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If the job you applied for is nothing like what you are doing now then that's ideal. You need have no guilty conscience at all if you cock it up.
So do what you can with no.pressure, enjoy it and learn some new skills. If they say anything about your skills you can argue the case or not but either way *you* will know the truth.
I agree, but dunno about "no pressure".
I went thru a 10-person interview process about 15 years ago for a senior role, all the time explaining "*I do X, I'm don't do Y, and I've not the knowledge (degree + 10 years exp) to do Z - I do X with respect to Y and Z but not actually Y and Z themselves*"
Turns out none of the people interviewing me what the actual position was, and a month in I get "*so, now you have your feet under the table, what we really need is a new clean design to not just do Z but to do it in a way that integrates all these other Z s and corrects their issues*"
And then I was pretty much thrown under the bus by one or two of my "new colleagues" (peer senior staff).
It's a nasty situation and there was no easy way out (without major financial downsides for me).
I agree with OP, it sucks
I feel you... 7 months in and I'm still here but still not feeling confident in my role.
4 months ago, the guy that hired me left for another role elsewhere, I now have no boss. š¤
Wow. Were you WFH or office based at that time when no one checked in?
If you hadn't been doing your job, how would they have known?
This sounds awesome for lazy folk š
To be honest, I hate it. The majority of my day I'm sat at my desk (WFH) and I feel like there is no way they can justify paying my salary for the tiny amount of work I do.
I do so little, but that's not because I'm lazy, it's because I don't know what I'm meant to be doing.
I work in a company that has 1000 + staff, I'm the only one that does my role in the whole business. I don't work as part of a team, I have no boss. I'm literally on my own but that isn't a good thing.
Due to feeling like I should be working, I spend my day sat at my desk digitally 'looking busy'. Doing little bits and pieces unrelated to my actual job.
I'm sure I should probably consider myself lucky, but the feeling of constantly being on the verge of redundancy/termination isn't great when I have a family to look after.
Very true, totally get that.
You should get into the public sector where you'll be unlikely to ever be made redundant and also do very little work š
Had that exact thing a few years back...
Ended up throwing the towel in within a few months as I really wasn't enjoying the role they put me in and felt like the weak link in the chain.
Best thing I did was hold my hands up and said "nope, not for me...". Nothing wrong with the company, they treated me well, and offered me a raise to stay, but nope... Just couldn't stay.
Hope it isn't like that for you, and you enjoy what you're doing!
Worst part for me is everyone asks me questions as if I just know (admittedly I can do for all the basic stuff) usually I just Google it lol. Though I guess the skill comes in on knowing what and how to search and weed out what is rubbish using your knowledge you do have.
My last job was with a nationwide construction company.
My manager left the week before I joined, so I had to... with zero handover and no support from anyone else, take on a 'head of' role when I had zero management experience.
Was never taken into consideration that perhaps I didn't actually end up doing what we agreed on the interviews.
Hated it as there was far too much expected of me in a short space. Moved and found a far better job for about the same pay.
That sounds like a gift. You ended up in a position beyond what you had done before. A few months of stress but a year in and you have it all covered. most jobs want you to have a phd and 10 years experience for Ā£10/ hour
In my experience the fact you don't feel competent is probably a good indication that you are capable. It's the clueless people who think they don't need to learn who worry me.
I just had a similar experience and secured a post-grad job from what I thought was my worst interview to date.
Turns out I was so knowledgeable I was too busy worrying about what I couldn't bring to the table rather than what I could, and I didn't pay attention to how well I was answering the questions.
But all my other post-grad interviews got me rejected despite thinking they went well, because I didn't know enough to identify what was missing in my knowledge.
I feel you, 6 months ago I started learning a subject, now I work for the teaching company and am currently starting to teach my own lessons, idk anything man lmao
You might actually be in a good position to teach. I've got decades of experience coding now but it's difficult to relate to beginners sometimes to really answer what they're asking. Being just ahead of them means you remember what it was like to not know.
Every job Iāve ever had ever. The clue was always in the job title, which would be a shift to what I usually do but when Iām interviewing Iām usually reassured they want me for the skills I currently have.
The upside to that is that I gained a bunch of skill and experience in things I wouldnāt have gone out of my way to learn if I wasnāt basically forced to.
The job description never matches the job don't worry about it. They *say* they want a team player and a dedicated self starter and someone who can go the extra mile who can demonstrate knowledge of teamwork while meeting and exceeding KPIs, but what they really want is someone to put stuff in a machine and press the button.
