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Original poster

Worried I oversold myself - job offer?

26 replies

Happyfeet82 · 07/08/2025 21:07

I’ve been offered a new job, at a very prestigious company, its a real step up in terms of responsbility and money. After the interview, I was certain I hadn’t done well. I walked away feeling like I’d fluffed it, and I was about 90% sure I wouldn’t be hearing back.

So when the offer came through today, I honestly thought they’d made a mistake... I accepted the role but now I’m struggling with a LOT of self-doubt.

The main thing playing on my mind is something I said during the interview about a particular design software. I told them I was very competent with it, which used to be true… but I haven’t actually used it in about five years. I’m not completely clueless, but I definitely need a refresher. I’m just worried I might have oversold myself completely and that I won’t be able to hit the ground running like they expect.

I do have the right experience, but I guess I’m just feeling like I’m not good enough for the job. There’s definitely a bit of imposter syndrome going on here. I actually feel like running away and turning it down, someone talk me out of it! 😓

OP posts:
Cnidarian · 07/08/2025 21:08

You'll be fine. Do a refresher course before you start, you know it

Dangermoo · 07/08/2025 21:10

So before you take the job, do the refresher training - easy. You showed them you are worth it. Stop with the self doubt x congratulations 🍸

PhilosophisingGiraffe · 07/08/2025 21:11

Chat GPT will design you a course. Seriously.

nadine90 · 07/08/2025 21:11

Is it something you could do a quick refresher course on before starting?
You obviously thought you could do the job when you read the spec applied, and they obviously thought you were the best person for it. You’ll be fine, congratulations! X

upandleftthenright · 07/08/2025 21:11

This is what women do. Doubt themselves. Men just jump in. Qualified or not. It’s why women tend to be more competent than men in my opinion, as they can more or less always be better at the job in reality

Wirdle · 07/08/2025 21:11

Brush up, you'll be fine! Think like a mediocre man - well done!

TeachesOfPeaches · 07/08/2025 21:12

Train yourself up on the software before you join

REDB99 · 07/08/2025 21:14

I work in a role and have imposter syndrome that won’t go away! I was surprised to be appointed (despite 20 years in the field and vastly experienced). I think it comes from genuinely not expecting to be appointed, there were three rounds and while I thought they had gone well enough I didn’t think I had aced them. I’ve since found out that some people are totally rubbish at the stages / interviews so to get through is significant. I still can’t shake that me doing reasonably okay was better than the 100 other applicants but it obviously was or I wouldn’t have been appointed.

I suggest you up-skill yourself on the programme you’ve mentioned. Also remember that you’re new to the role and will need help, support and guidance that you’re entitled to.

Iwantsandybeachesandgoodfood · 07/08/2025 21:15

If you weren’t good enough they wouldn’t have hired you! You simply tell them, when it comes up that it’s been a little while and you’ll need some reminding. In the meantime, go over it and refresh your memory/ update your knowledge. Congrats OP.

LouisaJG · 07/08/2025 21:17

Ask yourself whether Boris Johnson would worry about this.

No, he wouldn’t. He’d feel he deserved it, whatever it was.

In 99.99999999% of situations you should not take Boris Johnson as your role model, but I think in this situation you could.

Dangermoo · 07/08/2025 21:18

upandleftthenright · 07/08/2025 21:11

This is what women do. Doubt themselves. Men just jump in. Qualified or not. It’s why women tend to be more competent than men in my opinion, as they can more or less always be better at the job in reality

This. 💯

Dangermoo · 07/08/2025 21:18

LouisaJG · 07/08/2025 21:17

Ask yourself whether Boris Johnson would worry about this.

No, he wouldn’t. He’d feel he deserved it, whatever it was.

In 99.99999999% of situations you should not take Boris Johnson as your role model, but I think in this situation you could.

😆 🤣 😂

namechangedforvalidreasons · 07/08/2025 21:19

If you really knew it once, chances are you still do know it, somewhere in the dark reaches. For my own sanity I’d do a refresher course, as I am like you and tend to doubt my own abilities (or more, undervalue them) but you probably remember more than you currently realise. Well done! Enjoy it!

Rocknrollstar · 07/08/2025 21:24

Men never worry about over selling themselves so why should you? I am sure you will do great. Remember, it’s you they chose.

Lafufufu · 07/08/2025 21:32

Congrats! Def take it.

Warning: I'm going to be a debbie downer but it comes from a place of helpfulness...

