How do you feel confident in the workplace?

I was a student for many years (5 years of undergrad, 2.5 years of grad school), and I became very comfortable with always being able to look at the syllabus and my grade and know what I needed to do and how well I was performing. Work isn’t like that. Like I think is normal, I get a performance review once a year. I find this unsettling, because even though I come in and do decent work, I still often feel like I’m doing something “wrong” and worry that I’m secretly on the cusp of being fired. Folks who have maybe been working for longer than I have, how do you feel and stay confident in your work?

riskable ,
@riskable@programming.dev avatar

To be fair, you are always on the cusp of being fired/laid off. Even if you're the backbone of the company, the best employee, etc.

Also remember that expectations of young people in a lot of businesses are very low. That's why they pay the young so poorly 🤷.

If you seem to be getting work done and your boss isn't bitching then you're doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing. Don't worry about it.

Also, when you're young change jobs every year or two! It's the best way to make considerably more money over time and no, it will not hurt your resume in the slightest. It merely shows initiative and the fact that everyone wants you (i.e. you're competent).

Nemo ,

Well, I can review my own performance more regularly, for one. I know what my sales numbers are and what they should be and what my coworkers' numbers are. As long as I'm in the top third I'm satisfied, as long as I'm in the top two and my take-home is at or above the previous year's for the same month I'm happy.

I also solicity feedback from both management and patrons and while management always wants to be able to give criticism, you can tell when they're searching; patrons are more honest and immediate.

But I've been working a long time.

For you, you can request more frequent performance reviews or coaching. Any decent manager will respond positively (if not actually helpfully) to that sort of request. Do you have a mentor in the workplace? They can also give feedback and coaching.

scytale , (edited )

Impostor syndrome is a thing and it's common. I've been in my industry for 15 years and still lack confidence and feel like everyone else is better than me. The approach that worked for me is to know what I'm aware I do a good job at, and make sure the people who can influence my performance reviews are aware of it. Play to your strengths. In the corporate environment, what matters is what you're perceived as, not what you actually are. If your performance reviews are good, then you should be fine and know what to keep on doing. If you have a good relationship with your manager, it would also help to ask them directly what things they think you can improve on. Don't wait for the performance review to tell you that, so you can work on it before it goes on record.

SandbagTiara2816 OP ,

Yeah, impostor syndrome is a good way to describe it, and it does indeed suck. That’s all good advice though, thank you! It is such a strange change of pace to be judged on perception and not purely ability, especially since I feel like I’m not very good at reading other people and knowing how to manage relationships like that. People skills aren’t my forte, hence a career in engineering lol

Fortunately I think my manager does view me well, so I can try to reassure myself with that

spankinspinach ,

I can add that I've built a career on rubbing elbows with the right ppl. You don't have to be the best, you just have to be likeable and decently competent. As bad as it sounds, people relations first, productivity second.

I'm not the type to slum it for a paycheck, but I've found that good perceptions are everything. Balance technical ability with relationship management and you'll be golden.

Oh, and I still regularly struggle with imposter syndrome, despite the above...

franzfurdinand ,
@franzfurdinand@lemmy.world avatar

Worth noting is that the feeling of being or doing something "wrong" without much evidence to support it suggests a little bit of imposter syndrome. It's a very, very, very common feeling and is almost expected in any sort of a technical field. I have dealt with it personally and it sucks. The thing that helps me is the knowledge that if I was doing something that wasn't up to the standard or wrong, someone would intervene. Even if it was to just sit me down and tell me "Hey, this sucks and you need to do better".

big_slap ,

I feel like I had the same feelings surrounding work after graduating college. I got out of it by thinking, "What would a confident person do in this situation?"

eventually, my confidence rose a lot and I stopped thinking like this because I became a person with a lot of confidence.

also, don't go so hard on yourself. if youre doing a good job and your superiors are letting you know the work you are doing is great, there is no need to stress. is there something in particular about your job that makes you feel like you're not putting in enough effort?

SandbagTiara2816 OP ,

I don’t think there is anything in particular that makes me uneasy in this job, but it has happened to me before that I thought things were fine when I was unexpectedly let go. So the fear is a little more real in that sense

Of course there are times when I look at the internet on my phone or whatever, but I have plenty of work to keep me busy, and I’m not falling behind either. So I assume that I’m doing the right amount of work, since no one is complaining

Pronell ,

Get to know the people you work with and learn who you can bounce ideas off of.

Once you have a couple of work friends you can more easily figure out what those around you think of you.

I was in school while working (in my 40s no less) and as part of my classes I was asked to poll my coworkers about my strengths and weaknesses.

I learned that I was liked, valued, and that it was noticed when I was out sick, which was often.

It really helped me as I just assumed nobody really noticed me at all.

Chances are that you are the one judging yourself.

Also, be the one who speaks up in meetings. It helps give others permission to speak up as well.

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