward, a perfectionist might still say, “I could have done better.”
2. The Superhero: I can still handle it
Sometimes called superhuman, the superhero takes on many roles and tries to please everyone. When the superhero falls short in any of these roles, they start to feel ashamed and undeserving, even when they excel in their key roles.
In reality, people can only handle a number of responsibilities before burning out. You don’t have to excel in every role (or please everyone!) to prove your worth within the organization.
Read more: Watch Out for These Warning Signs of Career Burnout
3. The Natural Genius: It’s not that hard
These employees strive for success on the first try. When they fail or don’t achieve satisfactory results, they begin to question their worth. Let’s be real—success can’t be achieved overnight. Even the most successful people in the world went through many challenges before becoming globally recognized.
Natural geniuses, it’s best to realize that you won’t always get it right. If you achieve greatness on the first try, be proud of your achievements! But don’t beat yourself up if you need to try again. Keep going till you succeed.
4. The Soloist: I can do it by myself
Soloists usually believe they can do everything on their own. While it’s important to show how competent you are, it’s also crucial to know the right time to ask for help.
There are two truths the soloist must learn: First, asking for help is not a sign of weakness. And second, having a weakness is perfectly normal. It’s important to acknowledge our strengths and weaknesses and work with others who can balance us.
5. The Expert: I must know it all
It’s a great achievement to have deep knowledge and expertise in a specific area. However, this can become impostor syndrome if the expert believes their expertise should extend to every other area. When they don’t excel, or if someone knows more than they do, they feel inexperienced and incompetent, leading to feelings of failure and guilt.
How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome? 8 Practical Tips
So, is impostor syndrome real? While the symptoms exist mainly in our heads, their effects are real and can significantly impact your work performance. Here’s how you can combat symptoms of impostor syndrome.
1. Look at the facts, not your feelings.
The symptoms of impostor syndrome are feelings and perceptions toward certain events that are generally not based on facts.
For example, if you feel you botched a presentation, review how the audience reacted. Did anyone frown? Did they agree with your statements? Were people listening intently? Did anyone have a negative reaction? If you generally had positive feedback, there’s a chance that your anxious thoughts mainly stem from self-doubt.
Notice the facts rather than focusing on your feelings. Comparing reality and your feelings will help you regain control of the situation and prevent you from feeling like an impostor.
2. Acknowledge your negative feelings.
It’s unhealthy to simply neglect negative feelings. When you acknowledge what you feel, you become more conscious of your thoughts and the reality around you. After you have acknowledged and named your emotions, give yourself grace to move forward and complete your tasks.
Read more: The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: What You Need to Know
3. Talk to a friend, colleague, or loved one.
Sharing your experience with others allows you to vent your frustrations. It provides you with an avenue for releasing tension, anxiety, and negative emotions. On the other hand, it can help you bounce your ideas off someone who may have new insights to share.
Read more: How to Be an Ally: Ways Women Can Support Each Other in the Workplace
4. Reframe your mind.
Our brains are powerful enough to shape our reality, whether negatively or positively. Here are a few impostor syndrome examples you can shift:
- Instead of thinking, “I did awful on that project,” think, “I learned something, and I’ll be better next time.”
- Instead of thinking, “That was embarrassing, I shouldn’t have said that,” think, “They found it funny and hopefully the mood got lighter.”
- Instead of thinking, “I should have been able to finish it alone,” think, “What can I learn from my teammates?”
5. Find a mentor.
Having a mentor will allow you to reinforce your self-worth and value as a professional. Find a trusted advisor who can guide you in your journey, provide real-life tips, and show continuous support. Becoming the best version of yourself is not achieved overnight.
6. Anticipate your feelings.
As you become better at managing your emotions and mental health, it will become easier to anticipate impostor syndrome. This is the perfect time to learn to effectively handle your feelings.
For example, you might get nervous before a work presentation. Ask yourself: Is it because you’re unreliable and have nothing valuable to share? Or are the nerves there from the fear of making a mistake and embarrassing yourself?
Everyone makes mistakes, and it doesn’t mean you’re incompetent or unqualified. It only means you’re human. Treat every mistake as a learning opportunity.
7. Highlight your accomplishments.
Depending on your comfort level, you can celebrate your achievements with your team or by yourself. With coworkers, list the wins you’ve had as a group and recognize teammates for their contributions. Help create a culture where you can acknowledge each other’s strengths and accomplishments.
By yourself, you might want to try listing your achievements. As you move forward professionally, list skills you gain and qualities you recently discovered or confirmed. Keep this list where you can easily refer to it on days you feel inadequate at work. This validation may help you overcome feelings of impostor syndrome.
Read more: Outcome-Driven Goals: Focusing on Impact, Not Just Completion
8. Seek professional help.
If the negative feelings are severely impacting your mental health and career, seeking professional help can help you acknowledge and face your emotions in a safe space while developing your self-worth.
You can also learn about various mental health conditions that might be contributing to impostor syndrome. These can help you better understand your emotions and manage them. While this is last on the list, seeking professional help is not a sign of weakness. It’s a path toward self-awareness as you seek guidance to overcome your challenges.
Find work opportunities with Focus People.
Impostor syndrome usually occurs in the beginning. You might be penetrating a new industry, joining a new company, or entering the job market. Regardless, there are ways you can navigate the feelings of impostor syndrome.
Here at Focus People, we make sure our candidates excel in their jobs. We understand the difficulties at work, and we want to provide a perfect match and smooth transition for every job seeker. If you’re looking for a career in tech, accounting, administrative, customer service, or light industrial fields, contact us today!
Reference
- “Identifying Impostor Syndrome in the Workplace,” Action Mental Health, https://www.amh.org.uk/identifying-impostor-syndrome-in-the-workplace. 13 May. 2025.