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It doesn't work quite like that, but yes, our knowing that we might be suffering from this illusion can make us feel even worse.

I don't think it's really about my self-worth. I'm happy with who I am. I often talk about how truly fortunate I am to find something I like doing that happens to pay really well. I know several teachers who are smarter and harder working than I am, but the job market doesn't smile as much on their career.

It's further harder when you actually have been the imposter. In my case, I went to a small school and was one of the smartest people there. I worked for two small companies and was their little rock star. Then I landed a job at a company that was made of rock stars. Try as hard as I could, they were more experienced and probably more talented - I just couldn't keep up. A year and a half in, they told me that wanted to try filling my position again. They were super awesome, let me stay on while interviewing, gave me great references, and I found something more at my skill level. Still, I keep wondering about where I fit in at my current job.

I think the Peter Principle can apply to everyone. I also got promoted until I reached my level of incompetence. Fortunately, most of us reading Hacker News are in an industry where jobs at every level are plentiful. It's not too hard for us to take a step back if we need more time to prepare for a higher level. It still just hurts to have to fail, job hunt, and be the new person again.