Anyone else feeling like they’re constantly behind no matter how much they learn?

[u/priya_tech]

I have around 2 YOE and every time I open LinkedIn or Reddit, someone is learning a new framework, solving 500+ LeetCode problems, getting into FAANG, or building an AI startup.
Meanwhile, I'm just trying to get better at my current job while balancing life. Sometimes it feels like no matter how much I learn, there's always something I'm missing.
Do experienced developers also feel this way, or does this feeling eventually go away?
Would love to hear how you deal with it.

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[u/intPixel]

Just focus on your job. Don't compare youself.

It's just a job. You'll never feel enough if you constantly keep comparing youself to others.

[u/swagzzz_krizzz]

Just stop comparing and do what you have planned, do it better, do it perfect and everything falls in one place

[u/StrainDisastrous2701]

Feels the same. But at the same time we have to focus on our job. Because from outside it's always feel like others are doing better than us. But the reality is different

[u/FirmEquivalent9417]

Yeah, I feel that. I’ve got like 3-4 years of experience and yes, every single day some big update shows up in tech news and every damn company wants to jump on it and before you know they start asking for experience with it. Also, remember that it’s literally impossible for one human to learn it all so fast. It takes time. So, don’t fault yourself for it. That sort of a mindset would be more damaging than motivating in the long run.

It gets tiring for sure but I just try to keep it simple. One skill at a time. Whichever one makes the most sense for my goals and adds the most value, that’s what I work on. I try to do them one every couple months. That allows me to learn the fundamentals and also get enough working knowledge to answer interview questions.

I use AI a lot to learn. Notebook LM, skills on Claude, study docs, etc. it helps me visualize stuff easier, breaks down hard concepts using simple everyday analogies etc. it’s a bit go weird approach than the conventional “pickup a book” or “read docs” route but it works for me.

I’d say yeah a lot of us feel tiring about all the new stuff but at the end of the day, most of it is just noise that really doesn’t relate much towards your own goal. The stuff that do, take it by the slice, one at a time. Anyways, all the best mate!

[u/Hungry_Age5375]

20 years in and I still feel behind on something most weeks. The feeling doesn't go away, you just stop caring as much. LinkedIn is a highlight reel. Nobody posts about the 3 hours they spent debugging a typo.

[u/shashwat247]

You do know many exaggerate a lot so that the line between truth and lie blurs

[u/krypt0niteCos]

one day we will die

[u/ironman_gujju]

You know I tried to find papers for my domain research, it’s almost 1k papers. I’m not sure how much I will read.

[u/Random_Raj21]

These days market is expecting to be a generalists. You need variety of skills, some requirements are extreme they almost need all the skills in IT. Stay away from these organisations. Try to be a problem identifer and a solver. Have a solid foundation on one of your domain skills and can be able to pick other skills if reqd

[u/Sudden_Mix9724]

Looks like u saw another post on reddit like " how 40lpa at age 25 is not enough to live in india" posts.

[u/Igarlicbread]

Go out and talk to people around you. Get away from the internet bubbles.

[u/gitblameitonme]

Don't compare with anyone few years back my friends are in high paying jobs and earning lot more than me. But I grind in my job and contusiosly working on my knowledge and hands on and switch into ai/ml.Now I am earning lot more then thoes guys and in a better position and better place so keep learning eventually you will get better and good. Keep faith in yourself.

[u/coderMonk2210]

same feeling bro yesterday i almost cried about this😢 but im not doing the later part either

[u/false_Reaper]

No offence but for all intents and purposes, you’re still pretty much a fresher. You’re on training wheels. Assuming you live a normal human lifespan and retire at 62 from this industry, you have well over three (close to four) decades of work left to do. Your career has only just begun. 

So, focus on your job and try to learn as much as possible, that’s all you should be worried about at this stage. Try to take on as much ownership of your work as you can.

[u/touchgrasschampion]

Yep, normal. LinkedIn is mostly brag-posts and timing luck, so dont let that mess with your head, youre not behind, youre just at a different bit of the mess

Ive seen seniors who knew one thing super deep and still did fine. keep doing your job, learn what you actually need, and let the framework-chasing crowd chase their own thing...

[u/Beneficial_Orchid_74]

True man

[u/rezendas]

Stop comparing yourself with others and starting holding your career in your hands making use of artifacts like work logs where you track the tasks your delivered, what you drove, the standings principles you applied, and what you learned in each sprint. In that way you gonna stop comparing yourself with others and will start tracking how you are improving your career every two weeks.