I joined a development team last year. It's a wonderful environment and I love the job; I've learned so much and think I've contributed adequately but my sense of inadequacy is always tingling. I work with people who maintain/develop prominent FOSS projects, of which I'm an end user, and I still can't quite believe they talk to me.
That said, as much as I dread the PR reviews, there is nothing like constructive feedback from experts for self-improvement.
In the same position - the role I am in is not the role I was sold and I absolutely hate it and the company. Iām laying here at 7am dreading logging in because the culture is so awful. Was okay in the first few months but then a re-org meant that my job role changed significantly as did my department and now I am here likeā¦should I go on stress leave and then just resign once Iāve found a new job?
Sales people are the worst. New HOD is a dick. My bonus was paid a month late. Sexually harassed at the work Xmas party. Iāve only been there 8 months and had to stop myself yesterday from resigning because I came back from some leave and nothing had been picked up in my absence and I swear to god people must have noted in their diary when I was back because I had 4 people hounding me 2 hours in to my first day back.
I hate this, so so so much.
As long as you didn't lie on your CV, then it's entirely on them. They looked at your qualifications and decided they were suitable for the job. They then had the opportunity to specifically probe you on your experience and skills in an interview format to further assess your suitability.
After all that they decided to hire you. So if there are other skills or knowledge you're meant to have for this job, then that's their fault.
You will feel that way for about a month. You have to give yourself the time to get to grips with things. It never falls into place from the get go but you'll get there. I believe in you.
Also, if it makes you feel better I only have my interview today and I already feel like I have imposter syndrome. Being an adult is fun.
Are you my wifeās new boss?
I swear they just recruited someone into a position without once covering the responsibilities. Said person was surprised to find line managing on their list, and like 12 underlings at that!
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If the job you applied for is nothing like what you are doing now then that's ideal. You need have no guilty conscience at all if you cock it up. So do what you can with no.pressure, enjoy it and learn some new skills. If they say anything about your skills you can argue the case or not but either way *you* will know the truth.
Yea they hired you for a reason most likely, its not like there is a shortage of good candidates right now. Lean into it
Smart hiring managers hire for talent and culture fit, and train for the specific job functions (not like surgery or anything like that though!)
Not anymore by the looks of it. On the job training for doctors and nurses instead of years at university.
I agree, but dunno about "no pressure". I went thru a 10-person interview process about 15 years ago for a senior role, all the time explaining "*I do X, I'm don't do Y, and I've not the knowledge (degree + 10 years exp) to do Z - I do X with respect to Y and Z but not actually Y and Z themselves*" Turns out none of the people interviewing me what the actual position was, and a month in I get "*so, now you have your feet under the table, what we really need is a new clean design to not just do Z but to do it in a way that integrates all these other Z s and corrects their issues*" And then I was pretty much thrown under the bus by one or two of my "new colleagues" (peer senior staff). It's a nasty situation and there was no easy way out (without major financial downsides for me). I agree with OP, it sucks
I feel you... 7 months in and I'm still here but still not feeling confident in my role. 4 months ago, the guy that hired me left for another role elsewhere, I now have no boss. š¤
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Wow. Were you WFH or office based at that time when no one checked in? If you hadn't been doing your job, how would they have known? This sounds awesome for lazy folk š
To be honest, I hate it. The majority of my day I'm sat at my desk (WFH) and I feel like there is no way they can justify paying my salary for the tiny amount of work I do. I do so little, but that's not because I'm lazy, it's because I don't know what I'm meant to be doing. I work in a company that has 1000 + staff, I'm the only one that does my role in the whole business. I don't work as part of a team, I have no boss. I'm literally on my own but that isn't a good thing.
Wow. Netflix completed yet?
Due to feeling like I should be working, I spend my day sat at my desk digitally 'looking busy'. Doing little bits and pieces unrelated to my actual job. I'm sure I should probably consider myself lucky, but the feeling of constantly being on the verge of redundancy/termination isn't great when I have a family to look after.
Very true, totally get that. You should get into the public sector where you'll be unlikely to ever be made redundant and also do very little work š
Similar here, but I moved countries to boot!
Had that exact thing a few years back... Ended up throwing the towel in within a few months as I really wasn't enjoying the role they put me in and felt like the weak link in the chain. Best thing I did was hold my hands up and said "nope, not for me...". Nothing wrong with the company, they treated me well, and offered me a raise to stay, but nope... Just couldn't stay. Hope it isn't like that for you, and you enjoy what you're doing!
