The Confidence Crisis in Tech: Why So Many People Feel Like Frauds (and How to Beat It)

You’d be surprised how many talented people in tech secretly feel like frauds.

It doesn’t matter whether they’re coding prodigies, certified project managers, or newly transitioned career changers, there’s this quiet, creeping doubt that whispers: “YOU don’t belong here.”

It’s called Imposter Syndrome, and trust me, it’s not just you.

I’ve seen it in the eyes of fresh graduates, corporate managers pivoting into tech, and even senior developers with years under their belt. It’s a confidence crisis, and it’s sweeping across the tech industry like a silent epidemic.

So let’s talk about it properly.

What Is Imposter Syndrome And Why Is Tech a Breeding Ground for It?

Imposter Syndrome is that nagging feeling that you're not as competent as others think you are. You're convinced someone’s eventually going to "find you out", even though you’ve done the work, earned the role, or secured the promotion.

In the tech world, this gets amplified for a few reasons:

• Fast-paced change – What you knew yesterday might not be relevant tomorrow. New tools, frameworks, acronyms: every. single. time. It's hard to feel “enough” when the goalpost keeps moving.

• High-achieving peers – You're often surrounded by incredibly smart people, which can make you question your own brilliance. Everyone's posting “10x developer” content or preaching productivity hacks like they’ve unlocked a secret code. It’s intimidating. The pressure to always know can make you afraid to ask questions or admit gaps.

• Lack of diversity – Only woman? Only Black person? Only career changer? Only person without any degree or a computer science degree? These realities can heighten the imposter feeling because you subconsciously feel you have to prove you belong. If you don’t “look” like what the tech industry has traditionally celebrated, it’s easy to feel like an outsider.

• Too Much Focus on “Hard Skills” – We glorify the tech stack: Python, AWS, Jira, SQL. But we don’t talk enough about critical thinking, emotional intelligence, adaptability, skills many people already have in abundance. If you're not coding, you’re still contributing. Full stop.

  
  

But here’s the truth: Imposter Syndrome thrives in silence. And the more we talk about it, the more we reclaim our confidence.

“I’m Not Technical Enough…”

Ever found yourself thinking that?

Maybe you transitioned from another field. Maybe you’re great at organising teams, solving people problems, and managing stakeholders but you're scared to say you're "in tech" because you can’t write code.

That doesn’t make you a fraud.

It makes you part of a growing, powerful wave of non-technical tech professionals who are shaping the future of the industry. Tech needs communicators. Problem solvers. Empathisers. Organisers. Leaders.

The fact that you're in the room, learning, growing, contributing—that’s enough.

You Are Not Alone

imposter syndrome is one of the most common struggles I hear about.

One woman said, “I feel like everyone in the room knows more than me.” Another shared, “I’m terrified that i won't be able to do this job although i have the skills and knowledge.” A project manager confessed, “Even after leading several successful projects, I still feel like I’m winging it.”

And you know what I tell them?

“Same. I’ve felt that too.”

The difference now? I know how to silence that voice when it pops up.

And I want you to know how to do it too.

Imposter syndrome is often a sign that you're exactly where you need to be: at the edge of your comfort zone, levelling up.

Growth doesn’t feel like mastery. It feels like discomfort. Confusion. Doubt. And that’s not a bug but it’s the process.

So here’s what I want you to remember:

• You earned your seat—through experience, grit, learning, and consistency.

• Everyone, and I mean everyone, is figuring things out behind the scenes.

• You don’t need to know everything to belong—you just need to be willing to learn anything.

  
  

5 Ways to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

You won’t “fix” imposter syndrome overnight, but you can absolutely reduce its grip.

Here’s what I recommend to my clients, students, and community members:

1. Document Your Wins (Even the Tiny Ones)

Keep a record of the tasks you’ve completed, projects you have supported or led, feedback you’ve received, and challenges you’ve overcome. I call this your career receipts folder or the brag book. It’s a confidence file open it when the doubts creep in.

2. Say It Out Loud

Talk about it. With a mentor. With your peers. With a trusted friend. Saying “I feel like a fraud sometimes” takes the power out of that voice.

3. Remind Yourself: Learning Is the Job

In tech, everyone is learning. The industry requires lifelong learning. Feeling like you don’t know everything? That’s not a flaw. It is the expectation.

4. Stop Comparing Your Chapter 1 to Someone’s Chapter 10

You just started a new path. You’re building skills. Don’t measure your progress against someone else’s peak. Came from HR? Logistics? Teaching? Your unique lens is your advantage. Tech doesn’t need more of the same. It needs YOU.

5. Invest in a Support System

Join communities. Take courses. Get coaching. Surround yourself with people who see your potential even when you can’t. That’s exactly why I built EPI-Tech, to create a space for people like you.

Here’s the truth: the most confident people in tech aren’t always the smartest. They’re the ones who’ve learned to push through fear, show up consistently, and ask for help when needed.

You’re Not a Fraud. You’re a Force.

You don’t need to “feel” ready to be ready.

You don’t need to “know everything” to be valuable.

You’re learning. You’re growing. You’re trying.

That’s not fraudulence. That’s bravery.

And the next time that little voice in your head tries to talk you down, I want you to say this out loud: I belong in tech. I’m not behind. I’m building.

Your tech journey doesn’t start when you stop doubting yourself. It starts now—doubt and all.