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Is there a fix for impostor syndrome?

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Re: Is there a fix for impostor syndrome?

#191

Post by _qbxp »

I have always had impostor syndrome, but also a somewhat revelatory idea that most people are just human beings full of shit too. Let me explain.

In college, I revered my professors - always thought of them on a higher plane, so much smarter than everybody. Same with doctors. Then I go to grad school, and realize that my fellow classmates (who have become professors, or the ones in MD/PhD programs doctors/surgeons), are smart indeed - but not on some super-human super-intelligent level who's batting way above my level like I felt in undergrad. It's like all of a sudden I realized that people in those positions are humans like me and aren't on some higher plane. I mean, maybe there are a few people who truly are. But most of the people I revered are regular joes (who most definitely work hard). Similar to looking up to adults when you're a kid, then realizing they're human beings with flaws once you grow up.

On the flip side, I constantly feel like I don't know what I'm doing compared to other people. Doesn't matter what level I reach in my career, it's all the same - that data scientist over there truly knows his stuff, I'm just faking it. That manager over there truly knows his stuff, I'm just faking it. And you know what? Maybe there's some truth to it. But the truth I've found is that if that's the case, there's probably an exceeding number of people who are 'faking it' too, so I'm in good company at least.

I also tend to conflate 'faking it' with confidence. In grad school, all of my published papers would have so many caveats - "the results suggest that maybe possibly potentially .... " or "the results suggest that ____, with the caveat" or "we possibly found evidence..." My advisor always had to change my wording around to be at least a little more definitive because journals would pick up on the wishy-washy statements. Now in the corporate world, people expect definitive statements because putting 'possibly, maybe' in every sentence doesn't exude confidence that higher ups or customers want. So in a way when I say something in a confident manner when I'm only 80% to 90% confident, I feel like I'm faking it.

Re: Is there a fix for impostor syndrome?

#192

Post by samueldavid »

karlta05 wrote: post #55

I'm not normally one to comment here but this is just an awesome topic. I have about 8 years experience in the industry. In the beginner of my career I did feel a bit of the impostor syndrome. Quite frankly, it was because I had this ideal of what a programmer ( or whatever buzz word title) should be. As I got on with my career I slowly realized no-body gives a shit. Its just HR that give those titles. I also found t…

totally agree, constantly learning at a decent pace

Re: Is there a fix for impostor syndrome?

#194

Post by jontayesp »

ams6110 wrote: post #183
alexquez wrote: post #158

I've been in software for 14 years without a computer science degree and carry a chip on my shoulder because I missed out on algorithms and compilers in school. I'm mostly self-taught and have had the opportunity to run a SAAS company for six years now (CodePen). I'm winging it like many other people in our industry. I wish I'd had two things to when I started my career. 1. A right of passage that endorsed my skills…

I have a degree but honestly can't say I've ever really used anything from algorithms or compilers courses on the job. Nobody (meaning, very few people doing mainstream startup/SaaS development) writes fundamental algorithms, you use libraries and classes from the language you're working in. Most people don't work in compiled languages anymore, and if they do, they don't write their own compilers. Maybe understanding…

Don’t most career fields come with important knowledge you learn as a junior, but don’t actually use on a daily basis? I assume doctors learn a huge variety of things in school, but practically don’t use more more than 50% of that knowledge on the job. But having this knowledge makes you better at your job overall.

I never got a CS degree, but I wish I did. There are times I run into obscure issues where deeper knowledge of the compiler, os, etc would help me understand the problem better, or how to design my code better.

Re: Is there a fix for impostor syndrome?

#196

Post by groby_b »

philbarr wrote: post #122

Does anyone else get that feeling like, "am I the only one who sees what a load of shit this is?" I don't think it's imposter syndrome per se, but it's related. It's like, "I'm the only one who can see the truth." An example: years ago my old crooked boss brought everyone in to his huge office to tell us why he couldn't afford to give people the pay rise they'd been asking for. With a straight face and with his Aston…

Since I happened to know a boss who had a shiny new car while not being able to give out huge raises, let me tell you the other side of the story:

That company had been broken in to, with extremely valuable equipment stolen. The insurance company promptly paid for it, replacements were bought - all's well in the world, right?

