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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask if you’ve ever taken a job you weren’t confident about being able to do…?

69 replies

Redskyatnight01 · 24/11/2015 09:05

And if so, did it work out? Were there teething problems?

I might be offered a job. However, it is a daunting prospect because the majority of it I haven’t ever done before (they are aware of this) and there is an awful lot of maths involved…Maths has never been my strong point!!

If I were to be successful in it though, it has really good career prospects and the salary is very good. I’m just concerned I’ll get in there and not have a clue, struggle to grasp duties required and get sacked :cries: It is a very busy, fast paced role and there is no time for stragglers or for people to carry me really (not that I’d want anyone to be carrying me!)

A part of me says if I’m not confident about being able to do it, I really should just walk away now…the other part of me says if I never push myself I’ll never really know what I’m capable of.

OP posts:

GoringBit · 24/11/2015 17:09

I have done a few times, and only once did it not work out for me - with better support, it could have done, but the person that was meant to pass on the very technical stuff didn't want to know, and made that clear. Eventually I stopped asking for help, which didn't help matters, so it was partly my own fault.

The times it worked, my career benefited hugely, both in terms of grade and pay.

I think the main thing is to ask for guidance when you need it (which you might not), and take note of the guidance you're given. Stay positive and keep asking questions when you encounter something you need help with - which everyone does from time to time.

Go for it and good luck.

laureywilliams · 24/11/2015 17:16

Yes most of them. Still do some days. Imposter syndrome here too.

Sometimes if you 'wait until you're ready' to do something, you find you're never quite, ready enough. Just got to jump in!

Lunaballoon · 24/11/2015 17:31

You must have really impressed at your interview! If they're willing to take you on knowing the gaps in your experience, they must think you're worth the risk. I'd go for it!

OhBJayzuz · 24/11/2015 17:33

Yes, I've done it a few times and its usually worked out well in the end. In fact, i think its often the way you get promotions.

I'm sure there is some research somewhere that says that men tend to read a job description and if they meet half the criteria, they'll confidently apply for a role, whereas women are more likely to read a JD where they can do everything but maybe one or two things and obsess about those and be put off applying...

Good luck!

aquashiv · 24/11/2015 17:41

Is that you Mr Cameron?

Topseyt · 24/11/2015 17:52

Yes, most of my jobs have been like that, and everything worked out fine except for one where I just couldn't get on with the very pushy and sexist managers.

I don't have a maths brain either, and have always been fine in financial services. Believe it or not, you only need basic understanding and common sense. Excel and other software do all of the rest.

Whatever it is, go for it, especially if you are not currently working. Give it a try.

MagicalHamSandwich · 24/11/2015 17:55

Only every other mandate I've ever taken on. I'm a consultant so that's been quite a few.

For my first mandate, straight out of uni, I was supposed to act as as a business analyst cum administrative support to the client side project manager. Turned out said PM was the mayor of Dumbville. I ended up managing the project after a few weeks. Spent my first two months crying in the toilets because I was in way over my head. Ended the mandate being offered a job with a 30% salary bump by the client. Turned it down as I realised I could do better ...

Just made my 3rd promotion in as many years with my current firm. Still feel bloody clueless every time I'm put on a new job - but it's a feeling you can get used to.

So, yes, by all means go for it!

louloubelle2 · 24/11/2015 18:08

Yes I'm doing it now and wish I'd done it years ago, instead of sticking to the same low paid easy roles. I've had a few sleepless nights, but everything is slowly falling into place and getting easier every week.

Btw, you don't need to be good at conventional maths to use excel, more excellent attention to detail really and a bit of an analytical brain. If it's just a case of using existing spreadsheets, you just need to get your head round how everything links and the instructions its been given to do its job. I'd be surprised if you need to build one completely from scratch without there being an existing template you can cobble from.

Really good luck.

Goodbetterbest · 24/11/2015 18:25

Don't we all?

Regardless of our capabilities many of us feel like a fraud in the work place. I've had the conversation many times with friends, it does rather seem to be a female thing.

CaffeineBomb · 24/11/2015 19:34

I feel like this! I'm due to be starting a new job soon and crapping myself as it is technical and a different specialism, I figure if I don't try I will always think what if?

StatisticallyChallenged · 24/11/2015 19:45

Yup, just started in a new job that's way more technical than anything I've ever done before and way over my head, big pay bump...I'm terrified and still wondering why the hell they hired me!

amarmai · 24/11/2015 20:23

if we can take on the jobs of wives and mothers with no training, we can do anything IMO.

Original poster

Redskyatnight01 · 25/11/2015 15:40

Thanks for the advice/ support/ encouragement guys. IF I do get offered the job.....I think i'll take it. I must be mental but at least then, even if it all goes tits up, I can say I tried my best and went for it.

