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Imposter syndrome, defined as a feeling of self-doubt that you don't have the expertise or qualities for the job you're currently working in, is rife across the world of work today.
According to new research from Hays, based on a survey with over 8,000 responses, almost two thirds (64%) of professionals have experienced feelings of imposter syndrome at some point during their career, with a quarter (25%) saying they’ve experienced these feelings often.
Based on the findings, imposter syndrome affects women (70%) more so than men (58%). Younger professionals tend to experience it more than older workers, with 71% of 20- to 29-year-olds having these feelings at some point in their career, 70% of 30- to 29-year-olds, 66% of 40- to 49-year-olds and 59% of over 50s.
Here’s how five industries differ in terms of the extent to which professionals have experienced imposter syndrome:
According to the research, 44% of professionals believe their experiences of imposter syndrome have become more frequent as their career progressed.
Nearly half (47%) of women say their experiences of imposter syndrome have become more frequent as they've progressed in their career, compared to 42% of men.
Lorraine Twist, Director at Hays UK&I, comments: “Unfortunately we’re seeing many professionals, predominantly women, doubt what they are capable of, who are worried about coming across as not good enough regardless of their skills and abilities.
Whilst more experience and progression might coincide with a growth in confidence and self-belief, our research indicates that people are more likely to feel like imposters as they advance their careers, potentially due to increased responsibility and visibility.
To overcome imposter syndrome, it's important to recognise it for what it is: a negative feeling and interpretation stemming from your inner critic rather than a reflection of reality. Take a moment to focus on your strengths and achievements but also to embrace imperfection. Employers have a crucial part to play in acknowledging the successes of their individual team members and rewarding them accordingly to build them up and make them feel valued and worthy.”
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About the research: The survey on which these findings are based was carried out between 3rd-19th February 2025 and received 8,247 responses from employers and employees working in a range of organisations and sectors across the UK.
Contact Contact information for any media enquiries relating to Hays UK and Ireland: PR team number: 020 3040 0282 PR team email: public.relations@hays.com
About Hays Hays plc (the "Group") is the world’s leading specialist in workforce solutions and recruitment, such as RPO and MSP. The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional, and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK, Germany, and Australia and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. As of 30 June 2024, the Group employed over 11,100 staff operating from 236 offices in 33 countries. For the year ended 30 June 2024:
the Group reported net fees of £1,113.6 million and operating profit of £105.1 million.
the Group placed around 57,700 candidates into permanent jobs and around 225,000 people into temporary roles.
13% of Group net fees were generated in Australia & New Zealand, 32% in Germany, 20% in United Kingdom & Ireland and 35% in Rest of World (RoW).