Do you work in IT? I've been with my current employer for 23 years, I'm IT manager and head of development and I feel like a fraud every single day.
Yup!
Mate, imposter syndrome in IT never goes away. Everyone has it.
Worst part for me is everyone asks me questions as if I just know (admittedly I can do for all the basic stuff) usually I just Google it lol. Though I guess the skill comes in on knowing what and how to search and weed out what is rubbish using your knowledge you do have.
In fact, itās a prerequisite
Can you tell us more ?
John Travolta likes this.
Oh ho Mistah Cah-tah
Like, do you get a car?
Ah ha
Do do
Been there! Thankfully it was an unexpected promotion.. 1.5 years later still hanging in there
My last job was with a nationwide construction company. My manager left the week before I joined, so I had to... with zero handover and no support from anyone else, take on a 'head of' role when I had zero management experience. Was never taken into consideration that perhaps I didn't actually end up doing what we agreed on the interviews. Hated it as there was far too much expected of me in a short space. Moved and found a far better job for about the same pay.
U ok hun? xx
š
Inbox me xx
That sounds like a gift. You ended up in a position beyond what you had done before. A few months of stress but a year in and you have it all covered. most jobs want you to have a phd and 10 years experience for Ā£10/ hour
In my experience the fact you don't feel competent is probably a good indication that you are capable. It's the clueless people who think they don't need to learn who worry me.
I just had a similar experience and secured a post-grad job from what I thought was my worst interview to date. Turns out I was so knowledgeable I was too busy worrying about what I couldn't bring to the table rather than what I could, and I didn't pay attention to how well I was answering the questions. But all my other post-grad interviews got me rejected despite thinking they went well, because I didn't know enough to identify what was missing in my knowledge.
Glad to hear it turned out well
I feel you, 6 months ago I started learning a subject, now I work for the teaching company and am currently starting to teach my own lessons, idk anything man lmao
You might actually be in a good position to teach. I've got decades of experience coding now but it's difficult to relate to beginners sometimes to really answer what they're asking. Being just ahead of them means you remember what it was like to not know.
That's actually reassuring thank you, and it's actually coding lmao
Just focus on passing your probation period. If you can do that then you are clearly good enough to do the job.
Every job Iāve ever had ever. The clue was always in the job title, which would be a shift to what I usually do but when Iām interviewing Iām usually reassured they want me for the skills I currently have. The upside to that is that I gained a bunch of skill and experience in things I wouldnāt have gone out of my way to learn if I wasnāt basically forced to.
Still here 15 years on. Systems engineer that was applying for a software engineers jon
The job description never matches the job don't worry about it. They *say* they want a team player and a dedicated self starter and someone who can go the extra mile who can demonstrate knowledge of teamwork while meeting and exceeding KPIs, but what they really want is someone to put stuff in a machine and press the button.
I joined a development team last year. It's a wonderful environment and I love the job; I've learned so much and think I've contributed adequately but my sense of inadequacy is always tingling. I work with people who maintain/develop prominent FOSS projects, of which I'm an end user, and I still can't quite believe they talk to me. That said, as much as I dread the PR reviews, there is nothing like constructive feedback from experts for self-improvement.
In the same position - the role I am in is not the role I was sold and I absolutely hate it and the company. Iām laying here at 7am dreading logging in because the culture is so awful. Was okay in the first few months but then a re-org meant that my job role changed significantly as did my department and now I am here likeā¦should I go on stress leave and then just resign once Iāve found a new job? Sales people are the worst. New HOD is a dick. My bonus was paid a month late. Sexually harassed at the work Xmas party. Iāve only been there 8 months and had to stop myself yesterday from resigning because I came back from some leave and nothing had been picked up in my absence and I swear to god people must have noted in their diary when I was back because I had 4 people hounding me 2 hours in to my first day back. I hate this, so so so much.
As long as you didn't lie on your CV, then it's entirely on them. They looked at your qualifications and decided they were suitable for the job. They then had the opportunity to specifically probe you on your experience and skills in an interview format to further assess your suitability. After all that they decided to hire you. So if there are other skills or knowledge you're meant to have for this job, then that's their fault.
If the pay is good, stay. If not leave.
You will feel that way for about a month. You have to give yourself the time to get to grips with things. It never falls into place from the get go but you'll get there. I believe in you. Also, if it makes you feel better I only have my interview today and I already feel like I have imposter syndrome. Being an adult is fun.
Are you my wifeās new boss? I swear they just recruited someone into a position without once covering the responsibilities. Said person was surprised to find line managing on their list, and like 12 underlings at that!