Feeling completely overwhelmed in new job

[anxiousw]

I started a job two weeks ago and I feel sick. I wanted this secondment as a progression opportunity for my cv so working on new things, new staff, it’s all new. And I’m feeling completely out of my depth. It’s also my first step into leadership.
not enjoying all the stuff I’m working on, it’s stressful. I moved as I wanted the progression for my long term career goals, and I was feeling too comfortable in my previous role as I had “done it” all if that makes sense and felt I needed something new. But now I feel sick, under pressure, and like I’ve made a mistake. I can’t ask to move back yet as it’s too soon and they have recruited a fixed term contract for my substantive role. I’m panicking. My manager has also handed in his notice so no idea who my new manager will be yet.
help me calm down! :(

Didn’t want to read and run. I’m in a new job in new organisation too and not enjoying it, and have been where you are to in previous times.

Breathe…..you are doing something new and pushing yourself so there will be uncertainty and you will feel stretched.

Try and break it down a bit and think about how you should be using your time at the next level up. Where can you delegate, and what have good managers you have worked for before done that you can think about emulating? Do you have a trusted person (maybe not directly in your work area) that you can get a bit of mentoring from?

Try and keep perspective and maintain things out of work to help with that - sleep, exercise etc

Think of it as a free go at this as it’s fixed term :)

Breathe. It's all new and daunting. It's only been 2 weeks. I'm sure you'll feel more settled 2 weeks from now, and 2 weeks after that. Give it 6 weeks and if you still feel the same you can revisit your options.

Thank you both.it is all very new and I guess I don’t like not knowing everything.

You are feeling overwhelmed as it is new and a challenge compared to your previous post. Give yourself time to find your feet and then you will hopefully enjoy the new challenge, as it does sound like you were ready for it. You can't tell this soon if it isn't working. Be kind to yourself, give yourself at least 2-3 months to find your feet and work out the ways of working of the new department. You have got this. It is just a new experience, embrace it and think about what new stuff you have done that day, not what you didn't know. Mark your achievements. Good luck OP, do come back in a few months and tell us how much you have settled :-)

Two weeks is too soon to call it a mistake. A little secret that nobody will ever tell you… Everyone feels the same way when they start a new more advanced role. I don’t care who they are, what their background is, or what experience they have. Learning a new role is tough!

If you aren’t having flashes of terror you’d be doing it wrong!

I changed career five years ago. I started a new job on a Wednesday. Had a bit of training to do then, could I travel to work for the next week on a project at a client site, after less than a week in the job?

That first week was very tough. I didn't know any of my colleagues. I didn't know the technology I was using. The jargon was all new. I was away from home. One of the client staff was super hostile to being asked any questions.

It was very difficult - but I survived. I got used to things. I learned. I thrived.

Feeling uncomfortable with things is really hard, but if you can stick with it you will get through it and you will learn.

The one of my friends who loves her job most (senior legal in a big media organisation) really, really struggled with it at first. She's so glad she stuck with it, and now says, "Nobody else seems to have realised what a crap job I thought I was doing in the early days". Hang on in there!

I’m 4 months in to new and senior role and still having moments of utter panic. It takes time, stick with it.