Really struggling with new job

[MummyIDontWannaGoToWork]

I started a new job a few weeks ago and I'm worried I'm going to regret it. The plus sides are shorter commute, a pay rise, and some nice colleagues. However, they don't do the same role as I do and there is no one to really explain to me exactly how to do my job. I am qualified to do the job but haven't worked in this particular area before so feel quite inexperienced and could really do with more supervision (it's a specific area of healthcare). People have very high expectations of me and the requests are piling up. I don't know how to stay on top of things. I have a constant knot in my stomach and I'm not sleeping at night. I want to be able to do the job properly. But also I want to cry at the thought of having to go to work tomorrow. I feel lost and don't know what to do. I left a job I liked to work here and I wish I hadn't.

It's always like that to start with, you'll soon pick it up - there's a model for this, unconsciously then consciously incompetent then unconsciously competent then competent and you know it .. it just takes time

Interesting model. What would the "unconsciously incompetent" mean? LIke when you very first start somewhere new and don't realise how much you still have to learn?

Yes that’s pretty much it, you don’t know how much you don’t know. You’re still excited to be in a new role and other people don’t have many expectations because you’re new. Moves very quickly to consciously incompetent in some roles.

That does sound very much like the cycle I'm moving through. For example at the beginning of this week I felt fine, today I'm filled with dread and feel like I can't cope with other people's expectations. I just have to keep going, don't I?

Yes, then you suddenly realise! Like OP! But over time you don't realise how much you've picked up, before you know it you're the expert everyone comes to!

Yes @MummyIDontWannaGoToWork - you'll be fine, I promise! I hardly knew what job descriptions meant in some jobs I've had, read it again after a few months and it's like a lightbulb moment ... aaahhh not that difficult after 🥳🤩

Is it possible to network with people of the same profession who work in a similar field but in different locations. Say for example if you were theconky occupational therapist in a hospice, could you reach out to other hospices and find other OTs?

Thanks for the kind replies. Hopefully I won't even remember this feeling in a year's time. And @PandyMoanyMum that's a really good suggestion and quite a good parallel to my situation.

They say you need to give a job at least 6 months before you can make any decisions because of this process you go through.
Pandy’s suggestion is a good one!

I have just started a thread on this exact same thing! I'm at the end of week 3, really early days I know, but I'd forgotten just how awful it is being the new, incompetent one. Also working in health care, in an area I have no experience in. Everyone is being lovely and its very supportive but had a real notion today that I will never be able to do it well! How are you getting on? I hope things have improved for you?

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I think you need to talk to your manager asap so it shows you are being proactive and ask (and suggest) solutions. If things don't improve in a couple more months, then leave