Imposter Syndrome, a disease that many people are beginning to suffer from in the tech industry, what is the origin of this story? Find the answer in this article.
In the past, if anyone followed or played a mobile game, you may have heard of a mobile game called Among Us. This game is a game that divides players into the mission-carrying side and the Imposter or the game’s murderer. The Imposter will be the one who obstructs the mission and takes advantage of the timing to kill each player without anyone knowing. The main skill required is to persuade others because if you are good at persuasion, you will be able to escape being a suspect.
You may be wondering how the Imposter in Among Us has anything to do with Imposter Syndrome? Other than the name, there’s no connection at all. Try comparing each player the Imposter is your confidence, self-respect, pride, and self-love, while the missions are your goals. You’ll find that the Imposter in the game is very similar to Imposter Syndrome, a mental illness that weighs down your progress.
“The phenomenon of inferiority”
Imposter Syndrome was first described as approaching a devaluation phenomenon in 1987. Their devaluation syndrome is characterized by a deep-seated belief that their work and achievements are undeserved, and a sense that their work is at risk of being exposed as inappropriate, fake, or devalued. This is partly due to their outdated perceptions and attitudes. Many of them do not feel like they belong in their work, in their team, or even in the successes they are creating.
“If I ask for help, I will become a fraud.”
When you start a new job, it is considered a new beginning for both yourself and the organization. Of course, you will never fully understand the elements of the job, even if it is the same position you used to work in. Due to different cultures, work styles, or even different conversations, these are the things you have to adjust to when stepping into a new environment. It may make you feel anxious, suspicious, stressed, or restless until your head starts releasing a lot of negative self-talk. “I should know,” “Everyone understands except me,” or “I can’t ask or ask other people for help because they will think I am a liar,” etc.
“I’m not good, I’m just lucky.”
Even though you have tried hard to learn and adapt, know that your mind and heart are working harder than you to fight the Imposter. Listening to those negative words, over time you become an agile employee who produces positive results. When your work is reviewed and approved, instead of being happy about your success, you feel empty and diminish your success. “I was just lucky. I’m not that good.” This is a depressing way to celebrate. Or, let’s say you can’t get the job done. Or, you get critical feedback or even unfriendly comments about the work you are responsible for. The Imposter in your head will work hard to tell you, “They know you’re not good enough,” or “You’ll be the next one to get fired soon.”
“Employees in every industry have to contend with the voices in their heads more than their jobs.”
These anxieties are common for anyone entering the workforce, whether you’re experiencing them when starting a new job, joining a new team, or even after working for a long time and finding yourself in a completely new role. Research shows that 82% of people across all professions, 58% of tech professionals, and 57% of computer science students struggle with their own inner imposter. Over time, your inner imposter can do more than just whisper to you about it. They can leave you feeling burnt out, burned out, or depressed.
“We all started as hackers.”
If you look at the numbers above, you will find that careers that involve sitting in front of a computer have a high percentage of meeting Imposters. Let’s go back. If you are one of those who work in front of a computer, what do you remember the first moment you started writing codes? Using cheat codes in The Sims to get enough money to buy unlimited furniture or cheating to increase energy, hunger or comfort yourself. Writing codes for the first time as an employee may mess something up with ignorance, but when it is done, it is a joy that makes you feel like you have changed something complicated for the better.
“Everyone starts out as a beginner.”
When you enter your coding career, you may find that some of your colleagues are incredibly talented at developing software, understanding all the pieces of the puzzle, while you are a rogue coder. What you see as special is simply a different role from other programs that they are good at but you are not. On the other hand, your coding skills may be a superpower that others would like to have. At the same time, you may find that there are days when you have to fight with the Imposter in your head that if what you have is special, what about everyone else? Maybe everyone here is special, but they may not see you as that. So instead of wasting your time dwelling on what you don’t know, what others know, or what you know, what others don’t know, remember that everyone started out as a complete newbie, even the brightest coworker in your department.
“Maybe we were raised this way.”
Research has shown that early family relationships play a role in the development of low self-esteem or self-worth disorder. For example, there are authoritarian parents who pressure their children to perform at high academic levels, holding them to unattainable standards and ideals. At the other extreme, there are parents who float above their children’s activities and chores, shielding them from all pain and disappointment. This can lead children to believe that their overprotectiveness is due to their incompetence. Family relationships can arise when you struggle with low self-esteem, and you can lose to the imposter in your head, whether you’re the child or you’re the working parent.
“Humans love to own things, but unfortunately we don’t always get to experience it.”
There’s a sense of warmth when you’re part of a team where you feel accepted and included, and know that you can be your authentic self. That sense of belonging is something everyone desires at work, and some people value it even more in a collaborative team role. Diversity plays a huge role in creating a sense of belonging, and the tech industry as a whole has a long way to go, so finding a company that’s genuinely working to foster a more diverse and inclusive environment within its tech teams is an important part of your job search. Asking questions during the interview process about diversity, such as race, gender, family, and even programming preferences, can help give you a sense of how open a company is to diversity.
“One thing is for sure in technology: things will change.”
Being on top of the world or trying to keep up with global trends can be tiring. When trends come and go faster than a summer storm, skills change value over time, and it’s easy for developers to feel like they’re falling behind. The industry is vast, with different ways to write and run code for all kinds of industries and use cases. It’s no wonder you never feel like you’re an expert in software development, even after working for a while. There’s always something to learn in technology, and there are always ways to solve problems and approaches. If your inner Imposter is telling you that you’re not good enough, then counter it with these facts.
Conclusion
Great tech jobs aren’t just about working with the hottest languages and the latest tools – they’re also about finding the right work culture. Work life is full of baggage and heavy expectations, and you can do a lot to counteract feelings of inadequacy or low self-worth. Finding a work culture where you can fulfill your own needs and expectations is a great way to get into the tech industry.
The first thing you should do is to understand your needs and learn about the work culture of the company you are interested in before accepting a job offer. Remember that the interview is a great opportunity for you to understand how you will receive the support and comfort you need.
Another important thing is that Imposter syndrome not only makes you feel bad about yourself, it also gets in the way of the learning you need to achieve meaningful success, opportunity, and career growth. After all, your tech career is more than just the sum of your coding skills, and building one is more of an art than a science, especially when the many roles and responsibilities are as new and powerful as the technology itself.
“If you define yourself enough, no imposter in your head will be able to devalue you.”
Reference:
Why Imposter Syndrome in Tech Is So Common—and What We Can Do About It
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