Feeling out of depth

[Anewdance]

I'm due to start a new office job next week. Skills required for the role are similar to what I have done before (PA type work). I'm beginning to feel I have really bitten off more than I can chew here. Is this normal? their expectations of me and reason for hiring me are that I have done a similar role before and have experience but it's been years since working at that level.

What do I do? I can't afford financially not to work and if it doesn't work out it will batter my already very low confidence and cause an impact on my family if I am not working. Help!!!! I wish I could be fearless, calm and cool and wing it! For the record I do have very high work standards, never failed and work hard but this time it's different as I've not worked in this role for many years (which they know from my application). Any advice will be appreciated!

It's also worth me mentioning that this feeling of being out of my depth is having an impact on how I am with my family and my home life. Am I overthinking all of this?

I don’t think it’s unusual to have a crisis of confidence, just before starting a new job. It’s probably exactly because of your very high work standards that it’s hit you this hard. You want to be as good as you are now, but very few people walk into a new role knowing everything they need to know. It takes a bit of time and employers know that.

If it makes you feel any better, I met someone yesterday who was turned down for the job I’m about to start in a few weeks time. When I listened to him talk I felt pure panic. This guy came across so knowledgeable and eloquent and full of ideas, none of which could be said about me! I spent all of yesterday thinking “why the hell did they pick me over him?!” “what have I got to bring to the table?”.

I just had to keep reminding myself that the interview panel must have seen something in me that I can’t see myself. They think I can do the job based on my previous experience, so I’m going to have to trust myself that I can 😬 It’s easier said than done, but you’re going to have to try and do the same.

I think it’s normal to be nervous before starting a new job. Remember they gave you the job because they saw your potential on your CV and during the interview. They will want you to do well (if they don’t, it’s not a company you’d want to work for) because it takes time to recruit and train people, so make the most of your probation period.
Also it’s great that you’re a perfectionist, but occasional mistake, or less than perfect delivery, is often accepted, as long as you meet deadlines and generally do a good job. Sometimes good enough is good enough so try to relax a little!

At least you won't be bored. They knew your existing skills when they hired you, you can gain any new skills you'll need.

I've been a PA for a long time. I don't think going back to that type of work will be very difficult for you. The main skills are being organised, having good communication with your boss/bosses and you've got to really like diary management.

PA jobs vary in terms of systems used and the sort of admin tasks you have to do as well as the diary management, answering emails and doing minutes so even someone with a lot of experience would be on a learning curve in a new job.

Is there anything that is particularly stressing you about the new job?

Thank you for your replies all. To @yeahitsfriday I think it's more a situation of not having taken minutes for so many years and even when I used to I never had any training so just used to write down pretty much every word!! I'm very IT literate but really rusty with MS Office. In my current role I use organisational systems for reporting etc and just a big of excel and word for letters. Maybe completely overthinking and doubting myself and I have been proactive brushing up (with the exception of minute taking!). I think with the minute taking I always struggled with the listening, analysing and then putting it into very short sentences. It all seems so important and as you can see I'm not a very short response/answer person. It may come with experience but if you have any tips or advice I'd appreciate it. 😊

That's great that you have been brushing up on those skills. MS office is easy to pick up.

With the minutes you can follow the style/layout of what the previous PA has done. You can see if the company prefer bullet points or more detailed notes.

I tend to write down as much as I can for key points during meetings because typing them up as the meeting goes on doesn't work for me. I then just type up the notes and summarise things.

If it's a Zoom meeting you could look into recording it (if the attendees don't mind) and then if you think you have missed anything you could view it.

If people who are attending are using notes during the meeting on a laptop you could ask them to send them to you.

I'm sure your manager will check the minutes anyway before they are sent out.

As the job goes on you will get more familiar with what is discussed in various meetings and taking minutes will be easier.

Good luck next week

Might be an idea to do an internet search for ‘Imposter Syndrome’ and see if it applies to you?

I'm a PA, I started a new job last year. Completely felt like you do even though i went from a PA job to another PA job. I messaged a friend saying how worried I was about being a failure and what if they don't like me. Turns out he was right and I was fine.

I met my now boss on my first day and was a bag of nerves, he was lovely and really helped me calm down. He wasn't actually meant to be my boss and on my first day we didn't know he would be, I was just looking after him and that was why we met up.

It took my colleagues a bit to get used to me (I felt adrift and alone for a month or so) and me them but my boss always had my back. By Christmas though they all thought I was ace and slightly crazy.

Now I'm fully settled in to the job, I can fake it until I make it and am using every opportunity to network as if I don't know something I can find someone who does.

I agree with pp about minute taking, I volunteered for a policy project that was going on to do the minutes. I looked at the previous notes for the format and style but actually taking notes I wrote it all down (very messy handwriting!) Normally meetings are broken down as they go along so I would use that as the heading then use initials for people's names and highlight key topics with decision/outcome agreed. I always wrote up the minutes that day so they stayed fresh in my mind. First time took a while but it got easier.

I'm in a senior role which has PAs. You sound great! You're IT literate, organized, take detailed minutes, comfortable with diary management. You know you need to brush up on MS Office. You sound just like the kind of PA I'd like to work with.
I'm sure once you settle into the role, you'll feel more confident.

Thanks guys for all the lovely replies, it's much appreciated. May I ask @yeahitsfriday regarding the key points for your minutes, if for example a discussion and debate has taken place do you type whaf the discussion/debate was or simply what the final outcome was? I've read the majority want to read what the final outcome was and not all the bits in between. Thanks x

I would write a sentence about what the debate/discussion was about. For example "the committee discussed the price of Freddos" 😊 and then just do bullet points of the key points and who said them.

I would follow how your predecessor did minutes but I think a lot of organisations aim for brief minutes.

Thank you...love the idea of a committee discussing Freddos 😂...do they have a job?!!!

I have had a look at YouTube videos for minute taking practice @yeahitsfriday.The topic was 'Staff working from home'..a head of service put his comments forward from his team to propose a wfh policy. There were 4 other heads of departments putting their thoughts/objections forward.The CEO at the end proposed 2 heads get together and do research etc. for it to be presented in 2 weeks time at next meeting.

My question is (sorry!) would you put in your minutes just what was initially proposed and then the final decision? or would you put in the discussion/objections from the other heads?

I always had to transcribe verbatim but I think things have moved on since then and not a lot of info is needed.

Thanks so much advance, probably overthinking it 😉

Sorry ... I would just put what was proposed and then the final decision in the minutes.