5 Ways to Overcome Your Fear of a New Job

Changing careers can be a scary prospect. And when you finally clinch the new job, it is natural to have that clinging fear that you may not do well at it.

This uncertainty can make you second guess your actions and make you wonder if you are doing a good job. Fortunately, the fear of a new job although real, can be fixed. The following five tips will help you put your nerves at ease and feel more confident in your new job.

1. Remember why you are there

You were not the only candidate that applied for the position. For you to have been chosen, it means you have what it takes to get the job done. Sorry, but the organization didn’t choose you for your good looks. They choose you because you fit the role perfectly. If your new employers have that much confidence in you, then you have no reason not to have it in yourself.

Secondly, remember why you opted for career change. Maybe you needed a change of scene, career advancement or more challenges. Whatever your reasons, you got what you wanted so focus on that and let the excitement of your new responsibilities push away the fear and worries.

2. Be yourself

Being yourself in a strange environment can be difficult, but this is the only way you can settle in quickly. Walking into a new job full of tension will not only stress you out, it will also stress the people you are working with. If you are usually an outgoing sort of person, don’t become a recluse because you are in a new environment. Engage your colleagues as if you have known them for some time. Not only will this ease up the work environment, it will also make it easier to get the help you need to find your feet.

3. You don’t have all the answers

In your new position, you may feel pressured to produce immediate results. This may mean making the right contributions and comments, finding the right solutions or impressing your employers and colleagues. It is important you remember that for every new career, there is always a brief learning curve. Nobody expects you to come in with all the answers, so don’t put yourself under undue pressure in a bid to deliver. Learn what you need to learn as fast as possible and trust yourself that with time, you will be able to show the stuff you are made of.

4. It’s a job, not a contest

Of course, every job should allow for healthy competition. It is the healthy competition that brings about career growth and advancement. But you need to remember that you are there to get a job done. It can be tempting to want to show your new colleagues just how much better you are. Or you may find yourself thinking that they are better than you. The truth is that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Your focus should be to learn as much as you can about the job you are doing and remember that your new colleagues are just doing their jobs too.

5. You are bound to make mistakes

Once you realize early on in your new job that you are bound to make mistakes, it makes it easier to settle into your new position. Understand and accept the fact that mistakes will happen and get on with your job. If you are anxious about making mistakes, you will surely make them. Your duty is simply to the best you can. And if you make a mistake, learn from it.

Have you faced fear and anxiety in a new job? How did you cope? Tell us.