Fighting New-Job Anxiety? Use These 6 Coping Mechanisms

Searching for a job can be stressful. The journey from polishing your resume to finding the right opportunity to interviewing can be littered with emotional landmines. But once you get hired, you may end up trading one kind of anxiety for another: LinkedIn reports that 80 percent of employees experience nervousness in their first days and weeks on the job. With that in mind, here are some tips for dealing with new-job anxiety.

Identify What’s Feeding Your Anxiety

Rather than letting a giant mess of generalized anxiety torment you, ask yourself what, specifically, is fueling your worries. Are your responsibilities not what you thought they’d be? Are you experiencing conflict with certain colleagues? Do you need more training or resources to be more productive? All these problems can be addressed – and probably solved – by having an honest conversation with your boss.

Get Frequent Feedback

Speaking of talking with your boss, you shouldn’t wait until your first performance review to find out how you’re doing. Request regular check-ins with your boss to help you build on your strengths and address your shortcomings. Regular communication can help eliminate lingering and oppressive doubts.

Take Notes During Your Onboarding

This tip has multiple benefits. First, if you take handwritten notes while listening during onboarding presentations and review your notes within 24 hours, your retention of what you learned can increase by as much as 70 percent. Second, active notetaking requires more concentration and leaves less time for your mind to wander to your anxiety feeders.

Practice Deep Breathing

For another physical stress remover, consider some deep breathing exercises. Mindful breathing not only reduces anxiety, but it can also provide pain relief and promote better sleep. BetterUp has some great techniques for you to adopt.

Watch and Learn

From Obi-Wan Kenobi to Dumbledore, the movies are filled with memorable mentors. While yours may not wear flowing robes, finding a mentor at your workplace can help you acclimate to your new job and ease your anxiety. Look for someone who does what you do or is in a position you’d like to one day reach, and get to know their story. Not only will it distract you from your own doubts, but it could give also give you a roadmap to success.

Remember Why Your Employer Hired You

The fact you were hired means your employer thinks you are, at the very least, capable of doing the job. Start from that point of positivity and build on it. You may want to ask your friends and former co-workers for a pep talk. They can pump you up with the assurances you need to embrace the idea that you can do this.

Find a Temp Agency Near You

Arrow Staffing is here for you whether you need help building your career or professional relationships. Contact one of our recruiters today, or browse our career portal.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *