4 Thoughts Everyone Has the First Week at a New Job - The Muse

4 Thoughts Everyone Has the First Week at a New Job - The Muse4 Thoughts Everyone Has the First Week at a New JobSix months ago, I started my new job at The Muse. After weeks of interviewing with the team, completing an edit test, and reading too much into every single email sign-off, I was pumped to finally be walking through the office door as an employee. Until it came to the day when I actually had to walk through the door. Then I wasnt as much pumped as I was terrified. And because the brain works in mysterious ways, the terror manifested itself into crazy thoughts- thoughts that stuck with me throughout my first week (and maybe, if Im being honest, a little bit longer). The only way I survived them was to remember that everyone has the same experience. No matter how excited you are for a position, the first few days are rough. So, for anyone out there whos starting a new job and worried about, well, everything- this peek into my brain is for you.1. I Hate Everything I OwnI trie d on everything that I own the morning I started. Twice. Nothing felt quite right for the look I wanted to pull off. The look, of course, being casual, but cool, and chic, and nonchalant, but trendy, but not cheap-trendy, but not trust-fund rich. I wanted to smell like success, but also mystery- someone you couldnt help but look up on LinkedIn the second she walked in the door. Ooh, I wanted people to say. Seven people have endorsed her for WordPress- I must know more.Theres nothing quite like the first day to make you feel like youre back in high school- where every outfit could make or break you, where every fight with your mother ended with, If you dont buy me that $65 t-shirt from Abercrombie Fitch, I will literally die. But thats when you have to remember that youre not in high school- and that people are far more interested in who you are and what you can do than they are in what youre wearing. Sure, if you walk in on your first day dressed like youre running late to a black- tie wedding, people will judge you. But as long as you dress normally (and dont underestimate yourself, you know what normal means), youll be fine. And if you still dont believe me, think back to the last five people who started at your company. What did they wear on their first day? I bet you cant remember. (Still stressed? Check out Muse writer Aja Frosts guide to stalking a companys social media in order to plan the perfect outfit.)2. I Tricked Them Into Hiring MeI spent the entire interview process selling myself as the perfect person for this job. And it worked- insert evil cackle here- I got the job. But as soon as I started, I realized I was the wrong person. Somehow, Id convinced them to hire me, despite being wildly unqualified. I pictured myself breaking the bad news to my manager, Well, if Ive learned anything this week, its that Im the dumbest So, I guess Ill leave now. But, if its OK with you, Ill take the free pen and notebook you gave me on Monday.Before you get too d eep into imposter syndrome, remember this The person who hired you thought long and hard about doing it. He or she didnt pick your anthroponym out of a hat, or make a bet with a fellow employee that youd make it past your first week. Youre there because someone, probably multiple someones, wanted you there. Not anyone- you. In your moments of doubt, take a few minutes to run through all the ways you sold yourself during the interview process and remember you are the best possible fit.3. I Miss My Old JobThe thing about my old job is that everything made sense. I knew the ins and outs of my actual responsibilities, I knew where to put my lunch in the fridge so I could find it later, and I even knew the unspoken rules of bathroom usage. That was suddenly no longer the case. So, before I could stop myself, I began missing that stupid old company Id been so eager to move on from.Starting a new job is like being a deer in headlights. Except, unlike the deer, you cant just stand there hop ing the car wont run you over. Instead, you have to pretend like you understand everything thats going on. Truth talk Youre going to feel like this for a while, and for a ritterlich amount of time, youll be nostalgic for your old company, your old co-workers, and even that guy in accounting who picked his nose in every meeting.But heres the thing You dont actually miss your old job. (OK, fine, you might miss parts of it.) You miss feeling like you belong. And before long, you will feel that way at your new company. While you cant fast-forward until you get to that part where youre friends with everyone, you can go out of your way to make this place feel like home. Decorate your desk with familiar items, invite your co-workers to grab coffee and tell you more about their positions, and feel free to ask about anything that youre unsure about. Because during your first week, there really are no stupid questions. 4. Ive Ruined EverythingI made a bad editorial call my first week. The sit e didnt crash, and the company didnt come crumbling down, but it wasnt my finest move. And for a little while there, I thought I had ruined everything and I would be fired. Which would really suck because I had just updated my LinkedIn and started collecting my congrats comments. Spoiler alert I didnt get fired. It was my first week, and I made a mistake. Youre going to make one your first week, too. Probably more than one. The mistake might have to do with your new responsibilities, but it might also have to do with office politics that you have no way of knowing. Weird things like, Dont go into the kitchen when Henrys getting coffee.The good news is that its incredibly unlikely that your manager will entrust you with anything that could take the company down during your first week. Everyone knows youre new to the job, and no one expects you to perform incredible feats before you finish filling out your benefits paperwork. So, in moments of panic, remember that you just started and youre allowed a few mess-ups.Ive had these thoughts at every single job Ive ever started- and I can almost guarantee that almost everyone in your office has. No one talks about it because this stage- this horribly awkward stage- goes by fast, and you forget about it. So, if youre riding this roller coaster right now, relax. Itll be over before you know it. Know exactly what Im talking about? Tell me on Twitter