Do you ever feel like you have imposter syndrome when applying for jobs?

14 Comments

1. SPNN4 SSeptember 15,2025 at 5:34PM UTC

   There are tons of ways you can gain skills, so many web sites, books, I have found that YouTube to be a great resource. So many tutorial videos. I would not worry about it. Just say that you are comfortable

2. BarbaraSeptember 15,2025 at 6:12PM UTC

   A lot of times they throw in all kinds of requirements that you won’t use. If they talk about it in the interview and are going to give you a test then you know they are serious. Wait and see. If they talk about testing you for access say you’re pretty sure you would be quite rusty because it wasn’t used as much in your former job. Take the tests and do your best. Don’t lead with explanations unless you have to. Good luck!!

3. AnonymousSeptember 15,2025 at 6:33PM UTC

   Do not volunteer any lesser answers unless specifically asked. A good answer is I'm familiar with Access (and get crackin' on tutorials and reading up so you are familiar). On excel, you can explain that you have a fundamental knowledge and have not had the need recent so you are rusty. Explain you have experience in other software and platforms that you used recently (come up with a list). This way they can understand you are comfortable with technology and pick up on things easily in any environment. .

4. AnonymousSeptember 15,2025 at 7:01PM UTC

   A good answer is "yes." Get busy with tutorials and master all three before the interview. You have a few days; you can do this!

5. AnonymousSeptember 16,2025 at 12:38PM UTC

   I feel like an imposter all the time. I feel that this has hurt me over the years as this leads me to downplaying what I'm capable of and qualified for. There are plenty of jobs I could have and should have applied for but felt that I wasn't good enough. I undersell myself in interviews and on my resume as I don't want to make employers feel like they got a bait and switch pulled on them.

6. AnonymousSeptember 16,2025 at 1:30PM UTC

   Time to cram! YouTube can be your friend. I suggest do one or more session and learn as much as you can. Excel is really a big player in today’s job market.

   good luck??

7. AnonymousSeptember 16,2025 at 2:25PM UTC

   Go in confident and brush off the imposter. We as women are much more likely to undersell ourselves. We tend to only apply for things we are qualified, not allowing ourselves to stretch and grow our skills. Highlight the skills and strengths you have, and only answer their specific questions (as noted elsewhere) and take those tutorials. You've got this.

8. AnonymousSeptember 16,2025 at 3:44PM UTC

   Yes, I apply for jobs where I meet the majority of criteria but not all because it’s impossible to know everything. I’m surprised they still use Access as this application is not common anymore. However, learning it, is not hard. You can easily search for online classes for advanced Excel, Word and Access. Some of them of low cost or even free. When they say advanced Excel, they probably mean pivot tables, filtering/sorting, and formulas. This can all be learned pretty quickly. Access is a bit more difficult but not hard. I believe in you, you can do it!!

9. Betty WarrickSeptember 16,2025 at 5:07PM UTC

   You could brush up on those skills easily online.

10. AnonymousSeptember 16,2025 at 6:10PM UTC

    I have been in this situation. Here's my approach: do a little reading/YouTube watching to understand the basics. In the interview, be confident, honest, and optimistic: yes, I have used Word and Excel. I'm aware that Access is ... and could see how it could be useful in ..., but I would need to brush up my skills there. I'm a quick learner and recently learned (give example).

    Keep in mind that "advanced" is always relative. What I think of as advanced, someone else may think as basic and vice versa. There are certain things that are easy to teach (like a program) there are other things are much harder: fit, work ethic, attention to detail. Lean into your strengths in the conversation and let you light shine!

11. Barbara M.September 16,2025 at 7:40PM UTC

    I agree with the pother posts - Framing it as "I may not know everything yet, but I’m confident I can pick it up quickly" goes a long way. It's probably more valuable than being "advanced" upfront.

12. Kirstie JohnsonSeptember 17,2025 at 12:36PM UTC

    Basic knowledge for Office is good enough, has long as you can think bigger and Google for help.

    As for Access, I don’t think they are expecting you to create databases, just be able to data input.

13. AyianSeptember 17,2025 at 12:45PM UTC

    I know someone (a man) who once applied for a position that required in depth knowledge of a specific, rare program. He said he had it on his resume, but he never even heard of it before. Ahead of the interview, he learned enough about it to answer cursory questions about it and was offered the job. He spent the first 6 weeks learning the job and cramming sessions after work on the software. He stayed there for several years and this is a thing men do not infrequently.

    You can too! Tell them you're an 8 or 9 out of 10 and learn the lingo for advanced Excel, including macros. No position I've ever applied to actually uses Access, even if they list it on the requirements, but you can tell them that it's been a while since you've actually used it. It's believable, almost nowhere does anymore.

    You have several weeks at the beginning of a job to skill up on the things you said you can do and if you haven't completely fabricated your abilities, it may be a challenge, but it's workable.

    Now, other specific things you want to tell them about Excel is that you do vlookups, hlookups, countifs, sumifs, if/thens, nested formulae, named ranges, dynamic charts, type forms, and more. Do some video watching and follow along to answer even more pointed questions in the interview and if it gets tough, tell them you're a little rusty, but you're sure you can do the job!

14. Paulla Fetzek, MSEdSeptember 17,2025 at 1:22PM UTC

    Hello!

    Imposter Syndrome refers to people who do have the skills but feel as if they're not good enough. From your post, this doesn't seem to be your circumstance.

    If you don't have the skills required, don't lie and say you do. Because the truth will be painfully apparent the first time you're asked to do an advanced function like a Pivot Table, Power Query, or even XLOOKUP function. If the job has multiple requirements you meet - except for Excel and Access, then tout to them the things you will bring to the table and let them know of your willingness to learn.

    As one who interviews, for positions that require the person has an Intermediate level understanding of Excel, it's extremely frustrating when someone isn't at this level but applied anyway. If the job description states knowledge of a program is required - it's stated for a reason.

    Then again - the company's idea of "advanced knowledge" may differ than the actual Microsoft definition of "advanced" knowledge!

    All the best...