Who experiences imposter syndrome?

Moovijob.com conducted a survey of 907 working Luxembourgers. 80 per cent of them had experienced imposter syndrome at work at least once. This psychological phenomenon manifests itself in a feeling of personal incompetence and the conviction that one’s professional success is undeserved. Experts note that this condition often arises when one’s level of qualification does not match the responsibilities assigned, as well as against a backdrop of constantly comparing oneself with more experienced colleagues.

This syndrome most often manifests itself in the early stages of a career. The increasing length of academic study makes it more difficult for young professionals to transition into the corporate environment. The lack of sufficient practical work placements means that graduates experience a stark contrast between their theoretical training and the realities of the workplace. 

Furthermore, age becomes a source of pressure. One respondent noted that being the youngest participant at important meetings regularly made him doubt his own professional competence, particularly when colleagues questioned his authority as head of the relevant department. At the same time, this syndrome can also develop among experienced staff. Survey respondents describe situations where the strategic roles outlined during the interview turned out, in practice, to be basic routine tasks. This gives the employee the feeling that they are being overpaid and hold a position that does not correspond to their actual workload.

To overcome imposter syndrome, experts in the field recommend systematically documenting one’s professional achievements and reviewing completed tasks at the end of each working week. As the authors of the study emphasise, an employee’s legitimacy is determined not by their age or length of service within the organisation, but by their actual skills and the value they bring. Another useful tool is building effective communication with management: the ability to ask questions openly should be seen as a sign of conscientiousness, rather than a lack of competence. The importance of taking a step back from the situation is also highlighted. Objectively assessing one’s own actions from the perspective of an outside observer helps to reduce self-criticism and realise that doubts about one’s abilities are a common occurrence that does not reflect one’s actual professional competence.