How to come across confident in your ability without being cocky?

[Clarebear81]

So you know the crack, you start a new job, some people are like “Ah yes I can do this, I did this at my last job I did this”. Well I’m the opposite I act stupid like I’ve not done it before. I’m a shy introvert which probably explains this.

I do that good a job when I do finally admit “Oh in my last job I used to to xxx” they don’t believe you and think you’re bullshitting.

In my previous job, I was actually a junior to a trainee, now let’s be clear I’m fully qualified in my line of work, when that trainee was sticking his fingers in a dirty nappy I was doing this kind of work but that’s where I ended up doing menial work. I left after a couple of months. A friend of mine started in the same firm after I left, I came up in conversation, I was apparently useless. When it was explained about my history they couldn’t believe it.

I’m just 3 weeks into a new job and it’s kinda going the same way.

Well I’m the opposite I act stupid like I’ve not done it before

There's a chasm between 'acting stupid' and demonstrating that although you're not claiming expertise and declining input from others, you're confident you'll pick it up after a couple of run throughs.

Unfortunately, people will accept you at your own evaluation and the way that other people treat you.

Can you say that you'd appreciate a runthrough of something to understand how something is done in the workplace. And then, after you've done it successfully, say, "It's similar to my previous responsibilities. I'm pleased I did this well."

It is difficult but it's something you know that you need to navigate if you're to have a comfortable workplace and help your colleagues to have appropriate confidence in you.

I think you have to be honest yet not undersell/put yourself down. I often think 'what would a man do?' and 90% of the time in my field, a man would act all confident and wing it. I try and incorporate that into my behaviour but with a bit more honesty. Try and aim for 'quietly confident'