Worried about starting new job

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Don't want to out myself with details, but am pleased to have got a new job, an upgrade on my current role in a civil service dept. Am now worried sick that I'm going to be exposed or mess up in my new role.

Basically, I'm 50, I'm fat, I'm a grafter but don't have a degree. The people I'm working with are likely to be young high flyers en route to glittering careers. I meet them at a Christmas party in London next week and I'm dreading it.

What advice or words of comfort do you have for someone in my situation? Thank you.

Congratulations, and park the nerves you will be fabulous!!

I'm almost 50 and employ lots of younger staff, they are amazing, love older women they embrace the fact we know all about the real 80s & 90s.

I have such great friendships with all generations, so own your space.

Congrats!!

I get really anxious about work related stuff. I just try to pretend and convince myself that I’m like, a total whizz at this. I don’t actively bullshit at work but it’s like, bullshitting my brain to just find a route to calm down

and I used to be one of those young bucks (many years ago!!) and I never once judged a new person/manager etc on their weight and age or any of those things
i just wanted them to do the job

You’ll be fine. It’s just a touch of impostor syndrome…. Which is normal, and common.

The people who gave you the job trust in your capability, if it’s difficult to trust your own judgement trust theirs… at this point, they know the job better than you do.

I’ve needed to have ‘the talk’ with myself a few times … it goes like this ‘you’re a grown up, you can do this!’ Then take a deep breath, stand tall and get on with living life! …. My manager says it’s about feeling the fear and doing it anyway…. then that experience builds your confidence and goes a long way to curing a bout of impostor syndrome!