This article will delve into practical strategies for managing anxiety when starting a new job. If you’re feeling stressed, keep reading for valuable insights to help you navigate this transition without losing your composure.Congratulations on securing your new job! This is a big achievement, and you should be proud of yourself. However, for many, this excitement can also come with a wave of anxious feelings named “New job anxiety”.
The pressure to make a good first impression, along with the stress of adapting to a new environment, can feel overwhelming. Commuting to a new location and working with unfamiliar managers and co-workers is a big cause of new job jitters. But don’t worry—you’re not alone. Many people face these new job jitters, and the good news is that there are ways to manage them.
Let’s have a look and navigate this chapter with confidence and poise.
Is New Job Anxiety Normal?
Yes, feeling nervous or experiencing jitters when starting a new job is completely normal. In fact, according to a recent Monster Poll, 87% of workers admitted to having pre-job anxiety or jitters when beginning a new role.
In the same poll, 53% of workers said that starting a new job is more daunting than holding a snake or skydiving. This level of anxiety is comparable to academic pressure, where 56% of students identify homework as their main source of stress, often leading many to buy assignments online.
Based on these stats, you can assume that a large portion of workers feel anxiety about their new jobs; you are not the only one.
Top 9 Tips to Manage New Job Anxiety
Once you know and accept that new job jitters are widely experienced among workers, you will feel a bit relieved. If you accept the fact, only then you can take precautionary steps to avoid them.
However, to help you manage your new job jitters, below are some strategies you can execute.
1. Understand Your Nerves Are Temporary
Always remember that being nervous is a temporary feeling; once the situation is over, your nervousness will subside. You need to understand that when you go out of your comfort zone or experience something different you are not used to, you might experience anxious feelings. According to a survey, 46% of workers regret accepting the offer letter due to anxiety about their new job. So, you are not alone in being anxious. However, once a certain period passes by, you might be thinking, “What was I anxious about?”
Nervousness is different from anxiety. Anxiety is a constant state of worry or stress, while in contrast, nervousness is an acute stress response which only lasts for a shorter period. To motivate yourself to get going, you should remind yourself of the reason you decided to change the job.
2. Study Your New Role
Having clear expectations and knowing what your new position demands from you can give you a realistic evaluation of your performance. By studying the new role, you will be able to reduce and manage anxiety. Asking how? Well, you can re-assure your skills and abilities and understand you have all the skills to perform the duties this position abides you by.
Once you study the skill requirements and responsibilities of your new job, you will feel more and more comfortable. Studying your job will enable you to understand that you have the capabilities to perform tasks this position requires you to. However, if there is anything you do not understand, you can consult a senior and ask them to explain it to you. The next step will be deciding on an action plan and a way forward.
3. Make an Effort to Connect with People
People often feel more nervous and anxious when they see nobody they know around. When you see smiling faces around you or somebody who is kind-hearted and soft-spoken, you will feel better inside. Have you noticed that, even if you only know the name of somebody, you feel like you know them?
Once you get to know people, you feel more comfortable around them, and your subconsciousness gets relaxed, thinking there are people like you around. You can have a chat with them or go for lunch with somebody you can go for lunch with. Having co-workers around who are approachable and you can ask questions of them will make a huge difference.
4. Adopt a Positive Attitude and Growth Mindset
People who cannot stand by constructive criticism are more likely to get anxious and nervous. You should understand that when you start a new position somewhere, you will be required to adapt to the company’s working style and environment, which takes time. Seniors who are finding mistakes in your work are not trying to demotivate you; they are pointing out mistakes so that you can learn from them.
If you adopt a positive and learning attitude, along with a growth mindset, you will be continuously evolving, and feelings of nervousness will go away. Things get worse when we overthink and overcomplicate small happenings.
Remember, you have joined this company because they see potential and capabilities in you. Plus, the company was looking to fill the position, so there are definite opportunities to grow.
5. Accept Feedback and Ask Questions
When the related authorities provide you with feedback on your work and overall performance, you should accept it wholeheartedly. Besides that, you should ask questions about areas you are lacking behind or need improvements in. Asking questions about your performance will allow you to point out areas you need to work on. Plus, this will positively impact your reputation as a dedicated worker who has a growth mindset and always tends to improve their performance.
People are often seen as afraid of getting feedback and mistakes being pointed out. You should not be one of them. Instead, you should think positively of the criticism and see it as a chance to enhance your capabilities and skills.
6. Stop Worrying What New Colleagues Think of You
The fear of people judging you, also known as Social Anxiety Disorder, is a major psychological and mental health problem all around the world. However, somewhere in our subconscious, we fear what people will think about us. While you are a professional person, you have achieved so many things in life; you should not see yourself in the eyes of others.
Remember, the people you are fearing getting judged by were in the same scenario at some point in their lives. They understand the hardships, and they also know that when you join a new job, things take time. You also need to understand that in trying to impress others, you are putting unnecessary pressure on yourself from day one. Instead of impressing others, give yourself the benefit of being a new person in the field.
7. Keep Your Imposter Syndrome in Check
According to the same Monster poll cited above, 65% of the workers experience imposter syndrome. This means they go through feelings of self-doubt and incompetence during the onboarding process. You should silence the inner voices that you are not skilled enough to perform the assigned task. Because that’s not true, it’s just your inner self manipulating you and giving you reasons to be anxious and feel like quitting.
To cope with these feelings, you should reaffirm to yourself that you are capable of doing this job, and that’s why you were hired. This feeling also surfaces when you compare yourself with the experienced employees already working for the company.
8. Unwind After Work
Another strategy to make yourself feel comfortable is to unwind after work hours. We understand that new employees face more stress and pressure to perform well, but that does not mean you should stick with the work and keep thinking about it even after working hours. This is a common mistake and makes you feel more overwhelmed.
Remember, taking time for yourself helps restore both your cognitive and physical energy, which increases your chances of performing better and being more productive. By the way, is your anxiety related to balancing academic pressure with the stress of a new job? If so, there are college assignment writing services in the UK available to assist you with managing such situations.
How Long Does New Job Anxiety Last?
For some people, it lasts for 2 hours or maybe two days, while for others, it may last for several weeks as everyone handles the anxiety differently. Besides handling it, everyone has a different nerve capacity. Some people have worked on their personal and mental growth, and they know their capabilities, skills, and worth. Those are less likely to get anxious; even if they do, it will last for a few hours maybe.
On the other hand, if a person has self-doubt issues or tends to compare himself/herself with others, he/she might feel this anxiousness for longer periods. Thus, it depends on various factors.
Conclusion
To wrap up the discussion, there are hundreds of reasons to stress out but thousands of things you can cheer about. The difference is all about the perspective you think about things. For example, you have locked a new position, and it’s a defining moment in your career. Still, instead of being happy and celebrating the achievement, you are more convinced to be stressed out and criticise yourself. You need to change that point of view.
However, we have not left you on your own to get out of this situation. This whole guide is compiled with the sole purpose of helping you manage your new job nerves effectively. We wish you all the best for your new job and hope you will rock it.
