Increasing Imposter Syndrome in Students and How Career Guidance Can Help

Article by: Maliha Fatima, M.A. Psychology, Writer and Career Counsellor

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Riya, a grade 6 student who secured 10th rank out of 50 students, was compared to her cousin Shashvat from a different school, who secured 5th rank among 35 kids. At present, Riya is in grade 12 and manages to score above 85% in class but lacks self-confidence. She strives to attain the highest marks in class, and this pressure makes her sick during exams.

Abhay, who performed exceptionally well in drawing and sketching, faced constant scolding for not doing well in other subjects. He was often told he wasn’t as intelligent as his siblings. Today, Abhay is a product designer but feels incompetent.

Anaya, a grade 10 student, buried her desire to study Humanities because her parents felt Science was the only pathway to success in life. Now, she struggles in Science despite giving her 100%.

What is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome, also known as impostor phenomenon or impostorism, is a psychological experience of intellectual and professional fraudulence. It is “the subjective experience of perceived self-doubt in one’s abilities and accomplishments compared with others, despite evidence to suggest the contrary.”

Characteristics of Imposter Syndrome

According to research by Dr. Imes and Dr. Clance, the following characteristics are typical of the condition:

• Imposter cycle: An assignment, task, or obstacle triggers feelings of self-doubt and fraudulence, leading individuals to either over-prepare or procrastinate. While they may acknowledge their success upon completion, the feeling of accomplishment is short-lived.
• Perfectionism: Individuals hold themselves to unattainable standards, kickstarting a cycle of self-criticism and self-blame.
• Super-heroism: They tend to over-prepare to demonstrate competence, leading to taking on more tasks and responsibilities to appear capable.
• Fear of failure: Vulnerability to feelings of fear and anxiety over failing at tasks, driven by a fear of being discovered as fraudulent.
• Denial of competence and capability: Achievements and abilities are often denied, chalking up past successes to chance.
• Fear of success: For people experiencing imposter syndrome, fear of success may manifest as taking responsibility for all failures and denying success they’ve had in the past, as they may associate success with leading to higher expectations.

Role of Childhood Experiences, Family Dynamics, Cultural Expectations and Social Factors

If you were exposed to frequent criticism as a child, shamed for your perceived shortcomings or held to unattainable standards, you may struggle with imposter syndrome as an adult, Tyler Jensen, a licensed clinical mental health counsellor in Iowa City, Iowa explains. “This can develop into negative beliefs in yourself that you’re not good enough, or that you are [a failure],” he adds.

Feeling like an outsider due to race, ethnicity, gender, age or socioeconomic status.

Social media can also contribute, as it’s easy to feel like you don’t measure up when you see images of other people’s lives.

Role of Career Guidance in Combating Imposter Syndrome

Students facing imposter syndrome often experience confusion and struggle to decide what they truly want in life, feeling unworthy and anxious. Career guidance experts play a crucial role in helping students acknowledge their strengths and work on their weaknesses. Effective communication with career counsellors enables students to gain confidence and explore various pathways to success. Students often share their inner feelings and fears more openly with counsellors than with family members.

As a counsellor, I truly believe in what my mentor, Dr. Amrita Dass, Founder-Director of the Institute for Career Studies (ICS), says: “Career by Choice, not Chance.” Career guidance helps students identify where their interests lie, what they excel at and how a perfect blend of both can lead to a rewarding career. Guiding students towards informed choices fosters self-awareness, making them passionate about their goals. A healthy mind leads to healthy decision-making and the personality development of students helps them regain lost confidence and succeed with flying colours.

Do’s and Don’ts for Family and School to Boost Students’ Self-Esteem

1. Stop comparisons.
2. Encourage them to follow their passion.
3. Help them acknowledge their capabilities by trying new things.
4. Connect them with career guidance experts.
5. Avoid punishments for low marks; encourage improvement.
6. Appreciate little achievements and develop a resilient attitude.
7. Encourage participation in extracurricular activities.
8. Spend quality time and listen to their feelings.
9. Have meaningful conversations and affirm their uniqueness.
10. Shift focus from attaining high marks to gaining in-depth knowledge.

In the VUCA world, let students explore unlimited opportunities and innovative ideas for holistic development. Every student matters, their mental health matters, their happiness matters and their individuality matters!

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Have you checked out yesterday’s blog yet?

Workplace Recognition Is Actually Reassurance—and Necessary

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(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)

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