It’s easy to feel as if you don’t know what you’re doing when starting a new job. After all, you’re new and you don’t know what you’re doing. This is a positive thing. If you started a new job knowing everything, you’re either: 1) not growing professionally or 2) a deluded know-it-all.
Pretending that you have all the answers will only prevent you from asking the right questions and becoming a better employee. But what happens if you still feel unqualified, even after you’ve been at the job awhile?
It’s important to remember that just because you feel under qualified doesn’t actually mean that you are. Before you ditch the job for something else, see if your insecurities are based on reality or on unrealistic expectations.
They Hired You For a Reason
Sometimes you want a job so much that when you get it, you start to question whether you deserve it. You might think you somehow tricked your employer into hiring you by pretending to be something you’re not. But unless you’re an amazing actor or you flat-out lied on your resume, they clearly saw something in you that impressed them.
Sometimes the person who gets the job is not the one with the most experience or the most polished demeanor, it’s the one with the most potential to bring something special to the job.
Instead of dwelling on what you think you’re lacking, try to focus on those essential qualities that made you stand out. Of course that doesn’t mean you don’t have things to learn. It just reminds you to remember what you have to offer.
You Deserve to Succeed
Studies have shown that feeling like an imposter at your job is often the result of having unrealistically high standards. In fact, this “imposter syndrome” often afflicts the highest achievers among us.
According to a recent article, as many as two thirds of Harvard Business School students said they felt like they got in by some failure of the admission process.
These perfectionists set “excessively high, unrealistic goals and then experience self-defeating thoughts and behaviors when they can’t reach those goals,” wrote the Harvard Business Review, “…perfectionism often turns neurotic imposters into workaholics.”
Despite validation and positive support from managers and colleagues, these so-called imposters find it difficult to override an internal script (sometimes planted early by a parent or other significant caregiver) that says they’re not good enough.
But as most successful people can attest, luck usually has very little to do with success.
You’re Allowed to Make Mistakes
If you aren’t careful, your feelings of inadequacy can turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy. By not allowing yourself the space to make mistakes, you’re impeding your opportunity to thrive and grow.
Being outside of your comfort zone is an exciting place to be. It challenges you to think differently and push yourself in new directions. It enables you to come up with creative solutions that might not have occurred to you before. Harness this energy and accept the fact that you will stumble at times. But don’t allow your faith to waver in achieving your end-goal of success. In order to be successful at your job, you need to be able to visualize it.
Reach Out to Others
Of course, there are times when you’re truly in over your head. If this is the case, there are a number of options to consider before making your next move. First, reach out to trusted colleagues at work to get their feedback on the matter. Their insights can help give you a better perspective on your abilities and how you’re generally perceived.
Next, speak to your supervisor to see if she’s generally happy with your performance. Don’t be afraid to express your concerns. Sometimes things can be remedied by simply switching around your job duties or getting extra training or help.
Ultimately, it really comes down to your comfort level. If going to work is causing more anxiety than pleasure, it might be time to look for something else.
