Are you unsure of yourself in your new job?
Whether you are a recent graduate or have been in the job market for a long time, starting a new job can be difficult.
As a recent graduate, you are bursting with enthusiasm and dreaming of a successful career. And as an experienced employee, you feel that you should have everything under control, because that's how it was in your old job.
But when you start a new job, you are confronted with reality. And instead of being really good at what you did before, you are now a kind of newbie.
Uncertainty when changing jobs is completely natural
Many people (over 50% of all Danes) are affected by what is known as imposter syndrome. Impostor syndrome – or the impostor phenomenon – is about being afraid of being exposed as incompetent.
Insecurity and doubt arise quite naturally because we compare ourselves with each other – also in the workplace.
On the positive side, this means that we can see what the work culture is like and how we can fit in well. But the downside is that we become aware of our colleagues' skills and mirror them.
Your colleagues have been in the workplace longer than you have. Therefore, they are more experienced.
Unfortunately, we rarely see this as a difference in experience, but as a difference in skills. These are not the same thing.
Why do I feel insecure in my new job?
There are basically four phases you go through when you start a new job.
Unknowingly inexperienced
You don’t know your limitations before you’re confronted with them. Even though you know that everything will probably be different when you start your new job and you’re nervous, many people are surprised when their tasks become more specific and not as theoretical as they are used to.
Knowingly inexperienced
You will discover relatively quickly that your colleagues think, say and do many things naturally that you do not understand or have never done before. In these situations, you will become aware that you don’t have as much experience as your colleagues. If you have imposter syndrome, this is typically the phase you’re in right now.
Knowingly experienced
If you’re not discouraged by step 2, you’ll gradually acquire the same experience as your colleagues – and perhaps sooner than you think. Like learning to ride a bike: First you have to fall and wear a plaster, but then someday things will run smoothly – even without stabilisers. It feels great when you can apply your academic skills from your studies in a new way on your new tasks.
Unknowingly experienced
The things that were new and difficult in the beginning, and that you’ve worked hard to get used to ever since, will gradually stop being new. You’ll get used to being able to do the same as your colleagues, and you may forget that this was once a challenging time.
If things then change, and you change to a new job, department or position, it’ll start all over again. But now you know that this is a natural process and everybody has to go through it; it has nothing to do with your competences.
Should I be concerned when I feel unsure of myself in my new job?
No. You have no reason to be concerned.
1. You’re reading this text. This means that you care about how well you do at work. And this shows commitment. If you’re committed and want to be the best version of yourself at work, then don’t worry: You will be, you just have to go through the motions first. There is no getting around it, but remember: If you have completed a higher education programme, you’re used to acquiring new knowledge.
2. You’re underestimating your superiors. It’s not your job to assess your suitability. The people who hired you have done that already. “Putting a team together” is actually one of the primary tasks of a personnel manager. If they believe that you’re up to the task, they’re very probably right. Perhaps they can see things that you can’t. They won’t expect you to be a genius from day one. No matter what: It’s not your job to assess whether you’re suitable for the job.