How to avoid "buyers remorse" after you've accepted a job

Ok - so I am willing to take a stab in the dark that we have pretty much all been here at some stage or another. After all, the fact that there is a coined phrase "buyers remorse" should tell you that you are not on your own: wondering if a decision you have made is actually the right one?!

The fear of a new job!

Believe it or not, I think we ALL deal with doubts when we accept and are starting a new job. It is widely recognised as one of the top 10 things that cause stress in our lives. The scenario is usually similar - we have had a rotten time in our current job, start looking elsewhere, get offered a job and all of a sudden THE FEAR creeps in. Ummm... is our current job really that bad? I'm secure here, I know what I'm doing, I can slack off, I know how to work the system. These are the types of thoughts that sabotage us from finding something better - from trusting that the vast unknown could provide us the challenges and results we seek!

Guard against the fear!

So how do you guard yourself against the fear - how do you ensure that it is truly not a bad decision, but just nerves that make you want to walk out and not come back after lunch on the first day?!

Ammunition!

My Mum always told me "the first day is the hardest". You are a fish out of water - everyone else seems to know what they're doing and you feel lost. BUT it helps to remember that everyone there started the same way.

• BEFORE you start the new job, find out about the company (actually it's ideal if you do this before the interview, so you can ask intelligent questions!); this way you have something to remind yourself when the nerves attack, "I want to work for this company as they XXXX (fill in appropriate blanks!!)",
• make sure you have work to keep you busy on the first day. Whenever you start at a new job, there invariably are a number of people too busy to show you everything you need to know - make sure you ask for tasks that will help you to quickly learn about the other staff and the company! I always used to like to take a notebook and write down info about staff within their teams and what teams are responsible for which work!
• Take a deep breath! It is normal to feel stressed in a new environment, taking a breath is a quick and simple way to reduce any heightened emotions and help you to be calm.
• Turn up on the 2nd day - it's never as bad as the first! In fact, at least turn up for a couple of days to a week before you make any rash decisions. Chances are you will feel right at home quicker than you thought!

You never know where it might lead!

I remember one job I started at was an EXTREMELY competitive workplace and the "wonderful" boss had no idea how to manage apart from strike the fear of God in everyone. The kitchen was a feral mess and the soap had this peculiar pungent aroma that made me gag (in fact it was the soap that was my tipping point - I had to hold a bench to stop myself walking out - extremely funny when I think about it now!!). But I was determined to stick it out and the first miserable day turned into a sort of ok week, which turned into the company being bought by a bigger company a couple of months later, which turned into me being the national "expert" instead of the geeky girl in the wrong product line. Still one of the best moves for my career to this day!

So suck in your breath, remind yourself of why you wanted this job and give it your best shot - you could be truly amazed at where it will lead you if you just beat the fear!!

Tell us how you have coped with first day jitters!!