[fenici]

It sounds more like a confidence / imposter syndrome issue than an actual lack of your skills or experience. Secret is, many thoughtful, intelligent people who practice self-reflection feel this way. We tend to overestimate the capbility of others and underestimate our own. Other people thought you were capable which is why they encouraged you and why you got the job. Maybe it's just confidence? Sure, you might not have the skills/experience required to really be successful right now but few people are. It can take time to figure things out. I say stick with it and continue asking these sorts of questions and seek help. As another poster said, what's your overall health? exercise, diet, mental health, etc. These things can mean the difference between success and failure yet the situation external to ourselves doesn't change. Keep looking for answers, you will find them.

[formercoder]

I don’t know that I agree. Mentorship is very important at the early stages of a career and I definitely missed out on it personally joining a small company out of college. Not sure exactly what OPs resume looks like but if it’s enough for him to transition to a mid size tech company that would have more structure around engineering, I would imagine that would be a fruitful move from both financial and educational perspectives.

[baby]

I see mentorship as an excellent shortcut to self-improvement, as it is a good way to quickly get quality feedback. But finding people that you can model works as well. I've personally learned a lot just looking at how other peers approached problems. If you work in an environment where there is no true role model, you often end up becoming the role model yourself, as you decide on what is important or not. At this point, the internet is your community, and if you work with your office's door closed, you might dig yourself into a hole.

[formercoder]

Very true. I went to a large tech company after the small one in search of that. Unfortunately I didn’t see anyone in roles potentially ahead of mine where I’d look at their job and think “that’s what I want to work towards.” Now I have found that in my current role and I’m settling in for the long run to get there.

[baby]

> I didn’t see anyone in roles potentially ahead of mine where I’d look at their job and think [...]

That's interesting, it might mean that you're doing a really good job.

[formercoder]

Don’t think I follow?

[fenici]

Exactly the point of my post - OP doesn't have a mentor so he reached out to HN. In this case we're his mentors. Consider my post in the context of me trying to provide advice as a mentor. I am not sure how this is interpreted as being anti-mentor.

[fenici]

Which part do you disagree with? I didn't say mentorship isn't important - it's very important. The point I am making is it's easy to think the solution to ones problems will be solved by some external thing or person. But a lot of improvement can be found from personal development. When I read the post I get the sense that OP is perhaps lacking in confidence, hence my post. I am trying to see though the literal words to the meaning behind them. Perhaps I am wrong but I don't see how we have a disagreement.

[scarface74]

Yes he could be suffering from imposters syndrome or he could be an “expert beginner”. The only way you really know the difference is by being in an environment where you can learn from other people. Preferably people with outside of your company industry experience.

[fenici]

I think there's something to learn from everyone we work with. Sometimes it's simply how to be patient and compassionate with people who are challenging to be around :)

[scarface74]

But if you work around 2 developers who were also self taught and didn’t have any outside experience, that really doesn’t put you in a good spot.

Ask me how I know...