Have you ever worked so hard it felt like you gave everything to your job, only to watch opportunities pass you by?
You’re delivering results, staying late, doing all the things—yet promotions, raises, and recognition feel just out of reach. You start wondering, Is it me? Am I not good enough? That, my friend, is the voice of career imposter syndrome, and it’s far more common than you think.
Here’s the truth no one teaches us: your career growth is your responsibility, and advocating for yourself is essential to making it happen.
Natalie Serebrennik, a former capital markets pro turned career coach, learned this firsthand. She spent years battling career imposter syndrome, thinking her work would speak for itself—until she realized the only person who could truly speak for her was her.
Let’s dive into her story and the actionable strategies she used to overcome career imposter syndrome and advocate for her value. These lessons? They could change everything for you.
Table Of Content
- What Is Career Imposter Syndrome?
- How to Take Control of Your Career
- 5 Strategies to Defeat Career Imposter Syndrome
- Overcoming Challenges in Self-Advocacy
- Success Through Self-Advocacy
- FAQs About Career Imposter Syndrome
Watch: Master Self-Advocacy to Boost Career Success
What Is Career Imposter Syndrome?
Career imposter syndrome is that nagging voice in your head telling you that you don’t belong, that you’re not as capable as others think, and that it’s only a matter of time before you’re “found out.” It thrives on self-doubt, even when your accomplishments say otherwise.
You might brush off your success as luck, timing, or the help of others instead of recognizing your own talent and hard work. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many high-achievers wrestle with this feeling, especially in competitive workplaces or when stepping into new roles.
The good news? Career imposter syndrome isn’t a life sentence. With the right mindset shifts and strategies, you can silence the doubts and take full ownership of your professional value.
The Turning Point for Overcoming Career Imposter Syndrome
For Natalie, realizing she needed to advocate for herself didn’t come easy. Like so many of us, she started her career believing that hard work alone would naturally lead to recognition. But instead of promotions and praise, she found herself stuck in a cycle of self-doubt and career imposter syndrome.
“I had to face my own imposter syndrome quite a bit at the beginning of my career, worried that, ‘Oh my gosh, they’re going to figure out that I don’t know anything.’”
Sound familiar? That nagging inner voice—the one that questions your worth—can feel paralyzing. It held Natalie back too. She had unknowingly handed over her career trajectory to her manager, trusting that they would recognize her potential and pave the way forward.
“I didn’t know what it meant to truly take control of, you know, that driver’s seat of your career and really build the growth that you want.”
Her wake-up call came after a stellar year where she went above and beyond, exceeding every expectation. She walked into her annual review anticipating a promotion and a raise. But instead of celebrating her success, she walked out deflated—her bonus flat, her growth stalled.
“That was the moment that all of a sudden I started to develop that self-advocacy strategy for myself and completely took control of the dialogue of the relationships that I was forming.”
If you’ve ever felt the sting of pouring your heart into your work only to be overlooked, you know how much it hurts. It’s frustrating, demoralizing, and makes you question everything. But here’s the good news: moments like that can be a catalyst. Like Natalie, you can use that frustration as fuel to take control, speak up, and finally own your career.
5 Steps to Defeat Career Imposter Syndrome
Step 1: Gain Clarity on Your Goals
Before you can advocate for yourself, you need to know exactly what you’re advocating for. It sounds simple, but how often do we actually take the time to figure that out? For Natalie, this was the critical first step: getting clear on what she wanted from her career.
“I got real, real clear on what that goal was for me outside of the financial piece. Pen to paper really drew out exactly how I wanted my career to grow.”
Her realization? It wasn’t just about the paycheck or the title. Sure, those things matter, but what Natalie truly craved was professional growth, opportunities to learn, and the ability to make a meaningful impact. Writing it all down gave her a roadmap—a clear, actionable vision she could not only focus on but communicate to others.
Think about it: if you don’t know where you’re going, how can you expect anyone else to help you get there?
Actionable Tip: Take 20 minutes to reflect on your career goals. Grab a notebook, block distractions, and ask yourself:
- What do I want to achieve in the next year? Five years?
- What kind of work energizes me and makes me feel fulfilled?
- What gaps in my current role are holding me back from growing?
Step 2: Communicate Your Goals Clearly
Once Natalie gained clarity on her career goals, she had a lightbulb moment: waiting for her manager to read her mind wasn’t just unproductive—it was a recipe for disappointment. If she wanted to grow, she needed to communicate her goals clearly and confidently.
“It was really important to take control of the conversation, not to wait for him to bring it up, not to wait for him to ask me. I created that container for myself and I created those follow-ups.”
