My Honest Journey Starting Out as an SDE

When I cracked my first tech interview and landed a role as a Software Development Engineer, it felt surreal.

Coming from an ECE background, I had spent months diving into C++ and DSA — solving problems, writing code, staying up late to debug the same logic over and over. That grind gave me confidence... until day one at work.

😅 The Reality Check

The first week itself felt like being thrown into a different universe.

Everyone around me spoke about frameworks, architecture, and deployment pipelines — terms I’d barely even heard of. The company’s tech stack was completely new to me. I knew nothing about it. Not even the basics.

While my collagemates— many of whom had CSE backgrounds — quickly settled into their tasks, I sat there, staring at my screen, unsure where to begin.

I couldn’t even fully follow conversations.
People talked about things casually that sounded like riddles to me.
At one point, I genuinely asked myself:

“Did I walk into the wrong room? Am I really meant to be here?”

💭 Self-Doubt Creeps In

Watching others code so confidently while I was still figuring out what tools we were using made me feel out of place.

I kept thinking:

“What if they realize I don’t know anything?”
“What if I mess up?”
“What if I disappoint them?”

I felt like I was constantly one step away from being found out as an imposter.

🙌 But Then… Something Shifted

It wasn’t a magic moment.
It wasn’t a grand breakthrough.
It was people.

My teammates noticed my hesitation — but not once did they judge me for it.

They explained things patiently.
They shared resources.
They never made me feel “less than” for not knowing something.

One even said:

“Everyone starts somewhere. Ask whatever you want — we’re here to learn together.”

That one line changed my mindset completely.

🔁 From Surviving to Learning

Slowly, I stopped hiding my questions.
I started asking for help without fear.
And in return, I found mentorship, support, and a team that truly cared.

Once I broke that “ice” — something beautiful happened.

I didn’t just learn faster — I started enjoying the process.
My confidence grew.
My communication got better.
And gradually… I felt like I belonged.

🌼 Reflecting Back

Looking back now, I see how much has changed.

The version of me who felt lost and silent in meetings has grown into someone who can contribute, collaborate, and even help others now. I’ve gone from fearing every task to embracing challenges.

And I’ve realized something powerful:

Your background doesn’t limit you. Your mindset does.

🧠 To Anyone Who Feels “Behind”

If you’re just starting your career, especially from a non-CS background — hear this from me:

You are not behind.
You are not alone.
And you are definitely not unworthy.

Ask questions. Make mistakes. Keep learning.
It’s okay to start slow — just don’t stop.

You do belong in tech.
Even when it feels hard — especially then — remember:
You’re building something, and that includes yourself.

🚀 From “Did I Belong Here?” to “I’m Growing Every Day”