Overcoming imposter syndrome

2020 was a year which I will remember there is no doubt about that. One feeling which popped up quite a few times was the feeling of imposter syndrome. I am no stranger to this feeling; it's something that occurs from time to time. So I've developed strategies to work around it.

For me, it's a nagging doubt regarding my abilities, questioning what I had achieved. Had I delivered any projects or done anything of merit? These are the type of questions that keep occurring when I attend job interviews or speak to recruitment agents. Yet this is part and parcel of the process of finding a new role, and the part I least enjoy is talking about my successes. Through practice, making more than a few mistakes, this is something I have learned to do with relative success. 

So let me be clear. I do not enjoy pointing out my successes or to use the cliche "blowing my own trumpet." On the other hand, a part of me questions am I as good as I think I am. So I decided to address this feeling head-on and developed a new strategy. I decided to write down all the successes I would discuss at an interview. So that's what I've done here https://github.com/rwlpf/InterestingProjects.

It's been an excellent project to begin; it's still a work in progress. One upside is that it has reminded there are a few projects which I must admit that I had not thought about in quite some time. If you are considering changing your job, then this might be a worthwhile exercise. It's all too easy to forget something at an interview. Or to make sure there is a suitable place to explain in a little more detail that project you think might be worth mentioning at an interview. For me, it has been a good reminder of what I've achieved. Most importantly, though, another tool to help me overcome my imposter syndrome.

What's the purpose of this article? I hope that one person reads this, tries the idea and works for them, that's it :-)