Latest Jobs

Job Search

Gordon Yates News

Latest News

Out of my depth

OS Magazine, Career Clinic, August 2008

I’ve just started a new job – it’s a senior level position and the kind of challenge I always wanted, but I’m beginning to feel out of my depth. The people around me seem amazingly efficient but they aren’t very approachable. Much of the job is totally new to me and I can feel my confidence disappearing day by day. I’m even beginning to wake up each morning with a sense of dread.  The idea of leaving is awful, because I don’t want to feel a failure, but the thought of staying is even worse.  I really don’t know what to do – can you help?

Alice Evans


Dear Alice

I feel for you. I’ve been through much the same experience and I suspect that most career people have too at some stage. Perhaps this job is a step too far for you, but I doubt it. 

Your employer has almost certainly invested a significant amount of time and money in recruiting you, and will be hoping that you can make a real contribution to your new department.

Any right thinking organisation should make sure that new joiners receive a good induction. Everyone needs help to integrate successfully into a new role and a new team.  Even the most experienced and confident people will be wondering if they are up to the job and whether they will be accepted. 

It sounds to me as if you haven’t been given any real help to ease you into your new job. It’s reasonable that you should expect this and in the interests of your employer to provide it. I’d suggest that the common sense answer is simply to ask your new boss for this support.

I appreciate that asking for help in this situation is difficult.  Paradoxically, it takes confidence and courage to admit to self-doubt and fearfulness.     

When we’re feeling unconfident, it’s easy to hide how we feel. A poem by Stevie Smith, called “Not waving but Drowning”, expresses this brilliantly. It paints the picture of a swimmer, who says: “I was much further out than you thought. And not waving but drowning.”

You probably see yourself as the swimmer in the poem – but you shouldn’t. Look again at all the “amazingly efficient” people around you. Behind the façade are real people with doubts and worries, just like you.

Accept that the early days of any new job are often a struggle, whatever your level. You may feel better to know that a few years ago Barclays Bank lost a new Chairman in almost identical circumstances to yours. 

Therefore, accept that the way you are feeling is natural and start opening up to the people around you. They probably don’t realise how you feel and would be happy to support you. It’s my experience that most people love to be asked for help, because it makes them feel important and useful.

If things don’t get better after a while, perhaps the job isn’t right for you. But don’t give up too easily and give it a bit more time. Accept that starting a new job can be daunting and stressful and don’t have unrealistic expectations of yourself in the early stages. 

I wish you every success.

Richard Grace
Joint MD, Gordon Yates

« Back