Career & Leadership › Junior Habits & First Job

Impostor Syndrome

Feeling you don't belong despite the evidence.

Also known as: imposter syndrome

Impostor syndrome is the feeling that you don’t really belong in your role, that you’ll be found out, and that your success is luck. It’s very common among junior engineers, including people who are doing well. Recognizing it as a feeling, rather than an accurate assessment, is a useful first step.

A practical check is to look at the evidence. Write down the work you finished, the problems you solved, and the feedback you’ve received. Feelings tend to discount that list, so it helps to have it in front of you.

Feeling:  "I only got this job by luck."
Evidence: Shipped the invoice export last month. Two reviewers approved my last three PRs.

Everyone is learning in a field this large, and senior engineers still look things up. Asking a question is part of the job, not proof you’re a fraud. Talking to a mentor or your manager often helps, because they can tell you how your work looks from the outside.

If these feelings are intense, last for a long time, or affect your sleep, health or ability to work, talk to someone you trust, such as a manager, a mentor or a doctor. You don’t have to handle that alone, and a professional can help in a way advice from a blog can’t.