HOW TO OVERCOME THE NEW JOB NERVES

First-day jitters are perfectly normal. After all, you’re walking into a new workplace without much information to go on, apart from your job description, what you learned during the interview process and any insider tips your recruiter shared with you.

For introverts, in particular, the idea of meeting so many new people at once can be daunting – especially since you’re looking to make a good first impression.

If you’re gearing up for your first job out of school and are feeling a little apprehensive – or even if you have a bit of experience under your belt already – we’ve put together some top tips to help you get through those new job nerves.

REMEMBER, THEY WILL GO AWAY

The crazy thing about nerves is that they can sometimes sneak up on you and completely take over your body – but just remember that this feeling is temporary. It’s natural to feel nervous throughout your first week, particularly on your first day, but it won’t take long until you’re feeling completely comfortable and at ease in the workplace. 

Our brand ambassador, Tallisha Harden, might be a successful Speech Pathologist now but can remember back to her first job and the self-doubt she felt.

“It took me a few months to find my feet. At first, I still felt like a bit of an imposter – wondering how I got the job, if I was qualified enough, did I know what I was doing, did they ring the wrong person? After the first few weeks I fell into a nice routine and started to feel more comfortable in my role and with my new journey,” she says. 

So, remind yourself why you applied for the role in the first place and how excited you were when you got the job offer. Then picture yourself a few weeks in the future when you’ve met everyone and know all of the processes that go along with starting a new job. After that first hurdle, you will soon begin to feel more settled and excited to start tackling your career goals in this new role.

BE PREPARED

A big part of new job anxiety is often the unknown, but putting in a little prep ahead of time can go a long way towards helping you feel more relaxed and comfortable in the beginning. As part of your recruitment process, you will probably have done research about the company and the team you’ll be working with, and you may already know a bit about your new work environment if you did an in-person interview. 

Take a look through any notes you may have made to refresh your memory. You can also check in with your recruiter to see if there’s any additional information you need – they can give you some extra insights and tips so you can go into your role feeling fully prepared.

Tallisha also recommends looking at the company’s website and associated social media content. 

“I made sure I read over the documentation I’d been provided and even reached out to employees I knew had worked at the organisation previously. 

“I also did a dry run of my first drive to work to see how long it would take, what traffic would be like etc. Originally I was working down the Gold Coast and commuting from Brisbane three times a week so this was very important!” she says.

As Tallisha suggests, it’s important to plan logistics for your first day to keep your morning stress free and ensure you arrive on time (if not a little bit early). It’s never a good idea to start Day One on the back foot! If you don’t know already, look into how long your commute will take, what time you need to arrive and, if you are driving, what the parking situation is

You should also make sure you are armed with basic equipment such as a pen and notebook for your first day just in case. All the new information may seem overwhelming, but writing it down can help. No one expects you to remember everything right away!

TAKE A DEEP BREATH

This might sound obvious, but it’s amazing what a few deep lungsful of air can do to calm those nerves. Try taking some deep breaths in through your nose, then let them out through your mouth. If you do this two to three times whenever you feel your anxiety rising, you’re sure to keep those stomach butterflies at bay.

A top athlete like Tallisha knows all about the benefits of breathwork, and the impact it can have on those first-day jitters.

“I’m a big, big advocate for breathing. Deep diaphragmatic breathing to help ease stress and tension, especially in unknown or difficult situations,” she says.

Another good technique to try is standing in the “power pose”. This is simply standing straight up with your legs slightly apart, your head held high and your arms over your head – think Superman! (Of course, this tip is best tried out before you leave home or in the bathroom rather than in view of your new colleagues!)

BE FOCUSED BUT REALISTIC

In order to start off on the best possible foot, you may end up putting pressure on yourself to be perfect. Try to keep in mind that nobody has this expectation, and in fact, many teams will want to help ease you into your new role and workplace. 

Tallisha has some great advice on keeping yourself motivated while you’re still learning the ropes in a new job.

“I almost gave myself an internal permission to be a beginner/learner and kept reassuring myself that it’s okay to learn and be a little slower at the start. This made the process easier as I wasn’t constantly trying to keep up or put pressure on myself,” she says.

It takes everyone at least a couple of weeks, if not months, to get up to speed with everything in their new role. It can be hard, but it’s important to try not to worry too much about what your colleagues are thinking about you. There’s a reason you were hired for the role, so just take each day as it comes and do your best!

EMBRACE THE CHALLENGE

Adopting a growth mindset can be really helpful when you begin a new role. It means you start accepting that it will be a learning curve, but also a great step forward in your career. This kind of positive approach allows you to take on all of the challenges that come your way, knowing that you will grow both as an employee and a person outside the workplace.

When you feel the nerves start to bubble towards the surface, remind yourself that you have the ability to figure things out. Before you know it, you’ll be achieving all your work goals with ease and those first-day nerves will be nothing but a memory.

And take it from someone who is just as comfortable now in a clinic as she is on the footy field – you will learn and grow from the experience.

“I think I’m now a lot more comfortable being uncomfortable. I don’t mind being put into new situations or new environments because I’ve had success (and failure) with this previously. If I had have stayed in my comfort zone both professionally and with sport, I never would have improved!” Tallisha says.