Written by: Ashley Van Winckel

I often felt out of place early in my working career. My first job out of high school was in a local grocery store in my hometown. For the first year, I was the youngest employee in the department by 20 years and the only female out of 10 employees. Even as I gained experience and others were hired after me, this age barrier caused me to feel like I was in the wrong place and that I didn’t know what I was doing.

This same mentality came with my second and third careers in coffee shops. Although there wasn’t that same age block, I was intimidated rather than comforted working with those who had more experience. Even after my promotion to management, I had the same worries that flooded my mind as before. I felt I couldn’t perfect any of the tasks I was given.

Imposter syndrome is defined as the persistent doubt concerning one’s abilities accompanied by the fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of success. It is a feeling I felt even before joining the workforce. It’s the feeling that no matter how hard I try I’m never doing “good enough.”

In society, imposter syndrome can often be seen as a sign of weakness. This is not the case. It is fairly common for people to experience imposter syndrome in their working career at some point. In fact, 70% of people will face imposter syndrome in their life. Some individuals work well with a sense of imposter syndrome while others see it as a barrier to work to their best ability.

It wasn’t until I was with my most recent job that I realized I was one of the individuals who experienced the burdened side of imposter syndrome. Even in times of success, I felt that I wasn’t performing well enough and that my coworkers would see me as a weak link. It was hard for me to see my own strengths and abilities in my careers.

There are a couple of steps that I’ve learned to take to overcome these fraudulent thoughts when I have them. First, I focus on acknowledging why I’m having these thoughts in the moment. By naming these feelings, it is easier for me to be aware of my imposter syndrome. The second step is to work on self-growth and to not compare myself to others during this process. This has always been difficult for me. Everyone is unique to one another and grow at their own rate. I learned to celebrate my own unique successes and acknowledge others’ successes as well.

Imposter syndrome is common for young workers. You are not alone. Don’t be afraid to talk to someone when you have concerns; a buddy can be extremely helpful when you are dealing with imposter syndrome. And remember, you are where you are because someone recognized your talents. Even in times where you feel like an imposter, others see your true strengths and worth.