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Discussion on: What Situations trigger your Imposter Syndrome the most?

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thacken profile image
Chris Thackrey

For me it’s explaining what you do to people who don’t code at all, especially because it feels like there are more and more stereotypes flying through the air that you have to squash as that convo plays out.

One time I told a physical therapist what I do after she had asked and then she said “hey [her coworker] did you know Chris is a software engineer isn’t that for like super smart people?”
The coworker guy went into this whole thing about: “yeah well you know there’s some really good coders and then a ton of really bad coders and I’d have to know which one he is before I’m gonna give him props..”.
I think most here would agree that’s a pretty sh*t way to handle that question, and reveals some insecurities of his own, but it still sends tons of waves of imposter syndrome through me when I think about that moment and how I really didn’t have any way to prove on the spot I was “one of the good ones” and just brushed it off like I didn’t pay attention to what he said.

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josefine profile image
Josefine Schfr

ugh, how unnecessary. Yes, in every job, I guess you could say there is a spectrum of more or less qualified people, taking many many different factors into account. But what a way to phrases this, sorry that happened to you!