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Fixing Impostor Syndrome in Coding Interviews

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Re: Fixing Impostor Syndrome in Coding Interviews

#2
> Here’s the good news: you’re not an impostor

Some people are, though. Sometimes, “impostor syndrome” isn’t really a syndrome, but an appropriate way to feel when you’ve been Peter-Principled your way into a position that you’re not competent in.

Re: Fixing Impostor Syndrome in Coding Interviews

#3
post #2

> Here’s the good news: you’re not an impostor Some people are, though. Sometimes, “impostor syndrome” isn’t really a syndrome, but an appropriate way to feel when you’ve been Peter-Principled your way into a position that you’re not competent in.

One of the reasons imposter syndrome is so prevalent in the tech industry is that everyone with more than a few years of experience has worked alongside people who talked their way into the job but cannot code their way out of a wet paper bag. It's directly related, in my opinion, to the terrible state of interviews in this field.

Re: Fixing Impostor Syndrome in Coding Interviews

#4
post #2

> Here’s the good news: you’re not an impostor Some people are, though. Sometimes, “impostor syndrome” isn’t really a syndrome, but an appropriate way to feel when you’ve been Peter-Principled your way into a position that you’re not competent in.

One of the reasons imposter syndrome is so prevalent in the tech industry is that everyone with more than a few years of experience has worked alongside people who talked their way into the job but cannot code their way out of a wet paper bag. It's directly related, in my opinion, to the terrible state of interviews in this field.

Can't people reassure themselves by picking a wet paper bag to code themselves out of?

Re: Fixing Impostor Syndrome in Coding Interviews

#5
post #2

> Here’s the good news: you’re not an impostor Some people are, though. Sometimes, “impostor syndrome” isn’t really a syndrome, but an appropriate way to feel when you’ve been Peter-Principled your way into a position that you’re not competent in.

I interviewed once with a database startup. I don't know anything about databases. I just thought 'yeah I can probably blag that.' I probably looked like an impostor while I piled in in the interview, because I was.

Re: Fixing Impostor Syndrome in Coding Interviews

#6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of the reasons imposter syndrome is so prevalent in the tech industry is that everyone with more than a few years of experience has worked alongside people who talked their way into the job but cannot code their way out of a wet paper bag. It's directly related, in my opinion, to the terrible state of interviews in this field.

Can't people reassure themselves by picking a wet paper bag to code themselves out of?

Yes! My last year in grad school, this is part of how I kept my sanity: random little side-projects on which I could make concrete progress in a couple of evenings.

Re: Fixing Impostor Syndrome in Coding Interviews

#8
Impostor syndrome is a real phenomenon, but contrary to what everybody studying it says, the strongest counter to it is more emphasis on objective and impersonal evaluation criteria, not less. In my experience, much of it is created by initiatives that ostensibly try to fight it.

Re: Fixing Impostor Syndrome in Coding Interviews

#9
post #2

> Here’s the good news: you’re not an impostor Some people are, though. Sometimes, “impostor syndrome” isn’t really a syndrome, but an appropriate way to feel when you’ve been Peter-Principled your way into a position that you’re not competent in.

I interviewed once with a database startup. I don't know anything about databases. I just thought 'yeah I can probably blag that.' I probably looked like an impostor while I piled in in the interview, because I was.

Did you get an offer?

Re: Fixing Impostor Syndrome in Coding Interviews

#10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I interviewed once with a database startup. I don't know anything about databases. I just thought 'yeah I can probably blag that.' I probably looked like an impostor while I piled in in the interview, because I was.

Did you get an offer?

No - I wouldn't have been able to do the job.
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