Imposter syndrome before I even start my new job
I'm 25, from the UK, and I've just landed my first corporate job through an internal application. Full-time and salaried when I've only ever worked part-time on min wage.
To give a bit of background on myself, I've been working part-time in a small, pretty run-down taxi office of a much larger organisation for a few months now, and when I got this role I felt "Finally, I'm actually getting somewhere in my career". But this job genuinely sucks. I don't do half of what is in the job desc and it's in a rough area of town and very public facing. From the beginning of the year the responsibilities we had were also dwindling. 4 weeks ago we were informed that the office we're in is shutting down and my whole department (exclusive to this office) is being made redundant. I already had a feeling and wasn't at all surprised, however my manager suggested I apply to some internal vacancies in the head office, which straight off the bat I didn't feel qualified for. After a little talk I decided to go through the application process. 2 interviews later I got the job. I was told on Thursday. I'm still working my current job until Sunday (typing this at work), and starting my new job on Tuesday.
I'd been in retail for 3 years prior, was in uni when covid was around and failed both my final year and my repeat year because I hated what I was studying and had poor mental health at the time. However, I can't deny I also had really poor work ethic at the time.
I don't doubt my ability to learn in this new role. When news of the redundancy hit, a coworker from another department tried to get them to keep me and another guy on since we're good at what we do. While waiting for the interviews for the job I secured, I interviewed at another place and also secured a full-time office job like I had been wanting, but took the risk and turned it down cause I wanted the internal vacancy. A small part of me felt like I was being arrogant.
I'm a really lucky person, I don't doubt my fortune in life but right now I still have this anxiety in me that I'm going to fumble something or disappoint someone. Additionally, I know a couple competent employees also applied and for this role and were turned down, and I heard that it's because there is a legal requirement to offer a role to an employee facing redundancy if there is a suitable position available. The role I got had 2 vacancies available but this still put a really bad taste in my mouth. It felt like I had been handed the position even though I know my interviews went well. When I mentioned my degree title (which I informed all the interviewers I didn't complete) all the interviewers eyes visibly lit up, which I know is because it sounds fancy 😭 But again, I feel like it just made me sound more qualified than I actually am. I also had to do an Excel task in the first interview which I found easy after about 2 mins of internal panic. The job is also in the Finance department and I do NOT have a finance background!
It's also hybrid after training and I'm that weird person who would honestly prefer to be in the office all the time? I don't really trust myself at home to not slack off, and what if I need help? I also don't have a desk in my house?!
I'm never known as the person who panics and I'm always calm under pressure but I hate responsibility and a couple months ago I would not have called myself an ambitious person. I was really ready to resign myself to part-time retail shifts for the rest of my life before I truly considered how lucky I am and all my potential. I'm trying to change that about myself and become more accountable with the way certain things are in life, but considering how happy my family is with my new job, my friend's support, and the fact my current manager recommended me to my new manager, I feel like I have so much expectation.
I don't really know what kind of advice I'm expecting from posting all this? I just feel like I'm going to become an absolute airhead the moment I start this new role and disappoint people 🥲
Tldr: I feel unqualified for this job because of my past work/education and people expectations of me.
Posted Mar 8, 2026, 8:04 PM UTC