Paid imposter

[Jigglypuff82]

Ok be honest, if you are in a high paying job, but you are underqualified and/or under experienced, do you ever feel like an imposter?

A lot of people feel like an impostor even when we're very well qualified, unfortunately.

I recommend doing the clifton strengths test. It builds genuine confinence when you understand how unique and valuable your talents are. For example, the manager of 20+ software developers does not necessarily need to know how to code, they need to know how to manage people and office politics

@raysan Helpful, thanks but Im more interested in hearing from people that know they are blagging. Like do they genuinely believe they are that good or do they secretly feel bad?

I mean, I'm in a high earning job and am definitely under qualified/experienced for the role and feel like an imposter fairly often 😂

But on the flip side, I'm delivering more than the company expects, and I do it very well - so I'm sure it 'shows' sometimes but my job isn't at risk.

I think most successful people can 'blag' ~ I've reframed it in my mind as a tool I use to manage colleague/client expectations.

You're not an impostor then. Sounds like you're flying high.

Did they lie about their qualifications or experience. If the answer is yes, it's not "blagging" - it's a lie, potentially actionable in law, and certainly a disciplinary offence. You wouldn't "feel like an imposter" - you are an imposter. If your application was truthful then the employer was happy to appoint based on the qualifications and experience you had, so not an "imposter" and no reason to feel like one.

@EmmaMaria and what about those that brown nose, talk a good talk? Once they reach a high position does the guilt creep in?

I am not sure what you are trying to get at with this thread, but it really is very simple, as I explained. If they have lied then they are an imposter. If they have not, then your opinion of how they got where they are is at best irrelevant, and at worst envy. Since nobody can read minds, what they feel about themselves is anyone's guess and entirely individual.

Its not envy, im in a higher position, but Ive been in the industry over 12 years now.

Id like to hear from people that have done this. At work, weve had someone promoted to a senior finance partner,...but he hasnt been there that long, isnt all that good, and is often out drinking with one of the directors.

Everyone has bills to pay, and we all have to get somewhere, but Im just wondering if people like this Genuinely feel they deserve to have promotions and high pay or do they secretly understand that there are better employees that should be in higher roles?

I don't think you're going to get many people saying they're shit at their jobs and just blag it 😂

Ultimately I think some people are failing to realise is companies judge far more on output, than on background/experience/tenure these days. You may think they're not that good - but they'll be getting the results they need to. This requires taking risks/blagging sometimes/prioritising/networking.

My last role, I was hired by someone - lovely woman, been there 8 years, did everything by the book. 6 months later I was promoted to her level, 8 months after that I was promoted to be her boss. She hated it, and hated me because of it - I'm sure she thought all the things you do. But the reality is I saved the company a lot of money (hundreds of thousands a year) that she'd missed the opportunity to do by doing things the way they'd always been done. I also networked, and prioritised - she was annoyed I didn't do some things by the book, missed a few (completely impractical and unimportant) deadlines, and didn't spend 7 hours on a presentation no one was going to look at 😂

Ahahhaha.

I get you. Im just curious, as its all anonymous, would people spill the beans.

Yeah, that doesn't sound remotely like jealousy. You are kind of hoping he feels bad because others deserve his job more (in your opinion). You're confident nobody at all thinks the same about you? It is, after all, a matter of perspective.

I often feel like an imposter. I applied for an internal promotion that is notoriously difficult to get and got it on the first attempt while a couple of people who, in my opinion, are 10x better than me at my technical job didn't get it after multiple attempts. But I was told that I have qualities that they look for, such as consistency, leadership, etc., which are soft skills. I manage okay with the hard skills to blag on meetings. When I don't have the answer, I'll ask my team. It doesn't change the fact that I feel inadequate all the time compared to them even though my job spec has changed since the promotion.

@SlapTheMelon I think many people that are genuinely good often feel imposter syndrome....esp women moreso than men.

An old mentor of mine used to say he hadnt a clue what he was doing most days, but he was brilliant at bullshitting 🤣🤣. However I think he was better than he sold himself.

@SlapTheMelon and congrats on the promotion 🥂

@EmmaMaria Well I havent been recently promoted and I dont drink with the bosses, so unlikely.🤷🏻‍♀️ Im not hoping he feels bad, because it wont affect me....I do, however wonder if people like him acknowledge they are gifted opportunities and didnt earn them....

Have you never met anyone at work that wasnt in a role through merit and hard work? No one related to the bosses etc?