When Natalie met with her manager, she structured the conversation around three key points:
- Her goals: What she wanted to achieve and why it mattered.
- Her readiness: Evidence of her accomplishments and contributions.
- Her questions: Directly asking what gaps she needed to fill to meet her goals.
To her frustration, her manager offered little guidance.
“When I asked him, ‘What are the gaps I need to fill?’ he said, ‘You’re doing everything great.’ I thought, ‘What else could I possibly do?’”
When you encounter vague feedback like this, don’t stop. Let it fuel you to dig deeper, reframe the conversation, or explore other avenues to advocate for your value. This is your moment to take control, not step back.
Step 3: Build Alliances Beyond Your Manager
Relying on one person—like your manager—to be your career cheerleader is a risky move. Natalie realized this early on and decided to branch out. She started building relationships with senior leaders across her organization, the ones who really hold the keys to opportunity.
“I started to ask myself, ‘Who above him do I need to have conversations with? Who above that person do I have?’ I went all the way up the chain.”
This step felt daunting at first, but Natalie shifted her mindset. Instead of worrying about impressing them, she treated these conversations as opportunities to learn, connect, and share insights.
“I wasn’t talking about the dollar sign at the top of the house. It was more about exposing that a gap exists and asking them for their guidance to appreciate how a gap like this exists.”
This strategy paid off. By sharing the challenges she was navigating and genuinely asking for advice, Natalie didn’t just get their attention—she earned their respect. Some leaders even thanked her for bringing her concerns to their attention.
Actionable Tip: Start identifying the decision-makers in your organization—the people who can help you grow and make things happen. Then, look for ways to connect with them, whether it’s through meetings, projects, or even casual conversations. When you get the chance to talk, make it count:
- Share your goals and highlight your wins. Show them what you’re working toward and why it matters.
- Talk about challenges and ask for their perspective. Invite their advice to turn obstacles into opportunities.
- Build authentic relationships. These connections can support your long-term success and open doors you didn’t even know existed.
The truth is, no one gets ahead alone. The relationships you build today can shape the career you want tomorrow.
Step 4: Tailor Your Message to Your Audience
Not every stakeholder needs the same message, and Natalie quickly learned the importance of tailoring her communication to fit the person she was speaking to.
“You’re in the weeds more with your immediate manager, and you’re more high-level, impactful, visionary, longer-term focused the more senior you get in conversation.”
For her manager, she focused on specifics—detailing her achievements, highlighting her day-to-day contributions, and showing how she was delivering results. But when speaking with senior leaders, she zoomed out. Natalie framed her work in terms of how it aligned with the company’s broader goals and long-term vision.
This approach worked. By speaking to what each person cared about most, Natalie proved she understood their priorities and how her efforts supported the bigger picture.
Actionable Tip: Before your next conversation, ask yourself:
- What does this person care about most? Are they focused on day-to-day results or the bigger picture?
- How can I frame my message to align with their priorities? Show them how your work supports their goals.
When you tailor your message to your audience, you’re not just sharing information—you’re showing that you understand their world and how your work fits into it. That level of connection isn’t just impressive; it’s what gets you noticed and remembered. When you speak their language, you’re not just part of the conversation—you’re leading it.
Step 5: Prioritize and Strategize
Self-advocacy isn’t a one-and-done kind of thing. It’s a process—a series of intentional steps that build on each other over time. Natalie learned this firsthand. Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, she focused on what mattered most and broke her goals into manageable steps.
“I knew what my two most important career goals were: to fill the pay gap that I knew of and to then achieve my next level of promotion. I decided to treat each of those goals separately, appreciating the fact if I went in with too many asks, I’d be limiting the success for each one.”
By narrowing her focus, Natalie avoided overwhelm and set herself up for incremental wins. It wasn’t about doing everything all at once—it was about prioritizing what would make the biggest impact and addressing each step with a clear plan.
Actionable Tip: Pick one goal to focus on right now and create a timeline to tackle it. For example:
- Advocate for a pay adjustment this quarter.
- Build the case for a promotion over the next year.
Overcoming Challenges and Shifting Your Mindset
Self-advocacy isn’t without its challenges. Natalie described the process as “fighting for my career,” a daunting but necessary step.
“It was so intimidating. This is the first time in my whole career that I was fighting for myself. And it felt like that. I felt like I was in the rink, literally fighting for my career.”
She admitted that frustration and anger drove her to take action initially, but over time, her confidence grew.
Actionable Tip: Focus on building your confidence through small wins. Each step you take—whether it’s initiating a conversation or clarifying a goal—reinforces your ability to advocate for yourself.
