Imposter Syndrome Doesn't Care About Your Experience Level
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Professional Self-Doubt
25 years as a software developer, and I still feel like a fraud sometimes. Imposter syndrome doesn't care about your experience level—it just waits for the right moment to show up.
That "Do I Belong Here?" Feeling
When I started my new position in fintech recently, it really threw me off balance. I've never worked in financials or banking before. Suddenly I'm surrounded by terms like "amortization schedules," "loan origination workflows," and "underwriting criteria" that made me question if I was in over my head.
You have that sense of, do you belong? Are you behind? What do you have to do to ramp up?
It's like being the new kid at school all over again, except with much higher stakes.
It's Normal, But That Doesn't Make It Easy
Let me be clear: the team I work with is great. Everybody's really friendly and helpful.
But when you're staring at a codebase with millions of lines handling business loan applications and loan processing, and someone casually mentions "Just check the validation workflow for the debt-to-income calculations"... that's when you start to doubt yourself.
You Can't Learn Everything in One Day
When you have an application of this size and complexity, it's going to take time. Probably several years to really fully grasp everything because there are just so many moving parts.
Really, no one expects you to become an expert at their product overnight. Not even you should expect that from yourself.
How I'm Dealing With It (And You Can Too)
Separate Yourself From Your Code
Even if you feel out of your element when looking at complex code that seems beyond your current understanding, it's not a reflection on you.
There's a reason why you're here; you've dealt with challenging situations before. Remember that difficult bug you fixed years ago? You'll figure this out too.
Everything Is Temporary
Any success or failure is temporary. That time I spent two days trying to understand why a loan approval calculation kept giving incorrect results only to discover it was a rounding issue? Temporary frustration.
The appreciation I received for fixing it? Also temporary.
Will it matter in a month? You're going to face new problems and situations constantly, whether at work or in life.
Ask Questions Without Hesitation
Don't be afraid to ask questions; there has to be an expectation that anytime you're new, no matter how much experience you have, you're still new to that particular company.
I keep a list in my notes titled "Questions I need answers to" and make sure to ask them during our team meetings. No one has ever made me feel inadequate for asking.
Quick Tips for Fighting Imposter Syndrome:
Start somewhere basic – Pick one page or feature and trace it completely before moving on
Document what you learn – I keep a personal Trello board of new concepts I understand
Celebrate small wins – Fixed a minor bug? That's genuine progress
Connect with peers – Find others who might be experiencing similar challenges
Remember past victories – You've overcome tough challenges before
The Bottom Line
I share all this because starting something new in a completely new industry still brings these feelings for me too—even after 25 years of doing this.
But instead of letting imposter syndrome paralyze me, I'm using it as fuel. That uncomfortable feeling is just a sign that I'm growing, learning, and pushing my boundaries.
And honestly? That's what keeps this career interesting after all these years.
So when imposter syndrome hits you next time, don't try to fight it off completely. Just acknowledge it, say "I see you there," and then keep moving forward anyway.
Because that's the only way forward—one line of unfamiliar code at a time.
What's your experience with imposter syndrome? How do you deal with it? Share your thoughts below—I could use some new strategies myself!
Quote of the Day:
"The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests." — Epictetus
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It's so hard not to fall into imposter syndrome. I've felt it many times, and the thing is… every time I've come out the other side having done well. Maybe not perfect, but I learned something, I grew, or I at least gained some experience. Still, it's never easy. Like you said, it makes sense that we feel that discomfort when we're stepping into something new. That's where growth actually happens.
Lately, I've been holding on to this quote from Seneca: "What a wonderful privilege, to have the weaknesses of a man and the serenity of a god." I've been trying to bring that into my new role, and honestly, it has changed everything. I feel more grounded, less anxious, and I've actually been able to contribute from day one, something I've rarely felt before.