I want to break out of doing the same type of roles that don't require much brain power and actually do something challenging...and dough earning

OP posts:

maggiethemagpie · 25/11/2015 16:19

Is this not how most people progress their careers? After all no one is born knowing how to do a particular job, and most employers won't take you on if you don't know how to do the job you've applied for (there are very few genuine training positions) so most of the time it's a case of looking for the opportunity and blagging your way there.

Potterwolfie · 25/11/2015 16:28

I admire you and am sure you'll do brilliantly in the role!

I read somewhere that often, if a woman sees one thing in a job profile that she has no experience of, she won't apply for the job, but if a man sees a list of things he's not qualified for, he would still apply.

I've lost confidence in myself by being out of an office environment for 10 years (I work freelance from home) and am terrified about applying for jobs as I feel like a complete imposter, but I really want to get back into 'proper' work...

MagicalHamSandwich · 25/11/2015 16:34

This!

I met ExH at uni and we were applying for our first graduate roles at the same time. He was going for roles like project manager and senior expert - I was applying for anything that included the words 'junior', 'trainee' or 'graduate' in it and fretting over the fact that I thought I could only do about 80 percent of the stuff in the job description.

Funny enough we accidentally ended up applying to the same firm and they hired me but not him [feeling vindicated].

HelenaJustina · 25/11/2015 16:44

I started a new job at the beginning of the month and the person I am taking over from finished yesterday (they did one day a week). I had a proper wobble today at now being completely on my own! I'm sure I'm going to screw up and get found out. This role involves a lot more finance/book-keeping than I have ever done before but I'm hanging in there and hoping it all becomes second nature soon...

I'd say take the job, I had exactly the same reaction 24 hours after I was offered mine. Initial excitement was overtaken by terror! Didn't help that I had been out of the work place for 8 years having babies...

GummyBunting · 25/11/2015 16:55

Oh yes. Big time.
Booking onto an extra course to give you confidence is a really sensible thing to do.

I got a U in my IT GCSE... and now work in a very IT based industry.

Fake it till you make it!

Spellcaster · 25/11/2015 17:12

Sometimes companies hire for the skills, sometimes they hire someone who is a good fit, has the basics and is trainable! It's much better to train up someone with good energy, than to hire a stellar performer who runs everyone up the wrong way. Anything is learnable - take it easy on yourself and enjoy the process!

DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel · 25/11/2015 17:19

Yes. I'm 3 days into the job now. I've been feeling very overwhelmed today and have cried a little bit. Mine is a step up in a company I've worked for 8 months. I'm telling myself that if my manager and team leaders (both current and former) didn't think I could do it then I wouldn't be. I didn't ask to move to this team, it was offered to me.

Original poster

Redskyatnight01 · 30/11/2015 15:09

I got the job...and have accepted.

Bricking it already though, I have one month to swat up on my maths and Excel skills....better get on Groupon. Arghhh.

OP posts:

TeaPleaseLouise · 30/11/2015 15:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Anotherusername1 · 30/11/2015 16:02

Yes I have done this more than once and it didn't work out for me. But I think it depends on your boss, your industry, your employer - it all has an impact on how quickly they expect you to be on top of everything and how well they expect you to do the job or whether they expect you to take a while to grow into it.

And how naturally talented you are. Some people can take on anything, work at it, do well at it (like the person above who said they moved legal specialism). Other people need to stay within their comfort zone. I am one of the latter. I see above that someone wrote that there's no point taking on a job that isn't a challenge. I don't think there's any point taking on a job you'll be bored in (assuming you have the luxury of a choice) but it's fine to be good at what you do and not be particularly ambitious for something super-challenging.

I am not a risk-taker. But only you know whether you can do the job with a bit of effort (the Excel course, reading around the job) or whether it really is likely to be beyond you. If it's only down to technical ability, you can learn those skills and you'll know in your heart of hearts if you really can't do those skills. For example, it would be silly for me to take a role that involved craft or art! Although I did manage to put displays together when i worked in a library so even then I discovered that I was not as rubbish as I thought!

I know women are less likely to apply for a role they are not 100% qualified for but in my case I have seriously had my fingers burnt by thinking that I could do a job that I was not up to doing in terms of ability, personality, and family situation (ie needing to get home for nursery pick-up and not being able to put the hours in).

Original poster

Redskyatnight01 · 30/11/2015 17:47

Oh god, I'm worried now!

I really hope I've made the right decision as I'll be buggered if I haven't!

OP posts:

BaronessSamedi · 30/11/2015 17:53

well done!
you've made the right decision.
if you feel the need to swot/bone up before you start, do so.
i reckon you'll be fine because you sound very conscientious.

what i find helpful when starting a new job is to keep a personal notebook to write down instructions, procedures, how-to-dos, codes etc.
then i can build up a procedures book and i don't keep having to ask the same questions over and over.

when i felt a previous job, i left my procedures notebook for my replacement and she was thrilled to have it to hand when she started.

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