Overcoming career imposter syndrome means breaking big goals into smaller, focused steps. When you prioritize and strategize, you don’t just tackle your challenges—you build the confidence to silence self-doubt and take control of your future.
The Payoff: Success Through Self-Advocacy
Natalie’s persistence wasn’t just worth it—it completely transformed her career. She closed the pay gap she’d been stuck in and secured the promotion she had worked so hard for. But the real win? The respect and support she gained from senior leaders who became her biggest advocates.
“The chances you’re going to achieve that level of growth are so much higher because they might be the ones that can actually just flip the switch and be like, ‘Okay, she deserves more.’”
Natalie’s willingness to speak up didn’t go unnoticed. Senior leaders, often seen as untouchable, congratulated her for stepping forward.
“Every level of conversation, the feedback I was getting from the top three levels actually congratulated me for coming forth and having the conversation.”
Advocating for yourself doesn’t just nudge things forward—it flips the whole script. When you own your worth, the people in power notice, and suddenly, they’re not just watching from the sidelines. They’re rooting for you.
And here’s the truth. The more you speak up, the more doors you open. Those doors? They were always yours—you just needed to walk through them.
FAQs about Career Imposter Syndrome
Do I have imposter syndrome, or am I bad at my job?
Let’s be honest—this is the kind of question that keeps so many of us up at night. But here’s something you need to know: if you’re even asking this, it’s a sign you’re thoughtful and self-aware. And guess what? Those who question themselves are often the most capable. Imposter syndrome has a sneaky way of making you doubt your abilities, even when you’re doing just fine—or let’s be real, even when you’re excelling. The truth is, the people who never doubt themselves? They’re the ones who should probably take a closer look.
Is it normal to feel imposter syndrome when learning new things or starting a new job?
Absolutely. New situations come with new expectations, and imposter syndrome loves to swoop in when you’re out of your comfort zone. But here’s a reframe for you: feeling imposter syndrome when you’re learning isn’t a sign you’re failing. It’s a sign you’re growing. You’re pushing yourself, and that’s where the magic happens. So if you’re feeling a little out of your depth, lean into it. It’s proof you’re leveling up.
How to cope with impostor syndrome during the first few months of a job
First, remember this: you were hired for a reason. They chose you. Remind yourself of that every time imposter syndrome tries to creep in and say, “What if I can’t handle this?” Second, give yourself permission to be new. No one expects you to know everything right away, so take the pressure off. Finally, focus on small wins. Every task you complete, every question you ask, and every bit of feedback you receive is building your confidence. Day by day, you’ll feel more at home—and career imposter syndrome will have a much harder time sticking around.
About The Author - Theresa White
Theresa White, Career Clarity Expert, 5x Certified Career Coach, and the Founder of Career Bloom, is known for her expertise in guiding people to get unstuck and find the direction they need to move forward in their careers—fast. In a time when so many people are re-evaluating their work, Theresa offers actionable insights that empower clients to identify their true strengths and pursue work that genuinely aligns with their goals.
Theresa’s clients often call her sessions “epiphanies” and “transformational.” She brings immediate clarity to career goals, helping people unlock a deep understanding of what makes work fulfilling for them. Past participants consistently describe her approach as “spot on” and an “answer to questions they’d been asking for weeks.”
Theresa’s approach is empathetic yet practical, and she’s known for empowering clients with a clear direction in as little as 30 days, guaranteeing results.
Connect with Theresa on LinkedIn, listen to the Career Clarity Unlocked Podcast, or schedule your free 30-minute career clarity consultation.
Take the First Step Today
The art of self-advocacy isn’t about being pushy or demanding. It’s about owning your value, speaking up for what you deserve, and building the kind of relationships that make your career soar.
If you’ve been sitting back, waiting for someone to notice all your hard work, here’s your sign: it’s time to stop waiting. No one is coming to hand you your dream career tied up in a neat little bow. It’s time to take the reins.
Start by getting crystal clear on what you want. Speak up and communicate your goals like the boss you are. Build connections with people who get it and want to see you succeed.
And remember, there’s no secret club where people vote on who gets to have these conversations. The rules? You make them. The power? You already have it.
You’ve got this. Take one bold step, then another. Before you know it, you’ll look back and wonder why you ever doubted yourself in the first place.
Now go make it happen. Your career is waiting.
Free Resources
- The Power of Self-Advocacy: How Speaking Up Can Save Your Career and Your Life
- The quickest way to land your dream job? Get career clarity
- 7 Signs it’s Time for a Career Change
- How to reclaim control of your career
- Get Career Clarity In Just 30 Days!
- Book a Career Clarity Call with Theresa
- Master Self-Advocacy to Boost Career Success – Watch on Spotify
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