Navigating imposter syndrome in your Junior Developer role.
Feeling like an imposter in your role can be one of the most demotivating feelings for a software developer. Imposter syndrome is especially prevalent in knowledge work fields like engineering and software development. This makes it crucial to recognize feelings of imposter syndrome early and learn constructive ways of dealing with these feelings.
Understanding imposter syndrome:
Imposter syndrome generally makes people believe that they are undeserving of their achievements or the high esteem in which they are held by their colleagues. In the field of software development, this most often manifests as a feeling that you are not qualified for your position or that you know far less than your colleagues in similar positions. Some common indicators of imposter syndrome are: Agonizing over small mistakes you have made. Attributing your success to luck or factors outside of yourself. A high sensitivity to any form of criticism, even if it is constructive. A feeling that you will inevitably be found out as a fraud.
Imposter syndrome can cause significant levels of anxiety in one’s career, and it’s important to address it in a constructive way.
How to handle imposter syndrome in a healthy way:
Challenge negative self-talk:
Identify your negative self-talk and challenge it by asking yourself if there is any validity to your thoughts.
It’s also important to ask yourself whether your negative thoughts are based on fact or on assumptions and misconceptions.
You can also practice reframing techniques. Whenever you have negative thoughts like “I am not good enough,” reframe them as “I am capable and continue to learn and grow.”
Set realistic expectations:
It’s crucial to recognize that not everyone knows everything, especially not a junior developer. You have a long career ahead of you in which you will learn and grow.
Prioritize learning and growth, be humble, ask questions, and set small, achievable career growth goals regularly. Celebrate these goals when you achieve them.
Keep a record of your achievements:
Keep a journal with a record of the goals that you have completed and the career milestones you have achieved. You can also add positive feedback that you have received from your superiors.
This gives you something to go back to when you are feeling feelings of inadequacy. Recognizing your hard work and achievements is an important part of navigating imposter syndrome.
Seek out constructive criticism and feedback:
This might seem counterintuitive, since we mentioned earlier that even constructive criticism can be difficult for people with imposter syndrome.
Constructive criticism and feedback are crucial parts of growing in your career and achieving your goals. Learning to listen to constructive criticism and adjust accordingly is an invaluable skill and will take you far in your career.
You should also practice accepting compliments graciously instead of dismissing them. This will help you to internalize the compliments and help with your imposter syndrome in the long run.
Adopt a growth mindset:
Recognize that your career is a lifelong journey, and embrace lifelong learning. Embrace challenges you might face as an opportunity for growth.
You should reframe setbacks and rejections as an opportunity for growth. Instead of letting these experiences bring you down, use them to build yourself up and become a better software developer. This is another invaluable skill.
The biggest investment you can make as a junior developer is in your skills. I mention this extensively in my article about how to get promoted as a junior developer.
Find a supportive community:
Surround yourself with people who want to see you win! Find people who are willing to support you on your journey through your career.
You definitely aren’t the only one going through struggles in your career. Finding a supportive community provides you with the opportunity to share your struggles with others and ask for their advice.
It’s important to remember that this is a two-way street. If you want a supportive community, you have to be willing to be supportive to other developers going through tough times in their career.
Navigating imposter syndrome in your career can be difficult, even with these tips. It’s important to take time to rest and reset every now and then. Burnout will amplify any feelings of imposter syndrome. It’s important to remember that there are other people out there who have gone through these same feelings. If you are looking for someone to talk to about navigating your life as a junior developer, reach out to me on LinkedIn; I’d be happy to chat!