Not quite. It turns out, due to tax law quirks, the new equipment's cost as a tax deduction needs to be spread out over years (6 IIRC), but the payout from the insurance company is taxable as a lump sum. So, while the balance sheet is net even after the break-in, the tax man wants a huge chunk of money that he's then willing to return, in small increments, over the next years.

But the company is cash poor. And a loan is not feasible, because it's already stretching the limits. A call to the accountant is in order. And, as it turns out, second quirk of tax law, if you buy a car on a loan, you can claim the entire expense in the same tax year, but you can spread the paying back over the next several years.

And so the car was bought, at significant long term cost to the owner, but it fixed the tax/cash shortfall problem for the current year.

Step two after learning to keep your mouth shut: Learning that the situation is always more complex than you can see from the outside.

Re: Is there a fix for impostor syndrome?

#197

Post by jkereako »

ams6110 wrote: post #183
alexquez wrote: post #158

I've been in software for 14 years without a computer science degree and carry a chip on my shoulder because I missed out on algorithms and compilers in school. I'm mostly self-taught and have had the opportunity to run a SAAS company for six years now (CodePen). I'm winging it like many other people in our industry. I wish I'd had two things to when I started my career. 1. A right of passage that endorsed my skills…

I have a degree but honestly can't say I've ever really used anything from algorithms or compilers courses on the job. Nobody (meaning, very few people doing mainstream startup/SaaS development) writes fundamental algorithms, you use libraries and classes from the language you're working in. Most people don't work in compiled languages anymore, and if they do, they don't write their own compilers. Maybe understanding…

> I have a degree but honestly can't say I've ever really used anything from algorithms or compilers courses on the job.

I've found knowledge of the fundamentals (compilers, operating systems, algorithms, etc.) useful in interviews and arguments. That's about it.

Re: Is there a fix for impostor syndrome?

#198

Post by gerbilly »

I have a four year degree in Math/Comp Sci.

Most everyone else in my group have PhD's, and I don't feel I have impostor syndrome.

I also have never been afraid of asking 'stupid questions' in meetings etc.

If they hired me, they must have done so for a reason (PhD's are not good a writing production code, their words).

My advice for people who might have impostor syndrome, just put it out of your mind, do a good job, and look for good feedback.

People with PhD's or Olympic gold medals or famous rock stars are people just like you and me. They have some skills that are very developed, but others skills may be shockingly lacking.

We are all a blend of abilities, and we are all on a journey. Where you are on your path right now is exactly where you need to be, just as they are exactly where they need to be.

Re: Is there a fix for impostor syndrome?

#199

Post by Senderman »

darkerside wrote: post #190

> This is perhaps why women may be more likely to feel like impostors, because they typically do not see themselves reflected and reinforced—in some sense, validated—in the same way that men do. For some reason, I was irked by this comment which seems to be completely unsubstantiated.

Subtly sexist comments mixed in with otherwise compelling information tend to be irksome.

Re: Is there a fix for impostor syndrome?

#200

Post by sethammons »

Zombieball wrote: post #53
humanrebar wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ...urge them to find their "superpower". Might I suggest "specialty", "focus area", or "expertise". Maybe "competitive advantage" if you're talking to business types. I like to tell engineers that their job is to be an expert. Find some area that we need more experts in. Read, experiment, troubleshoot, tweak, document, teach, and whatever else you need to do to be the person others rely on when they need an expert…

For what it’s worth Amazon HR specifically chose the term “superpower”. Not sure it needs to be replaced.

I'd argue that superpower construes an innate ability, potentially something that does not need future nurturing to grow. I think this is bad. A term that suggests you can grow into a niche or area of expertise would be much more encouraging for someone I'd think.
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