Fear of the sack

[Quitescaredx]

I’ve just started a new job and will be working from home including training .I’ve taken my kit home . The thing is I couldn’t get in properly at the start of my training which made me anxious . I also had a problem with connecting to the internet and I kept asking the manager stupid questions.

I’m usually okay ish with technology . I’m really worried about working from home as I’ve not got anyone to ask really . I’m worried I will get the sack at some point. I always tend to get told off for things that aren’t really my fault or get blamed for things as well ( in previous jobs).

Can anyone give me advice on managing anxiety when starting a new job ? I’m always worried about making mistakes or looking silly .

It must be hard starting a new role and having to work in your own at home. You need some contacts!
Maybe ask your manager for a who's who of the company or organisation. Are there others doing the same role?
Have you had a proper induction?
If it's IT related problems, do you have a chat function with IT support?
Difficult to know what to advise without knowing a bit more about the company.
Try not to stress. I'm sure they're not stupid questions! It doesn't sound like you're very well supported.

Interesting hearing this from someone else's perspective - we're about to Onboard our first Covid recruit and we have made a big effort to plan their induction and onboarding to help them fit in quickly and feel supported - your company probably have too.
Have they set you up with a work buddy, are you on a whatsapp work group?
Maybe try planning and rehearsing things in advance rather than waiting till just before a meeting - that way if you have a problem then someone will hopefully have enough time to help you. You tube is brilliant for solving software problems.
And everyone has teething problems - I help loads of people get to grips with our software products and even the cleverest, most senior people ask the most obvious questions - I expect it and just add another note to the guidance - I don't think they look silly but they say they often feel it...so don't be so hard on yourself.

I would keep detailed notes about everything you're doing in this new job.

If your IT is causing you issues, note down the problem "couldnt connect to x system" and actions you took to resolve " contacted help desk, had to wait on the line for 15 mins". etc.

Give your employer a clear sense of what you are spending your time on, you may not need your notes, but it will give you more confidence having those facts ready in case they question you on your progress.

When so many people started working at home last year and all the talk of it being a game changer for the future, this is the type of scenario that concerned me. It is one thing to start working at home when you already know your role and colleagues, but so much harder for new entrants to the workforce and job changers. I would have hated to start my career isolated working at home, I think it would be daunting for many so you are not alone in that.

Fortunately I think most managers are going to recognise that it is harder to get up to speed when at home and are going to cut you some slack over that. My DH has recently started at a new place (mid December) and as far as I can tell has managed the transition very well. He seems to spend a fair bit of time on the phone and has a daily 10am scheduled call which I think has helped to built up the working relationships. So make an effort to pick up the phone to colleagues and get to know them and perhaps you could suggest a daily morning “check in” phone call with your manager. It is the type of thing that would probably not be necessary if you are in the office, because it would happen naturally, but with WFH a bit more conscious effort may be needed.

Plan ahead, test connections before you need them. Google is your friend for troubleshooting. For example, you can cable into your router from your laptop and that's more stable than wifi. But a cable in advance from Amazon.
You can test the speed of your wifi by typing 'broadband speed test' to Google and choosing one of the top ones, such as pingdom. In advance of using new software, look for tutorials on YouTube. Make sure you know where the mute button and 'present' or 'share screens' button is on any video call software. All of this will need to be done in your own hours. Consider it the 'commute' part of your day.