Talk Description
"I've just got where I am though luck!"
"I'm going to be found out at any moment!"
"I don't deserve the success I've achieved!"
"I'm a giant fraud!"
These are all pretty common thoughts someone suffering from Impostor Syndrome might have. I hear Impostor Syndrome mentioned frequently as something common in our industry, but hadn't even heard of it until a couple of years ago. It's something a lot of successful and really intelligent people suffer from. It's effects can be debilitating, and it shouldn't be dismissed as non-existent or unimportant. We need to acknowledge it, talk about it, and make it ok for people to admit they are affected by it.
I'll talk about how my own feelings of Impostor Syndrome have affected me throughout career, even when I didn't know what it was, what I've done to manage these negative feelings, and how it's enabled me to start making a positive contribution to the testing community.
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Content Advisory
This talk includes a brief retelling of an anecdote originally shared by Neil Gaiman, which is explicitly referenced during the talk. Since this talk was recorded at TestBash 2017, reports have emerged about Neil Gaiman’s alleged behaviour, which some viewers may find upsetting. Please be aware of this context before watching.
Thank you for understanding and we appreciate your care in approaching this topic.
By the end of this session, you'll be able to:
- An understanding of why people suffer from Impostor Syndrome and what it feels like
- If you suffer from Impostor syndrome, you aren't alone
- If you suffer from Impostor syndrome, it isn't a sign of weakness
- If you suffer from Impostor syndrome, you can manage it, and do amazing things
- If you don't suffer from Impostor syndrome, it doesn't make you arrogant, or a narcissist
Claire is a Test Lead at MoneySuperMarket in Manchester, with prior experience in testing Financial and Security software.
A tester for over 10 years, she is active within the testing community, contributing articles, speaking at conferences including Testbash Manchester and Nordic Testing Days.
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