jobs abroad
Remote jobs
Impostor syndrome is a psychological pattern in which you doubt your own abilities, achievements and skills. You feel you are somehow deceiving the people around you and that you have not really earned your success. You play down what you have achieved, and when something goes well, you put it down to luck. The result can be a deep, sometimes panicky fear that one day "they will find out", that colleagues will discover who you "really" are and hold it against you. Surprisingly, it affects highly successful people too: chief executives, award-winning actors and seasoned specialists.
In the UAE it has a particular flavour. Many people here have moved countries for a bigger role, a better title or a salary they never imagined at home. They work alongside colleagues from around the world, often with qualifications from famous universities, and every LinkedIn feed seems full of promotions and launches. It is a perfect environment for a quiet voice that says "I don't belong here".
What does it look like in practice?
Impostor syndrome can strike in everyday working life, and especially when you are looking for a job. You feel that your skills are not what others think they are. You are convinced that everyone else is better than you and simply hasn't noticed your gaps yet. You live with a strong fear of being exposed, find it very hard to accept compliments and credit every success to lucky circumstances, the right timing or a generous manager.
For expats, there is often an extra layer: "I only got this job because they needed someone quickly", "my degree is from a less famous university than theirs", "my English or Arabic isn't as good as everyone else's". These thoughts may feel like facts, but they rarely are.
Where does impostor syndrome come from?
We do not live in a vacuum. One factor is the sheer amount of knowledge available to us. There will always be far more to learn than any of us can absorb, and that distorts how we see our own skills. It is especially noticeable when you decide to specialise in a particular field. The deeper you go, the more you realise how much is still left to learn.
Another factor is the number of genuine experts, and people who appear to be experts, around us. If there are so many specialists and every one of them seems to know more, it is hard to feel good about your own level. In a hub like Dubai, where talent from many countries is concentrated in one place, that comparison is constant.
Remember that there will always, or almost always, be someone in the world who knows more about a given subject than you do. Often what you see is a carefully built image, not actual knowledge. Keep that in mind when you assess your own record and compare yourself with others. And if any outside factor helped you succeed, we tend to give it all the credit.
What can you do about it?
Write down your successes
Use a sheet of paper, a notebook or a "success jar": collect your achievements, keep adding new ones and come back to them when you are full of doubt. When your small and big wins sit in one place and you look at them with a bit of distance, you will see how much you have really done. As a bonus, this list makes it much easier to prepare strong answers with the STAR method at your next interview.
Ask for feedback
After a project, a piece of collaboration or a training session, ask for feedback on your work. See how others respond to your skills and knowledge. Do not be shy about asking questions and drawing concrete conclusions. You will see how many people confirm that you can do the job.
Take stock of your achievements
Think about the skills you have gained, the certificates you hold, the studies you completed and what you have learned along the way. Do not forget what it took to move to another country, adapt to a new workplace and succeed there. That alone is an achievement many people never attempt. There is probably more on the list than you think.
Tackle perfectionism and procrastination
Impostor syndrome pushes us towards excessive perfectionism. We feel we must do everything flawlessly so nobody discovers our "lack" of skills. That, in turn, feeds procrastination: "I won't do it, because I can't do it perfectly, and if it isn't perfect I can't show it to anyone, because they'll realise I don't know what I'm doing". It is worth working through these beliefs and letting go a little.
You are not the only one
Realise that you are not alone in this. Many people struggle with the same beliefs and face similar challenges, including colleagues who seem completely confident. Share your thoughts with someone you trust, whether a friend, a mentor or a family member back home.
Impostor syndrome is very common. It affects daily life, health and wellbeing. It can lead to exhaustion from overworking, and ultimately to burnout. It also carries a high emotional cost: a constant fear of being found out can bring low mood, fatigue and even health problems. If those feelings persist, speak to a doctor or a qualified mental health professional. People affected by impostor syndrome also tend to pass up opportunities, from applying for senior roles to asking for a promotion, and put off their own plans. It is worth working on, so you can land the job you want and enjoy the success you have EARNED.
Ready to aim higher? Browse current jobs in the UAE on Jober and apply for the role you really deserve.
