Career✓ Follow-up at 8 weeks2,560 views
I just started a new job and I feel like a total fraud
A confidence-building plan for new job imposter syndrome using evidence collection, strategic questions, and reframing the learning curve as normal.
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Follow-Up Result
8 weeks laterImposter feelings reduced significantly after tracking wins and getting positive feedback
The Problem
I started a new senior role three weeks ago and I'm convinced they made a mistake hiring me. Everyone seems so competent and I'm struggling to keep up. I spend meetings nodding along pretending I understand. I'm terrified someone will figure out I don't know what I'm doing. I got this job based on my experience but now that I'm here, my experience feels irrelevant. I can't sleep and I'm considering quitting before they fire me.
The Plan
Week 1-2: Normalize the Discomfort
Remind yourself: EVERYONE feels this way in a new role. The learning curve is not evidence of incompetence
They hired you after interviews, reference checks, and deliberation — they chose you on purpose
Start a "wins journal": write down one thing you did well each day, no matter how small
Ask questions freely — new hires are EXPECTED to ask questions. Not asking is what looks bad
Set a 90-day expectation: no one expects you to be fully productive for at least 3 months
Week 3-4: Build Evidence Against the Fraud Feeling
When you get positive feedback, write it down word for word — your brain will try to dismiss it later
Identify one area where your previous experience adds unique value — lean into that
Find an ally: one person you can be honest with about what you're learning
Stop comparing yourself to people who've been there for years — compare yourself to where you were on day one
When you don't know something, say "I'm still getting up to speed on that — can you point me to the right resource?"
Week 5-8: Settle In and Own It
Review your wins journal — you'll be surprised how much you've learned
Start contributing ideas in meetings — even small ones build confidence and visibility
Offer to help others with something you're good at — teaching reinforces your own competence
Accept that you'll never know everything — nobody does, including the people who look confident
If the feeling persists beyond 6 months, consider talking to a therapist — imposter syndrome is very treatable
Resources
"The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women" by Valerie Young — applies to everyone despite the title
Harvard Business Review articles on imposter syndrome — search "HBR imposter syndrome"
r/careerguidance — stories from people who felt the same and came out the other side
Follow-Up Result
8 weeks in: the wins journal was transformative. Looking back at 8 weeks of daily wins, it's obvious I've learned a ton and contributed real value. Got my first positive performance check-in and my manager specifically said they were glad they hired me. The ally I found (a peer who started 6 months before me) admitted they felt the exact same way when they started. I still have moments of doubt but they pass quickly now. The biggest shift: I stopped trying to prove I belonged and just focused on doing good work. The proof took care of itself.Know someone with this problem?
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