Worried I'm not good at my job

LegacyUser

I've started a new job about 6 months ago. I've been working for a couple of years previous to this job, but in a slightly different role. This new job is a step up in terms of work load and career opportunities and I am very happy to have gotten it.

I'm just worried that I'm not very good at it. I find myself always asking my manager questions about things I don't know. The questions I usually ask are not really things you can "learn" per se, but more of knowledge gained through experience.

The main reason I am worried is that my manager is very busy, and I was hired to lessen the work load for him, but each time I get stuck on a task and ask for help, I feel like I am sucking time away from him and he is thinking less of me everyday. I'm worried he thinks I know nothing as I don't really know what he expects from me.

I've asked him for some feedback, and all he said was "you're doing fine" with a smile and a nod. I don't know if this is him just being polite or if he is actually satisfied with my performance.

I might be just paranoid, as I am quite an anxious person. I am just constantly worried that I am in over my head and they think I know more than I actually do.

What should I do?

Rubberchikken

First congrats on the new job:)
Second don't overthink it.
You were hired because they considered you the best. You're learning and smart people always ask questions when they don't know something. That how they learn.

Your boss sounds happy with you. So relax and you'll be fine.
Take care

kjl

I remember I got feedback before from a manager that I didn't ask enough questions.

Every job is a learning curve, they hired you based on what you know and expect you to learn as you go, you can't do this without asking questions.

If you think he thinks you know nothing, show him you do by asking follow up questions which proves you have been listening and trying to comprehend the material.

But most important thing is don't worry, you will know if you are not doing a good job.

K_P

inoverhead wrote: »

I've asked him for some feedback, and all he said was "you're doing fine" with a smile and a nod. I don't know if this is him just being polite or if he is actually satisfied with my performance.

Honestly OP, what would it actually take to believe that you're doing ok? You've asked and been told you're doing fine. An employer who was unhappy with someone's performance wouldn't say everything was grand just to be polite.

Asking questions is completely normal and it's how you'll learn. The only thing that might be annoying would be if you were consistently asking questions about the same issue that had already been explained to you numerous times. If there's an area that you think you need some training in, then maybe request that. But if it's just the type of stuff that you develop knowledge over time, then you just have to give it time and try and relax in the meantime.

iusedtoknow

I'm a manager of an international team (24 people) and as such have learned the following things:

1. Questions are important. If I'm not being asked questions by my team, whether it's on what their working on, or what others are working on...there is something wrong. Questions mean engagement, and THAT is what matters. I don't care what the questions is, if it is something important to you as a team member, it's important to me

2. The first 3 months in any job are learning the ropes, learning about the team culture and expectations. The next 3 months are about finding YOUR niche in your team. The next 6 months are about "ramping up" and delivering on what you've learned.

3. If something needs said about performance, a good manager should say it and not wait.

4. When hiring, hire for what the potential of the person is, not what they can do straight away


It sounds like you're doing fine - if your manager has an issue, he'll tell you. When you do approach him, tell him what you have already done/tried and have reached a block. Then note the solution, so next time you have a question, look at your notes and see if anything matches the problem you're having. Usually, you need to think laterally to solve anything. This will show some initiative on your part

tenifan

Read up on impostor syndrome.
It sounds like you're doing fine. If you only need to ask everything once your manager will be happy. Unless you're making mistakes, forgetting things or asking the same questions over and over you have nothing to worry about.

I suggest you also start preparing some procedure documentation covering issues or procedures you'd like to have known about without having asked your manager. It might even be possible for you to remove manual or convoluted steps from a process, making it easier for a new person to get stuck in to the job.

LegacyUser

Thanks for the responses everyone.

I think one of my big fears is that I am alone in this situation. The company has hired a number of people lately, many of them at the same level as me, but in different sectors, but essentially the same work.

I have been tempted to ask them if they find the work difficult, but then I worry I will expose myself as a weak employee if they do not feel the same way. I just wish I had someway of measuring my ability, such as against co-workers, but I don't know how, as we are all assigned different projects, with what I assume are different levels of difficulty.

I also was considering approaching my manager and voicing my fears, but as I said earlier, I don't want to appear as a weak employee or lacking confidence (the latter of which is probably true). Do you think this is a wise decision? I thought it might show him that I am eager to learn, which I am.

tenifan

inoverhead wrote: »

I have been tempted to ask them if they find the work difficult, but then I worry I will expose myself as a weak employee if they do not feel the same way. I just wish I had someway of measuring my ability, such as against co-workers

Seriously, there's little benefit in doing this.

inoverhead wrote: »

I also was considering approaching my manager and voicing my fears, but as I said earlier, I don't want to appear as a weak employee or lacking confidence (the latter of which is probably true). Do you think this is a wise decision? I thought it might show him that I am eager to learn, which I am.

I think it would be a terrible decision. You'll appear either needy, or worse, you'll make him doubt your ability.

On the other hand, it's no harm asking for honest feedback on your performance at work, and getting across the point that you feel things are going well and you're happy in the role. That's all your manager wants to hear.

LynnGrace

OP, I agree with other posters. You sound like you are doing well.
To me, it's a good sign when someone asks questions, and is eager to learn. There are some good tips here on the thread also. Six months is a relatively short time, try not to overthink things, and keep going as you are.

suicide_circus

The fact is that a huge amount of people in all kinds of fields are completely winging it and actually have no idea what's going on half the time. This includes everything from office managers to doctors.

LegacyUser

I feel exactly the same. Am in job 4 weeks now but very very impatient with myself.

beks101

Can you think of any of your colleagues you'd feel comfortable chatting to and firing a bunch of questions at?

I can understand the paranoia of asking 101 questions in a busy environment with an already-swamped boss and while it's the right thing to do, it can add to your general feeling of inadequacy over time.

When I started in my job I had the same issue and ended up singling out a few of my colleagues at the desk - the ones I felt most comfortable with - and picking their brains regularly on things that I wasn't quite sure about. You'll generally find people are more than happy to help as we've all been the "new girl/guy" and know how that feels.

Worth checking with your boss to see if there will be any kind of performance appraisal down the line too.

LegacyUser

Thanks for the advice everyone. I didn't approach my manager as I initially thought of doing. I am still insecure about myself in my job though.

beks101 wrote: »

When I started in my job I had the same issue and ended up singling out a few of my colleagues at the desk - the ones I felt most comfortable with - and picking their brains regularly on things that I wasn't quite sure about. You'll generally find people are more than happy to help as we've all been the "new girl/guy" and know how that feels.

I try to do that, but then I also worry that my colleagues think I know nothing!

Another problem has come up as well. I am extremely busy with work. I have never been like this in my previous job. I'm not sure if this is a "normal" level of work or if I am being overworked. My previous job was much more laid back, but this new one is really hectic.

The problem with this is that they are looking for jobs to be completed to deadlines where I haven't either the experience or time to do the necessary research. Again, I don't want to approach my manaher and say this and appear weak, but I seem to be working much more overtime than everyone else.

I just have no idea if what I'm feeling is normal or if I am actually in the wrong job.

tenifan

inoverhead wrote: »

Another problem has come up as well. I am extremely busy with work. I have never been like this in my previous job. I'm not sure if this is a "normal" level of work or if I am being overworked.

In any job I've worked, there was a culture of "the more you take on, the more they expect of you."
Just try to slow down. If you're flat out the whole time, you'll get stressed, make mistakes, and it can affect your personal life. Do an honest days work and only work overtime in exceptional circumstances (unless your salary compensates you)