Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Written by Alex Valencic
Unless you were hired for the very first job you applied for in education, you have probably had this experience after an interview: You get a phone call from the school or district you had just interviewed with. The person on the other end of the line asks how you are and then says something like this:
“We wanted to let you know that everyone on the committee was really impressed with your interview. However, we decided to go with another candidate and they have accepted the position.”
When pressed for details, it usually came up that I was passed over for the job for one of three reasons:
Someone from within the district had been offered the position;
Some had worked in a specific role in education, usually special education;
Someone had more experience than me.
From 2016 to 2018, I had this conversation, or some slight variation on them, dozens of times after I applied and interviewed for job after job across my state. (I think my record was six negative call-backs from the same district.) Finally, just as I was about to give up hope of taking the next step in my career, I was invited to interview via Skype for a job that I had only partially applied for. (I had not actually hit submit on the electronic application.)
During the interview, one of the questions I was asked was, “If we were to ask your coworkers, how would they describe you?”
After a brief moment’s reflection, I replied, “Well, I’m a Boy Scout and that’s what they would tell you. Not because I am just a member of the Boys Scouts of America, although I am, but because I try to live the Scout Law in everything I do, personally and professionally. I make a point of being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.” I then went on to briefly describe each of these twelve character traits and how they related to my professional practice. As I did so, I held up this coin that I keep in my pocket and said that I keep it as a constant reminder of what it means to be a Boy Scout.
There was a rather lengthy pause. Finally, one of the interview members said, “Our next question was, ‘What are three words you would use to describe yourself?’ I think you just gave us ten.” I clarified that there were actually twelve and then the interview continued.
I was offered the job the next morning.. After a whirlwind few weeks of packing, house-hunting, buying a house, and moving, I settled into my new office in my new district on my first day, sat down at my new desk and…
... stared at the wall.
For much longer than I care to admit.
As I was staring blankly, I was asking myself these questions: “What am I doing here? What am I even supposed to be doing? Why did they hire me, a guy they had never met in person? How long will it take before they realise that I am in way over my head and have no idea what I am doing?”
There were many times that over the next few weeks and months that I wondered if there wasn’t someone else more qualified than me, maybe someone from within the district. Who was I, an outsider, to come to this town to tell teachers what they ought to be doing when it comes to innovative and progressive pedagogical practices?
I didn’t realise it at the time, but these doubts and insecurities are fairly common. So much so, in fact, that they have a name: imposter syndrome. While some question whether or not the name “imposter syndrome” is totally accurate, the idea is fairly widespread, particularly in academic disciplines.
A few months after being hired, I was chatting with one of the elementary principals in my district who happened to also have been on my interview committee and he said, “Alex, can I tell you why the interview committee unanimously agreed that you were our top pick for this job?” I was kind of surprised; I had no idea how many had been interviewed (I still don’t know, for that matter) and I had no idea I was the unanimous top pick. I was intrigued and I asked him to tell me. He said, “It was because of that coin of yours. I have interviewed literally hundreds of teachers in my career who have had ‘Eagle Scout’ on their resume but you are the first one who has ever related your Scouting experiences to teaching. I could tell you were passionate and I told everyone, ‘This is our guy. We need to hire him before someone else does.’”
It was in this moment, nearly three and a half years ago, that I discovered the antidote to imposter syndrome. It is simply this: Your school or your district hired you, not your credentials. My district didn’t hire 3-5 years of teaching experience, a Type 75 (or equivalent) teacher’s license, and the knowledge of innovative practices in education. Those were just the credentials required for the job, which, really, is all your credentials are really good for: just getting you in the door. After that, it is all about who you are that gets you the job.
So the next time you feel the doubts of imposter syndrome creeping up on you, just remember: they didn’t hire your credentials; they hired you. So go out there and be the best “you” that you know how to be!
