You're hired!

If you’re starting a new job, you’re more often than not on probation for between a month or three months depending on your level. This period can be extremely stressful as you navigate learning about how the new company works, how people in the business work and relate with each other and how the systems in the company work differently from your last job, let alone proving you were a good hire. 

Whether you’re starting work for the first time, returning to work after an extended time away or moving from one company to another - you’re bound to be nervous and you may let your defences down by allowing negative thoughts and beliefs to creep in and cast doubt on the confidence (and your ability and experience don’t forget) that got you the job in the first place. So what are you feeling unconfident about? What proof have you got that what you’re hearing is true and is it helping you to believe what you’re telling yourself? 

The good news is there are many simple tools and exercises you can use to help to build and maintain your self-confidence, emotionally and rationally, in the run up to starting your new job and during your probationary period. First off: Be clear about what is expected of you. If your boss were to tell you what he or she needs to see from you during your probationary period to be assured that you’re right for the job, what would their answer be? If you don’t know, why not ask? Are there specific criteria they will be measuring you against during your probationary period and if so, what are they? They hired you because they need you – do you know how they will know the ‘gap’ they had has been filled successfully? And what about you – are you clear about what the job needs to deliver during its probationary period to tick all your boxes?