Let’s talk about the elephant in the room.
The uninvited Plus-One at an interview: good old Imposter Syndrome.
The voice that starts whispering in your ear when you’re trying really hard to seem like a competent, hireable adult.
Imposter Syndrome doesn’t care how much interview prep you’ve done, how many years’ experience you have or how strong your network is. It shouts at you, overriding any other thoughts you might be having as you sit in reception, waiting to be called in…
‘Are you sure you’re meant to be here?’, ‘They are going to tell straight away that you blagged this interview’, ‘You don’t know what you’re taking about.’
…cue you desperately looking for the closest exit, ready to escape to the safety of your car.
But here you stay, waiting for your interview to start, you’ve practiced your answers by rote, your heart is thumping in your chest, you need a glass of water and that annoying Imposter Syndrome is now sitting next to you on the spare chair, just looking up, smirking.
But here’s the truth: you are not sitting there by accident. You didn’t get shortlisted because they thought you needed a morning off work. The Hiring Manager was drawn to your experience and saw your potential. You showed them something that made them want to meet you and that’s not just luck.
And if you’re the one interviewing for the first time? Well… hello chaos.
One minute you’re the newbie, and next you’re expected to influence someone’s future and pretend you’ve got this all under control. Imposter Syndrome creeps in shouting ‘Are you even qualified to be doing this?’ ‘What if you make a mistake and hire the wrong person?’ ‘Someone sooner or later is going to realise you’re winging this.’
Newsflash: most people are making it up as they go along.
Being a great interviewer isn’t about barking questions to catch people out. It’s about listening properly, being curious, bringing a sense or humour into the room. Being human.
After all, an interview is a discussion, not an interrogation.
The truth is, Imposter Syndrome doesn’t care what side of the table you’re on. It just wants you to second-guess yourself out of opportunities that you’re more than ready for. And guess what? You’re allowed to feel nervous, allowed to be new, allowed to not be polished and allowed to be in that room.
So, whether you’re in the lobby waiting for a Teams interview to start, quickly checking your teeth for spinach, or pacing the reception area drying your sweaty palms on your trousers for the 8th time, just remember that everyone at every level experiences Imposter Syndrome. You’re not alone. We’ve all felt it. Most of us still do every day so let’s just stop pretending we don’t.
Been there? Smiled through the doubt? Felt the fear and did it anyway?
Consider hitting the share arrow below, because chances are, someone in your network is stuck in their own ‘what the heck am I doing’ spiral right now…
