New Job Anxiety

I was talking with a client the other day and we were discussing his new job and some of his anxiety about starting a new job. I normalized the anxiety of a new job as a natural expectation. We discussed a little bit of the Imposter Syndrome whereby one falsely believes that she/he is really incapable of doing the job, and it is only a matter of time until others find this out. This is typically a form of “new job” anxiety, and it is common, though often not openly discussed.

I then asked him why he thought that his employer hired him. He told me that they probably saw his drive and determination to do a good job. I agreed, knowing him, that this was likely true. I then pointed out to him things he had told me that he had said in the interview- things like, “I will be honest and let you know if there is something I don’t understand or that I can’t do”.

I pointed out to this client that one of the reasons that they hired him was because they saw his character and values. “They can teach you whatever skills you might lack”, I said, “but they cannot teach character and values. Those are things that you bring to the table that they see in you.”  

It was always my practice to hire people of character and principle. I could likely teach them the skills they needed (to an extent), but I needed to know that I had an employee with high character.

My client was reassured, and I am glad that he was. He is a man of character and principle, and I am convinced that the company that hired him made a good choice. People starting a new job need honest reassurance, and I am glad that this man sought it out in counseling.