Impostor syndrome: How to unshackle your job hunt

Welcome, job seekers, to the thrilling ride of the job search! But beware. Lurking in the dark is a dark shadow also known as Impostor Syndrome. That inner critic casts doubts on your abilities, but fear not! In this post, we’ll be your trusty guides, empowering you to conquer Impostor Syndrome. Unleash your fearless self and navigate the job search with confidence. Let’s show Impostor Syndrome who’s boss! Buckle up for a confidence-boosting journey!

6 ways impostor syndrome is sabotaging your job hunt

CV rewrites

Writing a great CV is one thing. But when the impostor syndrome creeps in, you’ll find nothing you write will ever be good enough. Countless rewrites later, and you’re still back to square one. At some point, you have to let go of over-criticising yourself. No CV will ever be perfect. But you have a lot to offer. So stop delaying and get your CV out there!

Turning your back on career upgrades

Who wouldn’t love a career upgrade?! Your impostor, that’s who. Ever seen a job that’s above your current level and talked yourself out of it? Well guess what? That’s not you talking. That’s your impostor. Something about that job caught your eye for a reason. There’s potential for you to do it…even if you don’t have ALL the skills. Silence your impostor, take a gamble on yourself, and apply for that job!

Talking yourself down in interviews

Interviews are your time to shine. Employers expect you to talk yourself up. But somehow, you end up talking yourself down. You feel like you’re not worthy and end up highlighting your weaknesses. Well, helloooo!? That’s your good friend, the impostor, creeping in again. Psych yourself up before your interviews. Prepare your answers. And give yourself permission to talk about how great you are!

Drawing a blank

The impostor loves to overthink. But when you let the impostor overthink, your confidence plummets. And when your confidence goes, you’ll find it hard to answer interview questions. So retrain your mind to feed you with confidence and positivity. Work on your self-belief and remember you have lots to offer any employer!

Saying yes to every and any job

Saying ‘yes’ to every job that comes your way is NOT a good thing. It’s actually a sign that you’re not listening to yourself. Sometimes we say ‘yes’ to any job because we’re scared we won’t find anything better. But this is impostor thinking. You should have preferences. You should have standards. And with that comes the need to pass on certain opportunities.

You’re accepting low salaries

With every job move, you should expect to increase your salary (except if it’s an in-between job). But if you’re making a long-term career move, don’t forget your worth. You deserve to be paid fairly for your skills. And you need an employer who recognises this too. So don’t be afraid to ask for a higher salary if you feel the offer is too low.

Break through to the new you

Left unattended, impostors run wild. But being aware of your impostor is where it loses its power over you. So don’t feel defeated. It’s totally possible to overcome your impostor by working on your mindset. So start believing in yourself and remember you deserve the best!

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