If it's big tech eng teams...
If you are going in as an IC 4/5/6...
If you dont have toptier education...
if your current role is way less prestigious...
if your current pay is substantially less than this new role (like 2x poss more) ...

Take it and enjoy it but know you may be the performance review sacrifice.
Right now pretty much all the tech companies stack rank employees

if you are a team manager and your team are permanently on edge with no psychological safety...How you can get anything done? what do you do? You bring in new team peeps who you can sacrifice at review time.

We are cutting low performers regularly... the machine always needs feeding... so the managers are now starting to bring in newbies who are sometimes a bit below par, so they cut them 12 /18m later to protect the core team.
(I'm not making it up to be a dick, you can read it on reddit too)

It's shit but on the flip side...
you do get the company on your CV
You get all the ££££
Forewarned is forearmed...if you suspect there's a shelf life, you are smart and you start planning your exit. Often you can leverage it in your favour and move somewhere decent cementing "your place" earning £££

Equally your team may have dead weights already and you earn your spot in the core team.

Either way go get that £££ !!!

AND ...
If its not big tech just take the £££ and get out of your head!!!

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 07/08/2025 21:37

upandleftthenright · 07/08/2025 21:11

This is what women do. Doubt themselves. Men just jump in. Qualified or not. It’s why women tend to be more competent than men in my opinion, as they can more or less always be better at the job in reality

This! My husband works in IT and often interviews people for the IT roles. It’s so common to find that someone has outright lied about knowing a software. He tells me lots of stories about it, but I’ve never heard a story about a woman doing this.

Stop doubting yourself. You do know the software, you have time to refresh your skills, you’ve got this. Congratulations on your new job!

everardshutthatdoor · 07/08/2025 21:39

upandleftthenright · 07/08/2025 21:11

This is what women do. Doubt themselves. Men just jump in. Qualified or not. It’s why women tend to be more competent than men in my opinion, as they can more or less always be better at the job in reality

I was going to say this. A man would have no such self doubt. And he wouldn’t be found out.

You’ll be fine, what they saw in you was more than whether you were super proficient in one area.

Whiningatwine · 07/08/2025 21:41

Do a refresher course. Maybe watch some videos on common uses to look at the screens again. They'll want to show you how it's used within their processes anyway. You can always Google questions when you are there.

Well done. You smashed it!!

Cutleryclaire · 07/08/2025 21:45

Every new job I’ve had I’ve thought oh no, these lot know what they’re doing and I might not be good enough.

every single time I’ve realised that people are doing their best but there’s flaws everywhere. And so much to do, I often never get round to the bit I’m not great at and it doesn’t matter. Obviously doesn’t work in all jobs, but the principle is the same, once you’re in you get a more realistic view of how it runs there.

Hello39 · 07/08/2025 21:46

Nobody is going to be perfect for any job and everyone will need an induction period to learn the new company. You have used the software, that wasn't a lie. Congratulations, you've got this.

LostVagueness25 · 07/08/2025 21:47

Ok you have however long your notice period is to get mentally prepared. Do an online refresher course, use chat gpt, watch YouTube videos (no word of a lie I got a first class science degree through solely watching YouTube videos, I didn’t go near a book). Do some mindfulness and maybe read some books about confidence building. You need to walk in there knowing that you deserve to be there and you are good enough. If you have any feelings of self doubt, they will become a self fulfilling prophecy, they need to be banished. Congratulations and you are good enough and you can do it, and do it well.

Swirlythingy2025 · 07/08/2025 21:58

i would brush up on it and use youtube guides etc to catchup

TootSweeties · 07/08/2025 22:05

Congrats! Hope you’re celebrating!

I know exactly how you feel. Been updating my CV and questioning myself a lot. And avoiding some job applications altogether to be honest.

The fact you care so much (about this quite frankly tiny thing that a bloke wouldn’t think twice about) shows you’re a great candidate.

Just do the refresher over a weekend. But first…champagne 🥂

BashfulClam · 07/08/2025 22:16

My husband is considered proficient at excel, he uses chat gpt or co-pilot to ask for formulae most of the time. His boast thinks he’s excellent.

ThinWomansBrain · 07/08/2025 22:30

As others have said, refresher course on the software - or maybe just get hold of a copy and set yourself a project with it before you start.

And if you're going to be earning more, find a job coach and invest in that - both pre-prep and maybe the first few weeks.
Does your current employer (or the new one) have an employee assistance program? You may be able to get assistance from either of those.