How do I find confidence, new job on the horizon.

[Brucesconveyorbelt]

I’m so lost, nearly 50 and despite working for 35 years, 30 of them in the same organisation I find myself scared to death of change.

Im at the last stages of hopefully a change of department that I desperately need, it’s doing tasks that I’ve done many times over the years but with far more responsibilities and there will be some learning.

I have to do a few short presentations for this interview, nothing too taxing but I’ve just spent nigh on 6 hours doing 12 slides.
I can’t focus, I struggle to know what to say. I’m on the verge of chucking it in.

Deep down I’ve lost all mojo for work, I’d like to retire, not take on more responsibility but I need to work, another 10 years at least so might as well make it in a department I like.

Can someone give me some motivation and confidence? How do you jump into roles you’ve never fully done before? Where do you get your ‘balls’ from? Self belief? Help!

Deep down I’ve lost all mojo for work, I’d like to retire, not take on more responsibility but I need to work, another 10 years at least so might as well make it in a department I like.

if you aren't motivated and don't really want to work but have to, it's not clear why you're moving to a new role doing the same work. Put bluntly, what's the point?

That's at the heart of your decision to change, why do you need to disrupt things when you'd probably be better off staying put. The recruiter is going to know you don't have your heart in it when you turn up for the interview and not able to show the level of enthusiasm you need.

Your motivation has to come from you, and if you don't have any, why jeopardise your current job? I'm saying this as someone who has just been interviewed for a new role in a different department, and there's no way I could have shown up at that interview without any motivation or spark of enthusiasm because there are probably a dozen other candidates who would have outperformed me just by showing they want the role (in your case, it doesn't sound like you really want it).

Hello there,

No real advice only empathy. I am a little younger than you and changed jobs to another department this year and the anxiety/sleepless nights and turmoil this brought has been debilitating if honest. I changed departments as the hours were better with better benefits so there was a rationale there but with no real (again, if honest) passion for the move. The interviewers knew I didn't give my best but took me on and I'm getting there. This is a stepping stone for me and I'm hoping it will open up other avenues. That said I've also lost my mojo for work so not convinced even another move will bring back that spark. I'm going to put some money towards courses to move into something I hopefully feell passionate about and can spend the next 15/20 years enjoying. I feel too 'young' to have lost my mojo but I know like many others I'm sadly not alone.

There is absolutely no reason you won't be a success in the new role, given you'll utilise many of your current skills and experience. I suspect you've become complacent and bored in your current role. Hopefully this new post will be more interesting, more challenging as well as more rewarding, and work time will pass a lot more quickly (and hopefully help with higher salary and a far more decent pension at the end).

I think 'fake it till you make it' could be a useful phrase to live by.

Write down on a postcard the key reasons you want to move departments, and that you would feel comfortable about 'bigging up' a bit ie saying with enthusiasm for getting the new post.
From what you've written I could suggest:

I'm ready for a new challenge and extra responsibilities
I have lots of skills and experience I can transfer to the new post
I welcome the opportunity to train and learn new skills required for this post

We are the same age and I felt exactly like this just before my recent interview, I had to think really hard if I wanted this job as its SO easy just not to do things.

I did want it so thought screw it, im my own worst enemy, I need to chill out and just go for it. I made sure I prepared well and tried not to overthink things.

Have you seen Louis video on You Tube about "too late now, what they gonna do" I find it so funny and true, whats the worst that can happen ? Go for it if you want it.

If we don't make things happen things just stay the same, do you want it to stay the same ?

It's a few presentations, you can do it 💪

Your demotivation is likely being fuelled by dissatisfaction and disappointment in your current/previous roles. You think deep down it will all just fail to improve.

Look at it this way: someone who has spent six hours preparing slides for an interview is someone who cares deeply about that interview. So your motivation is there, you have just over prepared and probably focused on the wrong things.

Go into the interview being very aware that YOU are interviewing them too. Are these people you want to spend ten years with? When you see it as a two way thing, it will seem less daunting and you’ll feel more like it’s in your control