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Starting a new job - Nervous?

A very dear friend of mine who happens to be a recent MBA grad student, started a new job. She called me a week into her new role saying she was feeling unconfident and unsure of herself at work.

How could this be?

She had studied in school for this very job! She if anything was overqualified. She had learned the economics of the market endlessly for the last two years, placing herself perfectly for a Business Analyst position. But yet, she felt uncomfortable at work- unsure to ask questions or speak up.

The mere fact is when we make a change in our life it comes comes with some uncertainty feelings, the key is NOT to let the nerves get in the way of your performance.

What to do when you feel the nerves?

#1) Give yourself some love. You are starting a new chapter and change alone is intimidating. Recognize that it may take time to become comfortable in your new role and accept this fact. Focus on 'one day at a time' and what you can do today, not what you need to do in the next year to meet your targets or Key Performance Indictors (KPIs). Realign your focus to what matters today. Oh and BREATHE, being nervous for a new job is completely normal.

#2) There are two types of people when starting a new job: you are either the MONKEY or the TIGER. The MONKEY is the person who comes in with 1000000 new ideas, obnoxious, constantly throwing out ideas before being asked and thinks they immediately know what's best for the company. The TIGER on the other hand is the person who listens, learns their role patiently, takes time to understand the work, their work environment, then overachieves and blows management away with their abilities and performance. Will you be the tiger or the monkey?

#3) People want to prove themselves immediately in a new role - to show to colleagues and management that they are worthy of this role and so much more. This is a complete misconception. You should not want to prove yourself immediately - no one expects you to be a rockstar right away. Actually being a rockstar immediately can sometimes hurt you, if a few months later you then become a non-performer. Management want a consistent performer, someone they can depend on to get the job done. Focus on proving yourself overtime, and not in the first few months.

#4) When starting a new job, asking questions you think you should know can be nerve-wrecking, especially infront of everyone during team meetings. My suggestion is to pull someone aside that (is your peer or equivalent, but has been there longer than you) seems to be friendly and helpful. And say, "sorry these might be silly questions- but could you help me learn please? Would you mind spending 30 minutes with me once a week where I can ask you some questions about the company? My treat to your morning coffees." This will be the best $3.00 investment you spend during your first few weeks of your new job.

So, when you feel the nerves remember to focus on the 'today', choose to be the TIGER and not the MONKEY, prove yourself over time and lastly, find your peer that can help with your 'silly' questions.

Get excited - being nervous means you are moving out of your comfort zone into the unknown. In the unknown there are endless possibilities!

Handle the nerves appropriately so you can focus on what really matters to reach your career aspirations "one day at a time".

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