Imposter syndrome in Engineering students: How to overcome it

With its reputation for being incredibly technically demanding and quite rigorous, starting an Engineering degree as a student leaving high school was quite daunting. I distinctly remember the shock of meeting my peers on the first day of university; so diverse in their interests, their technical backgrounds, and their familiarity with concepts I hadn’t even learned yet.

This shock quickly developed into a feeling of ‘not belonging’ in an environment where I was constantly surrounded by course mates who seemed to fit the mould of what I believed an engineer needed to be like.

But here’s the kicker. Every single engineer goes through the same thing. Whether it’s other course mates I’ve spoken to or seasoned engineers joining a new workplace. One thing that’s stuck with me in my four years of studying engineering is the fact that there isn’t a formulaic image of what an engineer is; everyone brings something different to the table.

Having had experience in leadership roles at school, engineering reinforced my ability to manage multiple teams to technical constraints and difficult deadlines, while tackling problems from a first-principles standpoint. Meanwhile, friends of mine on the course have flourished in roles that have focused on simulation or prototyping, which is proof of there not being one single idea of what an engineer needs to be.

But as easy as it is to say this in hindsight, the reality of grappling with ‘newcomer imposter syndrome’ can be quite challenging. Here are some insights that helped me to deal with my imposter syndrome:

Recognising growth

Often, in the hectic schedule of an engineering course you lose sight of just how much you’ve improved. One thing that’s helped me chart my progress through the years is going through feedback on previous assignments and seeing my areas of improvement and the areas I need to work on. This method helped me track the trajectories of my progress while also identifying areas I need to put more effort into.

The importance of guidance

While engineering is sometimes an exact science, I found that it is also quite often a ‘science of best practice’. Speaking to seniors, seeking guidance from supervisors, professors, industry professionals etc. can help you learn from their mistakes and provide a more practical understanding of the subject. The best engineers aren’t flawless computers, but rather ones that learn from continuous learning and teamwork.

Identifying your skillset

While I believe it's important that every engineer has a grasp of the basics, identifying your strengths and knowing what you bring to the table is a great confidence booster, especially in a collaborative environment.

So, to all the students daunted by the infamous field of engineering, you’re not alone, and you do belong.