To wonder if anyone else has suffered with imposter syndrome?!

[WinterNCs]

I’m relatively a young (29) female who has worked in a specialist (and male dominated) field for a number of years, receiving a couple of promotions along the way. I’ve now found myself securing a huge new opportunity with a new employer at a much more senior level. It’s an opportunity I didn’t think would ever be within my reach and certainly not so young.

Since accepting the job I’ve been crippled with self-doubt about my ability, nervous about being responsible other professionals who are twice my age, generally feeling like a fraud and as though I’m not worth even half of the salary they’ll be paying me. I worry that when I start, I’ll be ‘found out’ and they’ll realise I’m not even slightly as good as they must think I am. My anxiety levels have increased to the point where I’ve been tempted to pull out of the opportunity all together before I make a fool of myself and just stick to my current role, which offers no progression. My sensible head tells me I have to go for it.

I’m wondering how many other people suffer with a case of imposter syndrome in the corporate world and if so, how on earth do you get over it?! I guess it’d be nice to know I’m not alone!

Yep, same here too. I had never heard that term until I joined MN and it was a light bulb moment as I had struggled to understand the feeling. It really helps knowing that its common. I would never tell anyone in real life as I might be found out :-).
Go for it! Deep down you know it's right for you. Dont let your own self doubt spoil it for you.

I feel like this, but I also constantly think that I must be the imposter, because we can’t all have the syndrome - someone must be the actual imposter surely?! It’s me. (Not any of you - you are all brilliant!)

I’m mid 40s and still feel like I’m playing at being a grown up. I’m dreading going to work tomorrow - I’m bluffing all the time, or feeling like I am. It’s so tiring!

Yup I’m the exact same. Mid twenties and just been offered an incredible job with a salary increase of 60%. I was elated at first but now I can’t stop thinking about how i don’t deserve it. Worst part is I’m afraid to tell friends because I feel like they’ll think I don’t deserve it either I keep reminding myself that they chose me so they just see something in me. What is for you will be yours

I had the same. Earnings doubled. I had to tell myself I had this, every day.
After leaving, I realised that my previous employer had been underpayng me for years. bumping into my ex boss afterwards, he admitted they had a bargain!

My sibling has been right at the top of a competitive field, often on TV, incredibly well-respected, for the best part of two decades.

Still thinks there's been some kind of mistake, as they're secretly shit and no-one's found out yet.

I also work in a male dominated industry and have done for about 15 years. My experience has been:-

• Micro aggressions and just blatant discrimination have come from as many women as men.
• I’ve worked with some amazing blokes who knew it was harder for me (especially in the early years) and made a point of making it clear to others I was brilliant at my job and letting me get on with it
• Now after going to countless meet-ups over the years and managing multiple teams I know many men also suffer from imposter syndrome.

So my advice is
a) try not to think of it as experiencing this feeling because you are a women and also a woman in a male dominated industry. It really is very common. People you think are amazing at their job might have it as well.

b) fake it til you make it. It’s incredibly hard to just change the way you think. Anyone with anxiety knows the time and effort it takes to learn to change those negative thought patterns so I can’t tell you to just STOP FEELING LIKE AN IMPOSTER because I’ve had it for many years to varying levels BUT you just have to keep showing up. And eventually you will realise that you earned your place and you deserve it. Honestly just keep going. What you don’t know, you will learn. What you struggle with, you will make the effort to improve at. The fact that you have been offered this opportunity proves this. You didn’t wander into an amazing job offer.
Believe in yourself or at the very least pretend to until everyone else does

I was recommended the book How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back recently and found it useful. I can second the mentoring as well. I've been through both formal and informal mentoring, and it has been thoroughly helpful.

I used to work in academia and so many people felt like this (men and women - although perhaps women more often). I remember being really intimidated when I had to ask a professor a question about a paper he'd published. He was very well known and respected in our field and I thought he'd think I was an idiot. I said something like "I'm really sorry this is a very simple question but...." Before I'd even asked he looked panicked and said "oh no now I'm not going to be able to answer". I realised lots of people were actually feeling the same as me!

I had this back in the day.

I was not only the first woman in a totally male environment but also the youngest person to ever get the job.

I felt exactly the same as you OP. I had a 20 year career and paved the way for women who followed me. It wasn't easy but as a PP said, they must have seen something in you that you cannot yet recognise in yourself.

That will come with time and experience.

I willingly gave it all up to become my disabled son's full time carer, but do look back on that time with immense pride, as I am sure you will.

Best of luck!