Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel devastated that my lack of confidence is affecting my new job

1 reply

lackofconfidenceee · 24/02/2021 09:57

I started a new job recently and I'm really struggling with it. I don't want to go into the job specifics but it involves using a lot of expensive equipment with lots of little fiddy nuanced things to remember and the slightest error can cause very expensive damages and means workflow is affected for hours whilst it's fixed which has knock-on effects. The training for the equipment was very intense and it was an overwhelming amount of information to learn. My colleagues also found the same but they are much more confident at just having a go/trying whereas I like to hang back and be more cautious. There always has to be someone watching you when you use the equipment to ensure you're using it correctly and I become really clumsy when being watched as it makes me nervous, I flinch every time I turn the equipment on to run as I'm just waiting for it to break because of my error.

My colleagues have all made small mistakes on the equipment and they just shrug it off as a learning experience. Our supervisor is kind and approachable and the work environment is positive in that it understands mistakes happen, etc. I have yet to make a mistake as I'm overly cautious but whenever I do anything that doesn't go perfectly, e.g. if I take my time with checking something meaning I'm a bit slower than my colleagues I take it as evidence of my incompetence. We work in groups and I find myself busying myself with the easier parts so I can avoid certain aspects of the equipment I find intimidating.

When I applied for this job, going by the job requirements I was overqualified. However, I started as a cohort with colleagues and I guess because the job market is so competitive right now I am actually probably one of the least experienced employees in my role.

I know I'll probably be fine in a few weeks but I'm just feeling sad at the moment. :(

OP posts:
lubeybooby · 24/02/2021 10:03

I experienced similar and it turns out I have adhd - inattention and overwhelm makes us overcompensate and be overcautious, and reluctant to make a mistake especially if you were picked up on silly mistakes a lot as a child/teen

I'm NOT saying you have adhd or trying to diagnose as I know a lot of neurotypicals experience the same things to an extent so it could just be one of those instances. My long winded way of saying why I feel you on this one!

Keep on keeping on and hopefully your confidence will grow

Also, if it's ok for the others to make mistakes as you've mentioned, it's ok for you too as well. You're still learning

New posts on this thread. Refresh page