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Why I Think Imposter Syndrome is So Common In Software Engineering
Don’t think you’re good enough to work in tech? You’re not alone. If you’re a regular user of sites like YouTube, Reddit and TikTok you’ve likely seen confessions of everyone from software engineers to aspiring ones, feeling like imposters.
So, what gives? Are we all just faking it, till we make it? Here’s five of the biggest reasons, imposter syndrome is so common.
1. The Dunning-Kruger Effect 🗣️
Two psychologists (David Dunning and Justin Kruger) in 1999 noticed something interesting, when they examined how undergraduates self-assesed their performance on many introductory college courses. Poor performers, believed they did significantly better. Their findings would eventually lead to the famous Dunning-Kruger effect, which describes the tendency of less knowledgeable individuals to overestimate their knowledge and competency. The reverse has also been stated (knowledgable people tend to underestimate themselves).
It makes sense 🤔. After a few articles, videos and forums, you may feel comfortable talking about a subject. Although like many fields, tech is complex. The more you learn, the more you realize how much you don’t know. I felt more confident as a junior in college than I do now. Over time, the black and white facade…
