Feeling like a failure - new "career"

[Scottishpotato]

Long winded and rambling... Sorry!

Anyone else feel like this? About 6 months ago I embarked on a career change from 6 years of general admin in the public sector in roles across various areas. Mundane stuff and could be pretty boring at times but overall not awful. Alright pay but good hols, pension, all those benefits. Prior to that I worked in hospitality in minimum wage roles.

Always thought I was good with people and thought HR would be a good move for me as would get great progression opportunities...from reading here it seems alot if others think this too!

Unfortunately, I don't think its working out. I have self funded my cipd qualification online as and I am about to finish hopefully by the end of this month, I've enjoyed it but it has also scared me a bit how much "legal" things I could be responsible for. I'm currently in a junior assistant role with 2 advisors above me and the manager. I feel like I am treading water and don't have the confidence or knowledge for the post despite it being so junior. I know I have the knowledge from my qualification but find it hard to apply to work.

I took the post assuming it would be aiding the advisors daily but actually it's doing some of the tasks I thought they'd be doing....with no formal training, so I don't know if I'm even doing things right. Therefore, I don't feel confident doing these tasks - by looking, I come across as confident but really inside I'm scared of saying or doing the wrong thing.
I feel like I'm irritating the advisors by asking questions but I can't help it as I've got no formal experience. (Maybe that's how you learn in this area?)

One has been there 5 years, the other 15 and they've had experience prior to their current posts so really well versed. I guess I don't really know if its lack of confidence/imposter syndrome or if its just not the right career for me. I think its probably the lack of formal training that concerns me most however I don't forsee any coming, very much sink or swim it seems and thinking on your feet, which I don't cope with unless I am sure of myself and the consequences.

At this point I couldn't imagine myself progressing upwards either here or elsewhere, as I don't have the confidence or self belief. I just feel like a failure and should have stuck with my old job.

OP - you haven’t lost anything. You’ve explored something and this current job isn’t working out how you expected. You never know until you try things - if you hadn’t tried, I’m sure you’d always have had a ‘what if?’ In the back of your mind. Well done for doing the course off your own back while working! It shows perseverance and taking responsibility for your own development.

i suggest looking for another job (in hr) - you need a good mentor who will guide you and give you feedback - as it is hard when you start out in anything. Maybe you will stay in HR and maybe you won’t. But this experience won’t be wasted - you’ve learnt something new and at the very least it will help you if you ever line manage anyone.

Keep going and ask questions if you are not sure. Worst case scenario use the experience to add to your CV and start looking elsewhere after you have built up some knowledge. Try and get to 12 months before moving on as that will look a bit better on your CV.

Thank you both so much for your kind words and advice.
I think a mentor is what I need, someone who can walk me through key hr tasks step by step - perhaps do a task with me shadowing then let me do it with them there so they can step in if needed. At the moment it's that "backup" I'm lacking and would help me boost my confidence. I kinda thought that was what would be happening! 🙈The CV aspect does concern me although would it look bad having a year or more's experience which is a bit "ropey."