Imposter syndrome is that feeling that you don’t belong.
That you’re a fake.
That at any moment, someone is going to realise you shouldn’t be here.
It’s exhausting, and it’s one of the things that can lead straight to burnout, because you’re constantly trying to prove yourself.
Imposter syndrome tends to show up most often in women stepping into leadership roles, but it doesn’t stop there. Men experience it too, and so do people in all sorts of workplaces and industries.
For me, it started around the third year of my apprenticeship.
If you go back to my first Blog, you’ll remember the story I shared about being at TAFE. I’d just received another award, and some of the boys weren’t impressed.
“Did she only get it because she’s a girl?”
“Does she even deserve it?”
“Do we even have a chance if they’re just giving awards to women?”
That moment planted a seed.
A feeling that I didn’t belong.
That I wasn’t good enough.
That I was pretending and sooner or later, everyone would find out.
When it’s not “just in your head”
Now, a lot of imposter syndrome does live in our heads, but not all of it.
Some people genuinely believe that women don’t belong in certain workplaces. And I read a fascinating article recently that really stuck with me: sometimes it’s not imposter syndrome sometimes the workplace just wasn’t designed for you.
Many systems were built to favour straight, wealthy white men who have a partner at home handling everything else. And the fewer of those boxes you tick, the harder things tend to become.
If you’re not rich.
If you’re not male.
If you’re not married
If you want a healthy work–life balance.
You can start to feel out of place not because you don’t belong, but because the system wasn’t built with you in mind.
And that feeling can look like imposter syndrome.
Being “the only one”
As a woman in trades or as anyone who’s a minority in their workplace you can sometimes look around and feel like there’s physical evidence that you don’t belong.
You might be the first woman.
The first person of colour.
The first non-binary person.
And when there’s no one who looks like you, talks like you, or shares your experience, it can feel incredibly isolating.
That’s why there are two parts to navigating imposter syndrome: the internal and the external.
The internal work
Internally, it starts with noticing how you talk to yourself.
One of the most powerful things you can do is write a list of everything you’ve done to get here:
- The qualifications you earned
- The skills you learned
- The challenges you survived
- The work you put in
When imposter syndrome creeps up on me even now, writing this blog, I remind myself:
I applied for my apprenticeship.
I showed up.
I did the work.
I completed my apprenticeship.
I earned my certificate.
That didn’t fall out of the sky.
No one handed it to me.
I earned it.
And no one, not even your own mind, can take that away from you.
The external support
Then there’s the external side when you look around and don’t see anyone like you.
This is where social media can be a gift.
One of the best things social media has given me is community. A way to connect with other tradeswomen, other people who look like me, sound like me, and understand this experience.
You might be the first in your workplace, but someone else is being the first somewhere else. And together, you’re not alone.
We can support each other.
Recommend each other.
Back each other in interviews.
Stand up for each other.
That sense of belonging matters.
Feeling like you belong — because you do
There is nothing wrong with you if you experience imposter syndrome. Often, your brain is responding to very real signals.
But here’s the truth:
You do belong.
And if you’re struggling to feel that way, try this:
- Look at your trade certificate
- Look at your contract
- Look at the work you’ve done
You earned your place.
A note on workwear (and confidence)
When I started my apprenticeship back in 2012, women’s workwear options were almost non-existent. I was given the smallest men’s sizes available which were still too big and told to wear a belt and thick socks.
I felt like I was playing dress-ups in my dad’s clothes. I didn’t feel confident. I didn’t feel empowered.
Which brings me to today’s supporter, Shewear safety work boots and workwear designed by women, for women. Having clothes that fit, that feel safe, and that make you feel good can make a real difference in how you show up at work.
You belong, and you deserve to feel like it.
Final Thoughts
To recap:
- Write down all the reasons you deserve your place
- Find community, especially with people who share your experience
- Wear workwear that fits and makes you feel confident
If you’re a tradeswoman or tradesperson who’d like some help navigating this journey, I’d love to chat. You can book a coaching consultation with me here:
https://calendly.com/louise-azzopardi/coaching_consult
This blog is proudly supported by Midies.
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