Why women should overcome 'imposter syndrome' and talk up their work success

TODAY WE RELEASED new findings from a global study that showed that fewer than one in five women in Ireland say they’re proud of communicating their work achievements.

With the exception of a few places like Spain and the USA, where it’s closer to two in five, this low level of pride in communicating professional achievements is pretty common internationally.

However, for anyone familiar with the idea of the impostor syndrome these findings will come as little surprise. In 1978, Georgia State University academics identified this phenomenon as one whereby successful women had high levels of self-doubt in their work achievements.

Imposter syndrome is that little voice you hear when you’re sitting in a meeting with senior people and you start thinking you’re not qualified to be there, and that it’s only a matter of time before you’ll be found out. It’s a feeling that we’ve all had.

Our research delved into people’s attitudes towards telling their work story and I believe that this little voice we all have stops us from putting our best foot forward when it comes to showcasing our professional achievements. This voice is dangerous; do not listen to it.

It was no surprise to me that our survey showed almost 60% of those in hiring positions make judgements on candidates based on their online persona. That means those with the best online presence have an immediate edge in the jobs market. 

For women, being comfortable communicating the fruits of your hard work is vital if you want to climb the career ladder. Our survey also showed that over 70% believe that it’s important to talk about professional achievements if you want to succeed in your career.

Here are some of my top tips to help you overcome imposter syndrome and climb the career ladder effectively:

Update your profile in real time

Think of your work story as an ongoing evolution. You should keep it up-to-date with your achievements as they happen. You worked hard to get that promotion, don’t be ashamed to let your network know about it.

This is a more subtle way of showcasing your career rather than adding a load of achievements all at once, which screams that you’re looking for a new job! A steady stream of updates is a good way to reinforce your work story.

Let others do the talking for you

Throughout your career you’ll work with some great people and a recommendation from a former colleague, an old boss or a client can help to add a layer to your profile. If you’re proud of the work you did don’t be afraid to ask for the recommendation. A third-party endorsement goes a long way to validating the story you’re telling.

Know your work story

Write a career summary which focuses on what you’re most proud of, and why you’re passionate about your profession or industry. 89% of those we surveyed in hiring positions agreed that candidates who can succinctly explain what they do for a living are more likely to do well in an interview.

Have a story that you can confidently tell that focuses on your accomplishments and offers specific examples of your success. You never know when the opportunity to land your dream job might arise.

Wendy Murphy is a senior director of HR for LinkedIn.

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