Why do I feel so overwhelmed after starting a new job?
The shock of a new career, unfamiliar professional environments, and massive information overload trigger intense anxiety and regret immediately after the first week. This sudden wave of dread makes individuals question their career choices and leaves them spending their first weekend in tears instead of resting.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1waiting for time to pass while hoping it gets easier
- 2Accepting that 90% of accounting is learned on the job rather than in school
- 3Realizing that every company operates in an entirely different environment
- 4watching YouTube videos for unfamiliar tasks
- 5weathering the storm until the job becomes routine after a few months
- 6keeping an eye out for other better positions and changing jobs every 2 to 4 years
- 7Researching the new property's finishes, fees, policies, and competitor set
- 8Asking for the new team's tour standard, lead-response SLA, and CRM stages in advance
- 9offloading minor tasks to maintenance or coworkers
- 10breaking up administrative reports throughout the day instead of waiting until the end
- 11automating follow-up emails and creating templates
- 12quitting the industry entirely
- 13taking notes on a computer
- 14using sticky notes for to-do items
- 15asking the manager for daily priority guidance
- 16setting reminders everywhere on phone and laptop
- 17working late into the night on lesson plans
- 18quitting the school or planning to leave
- 19turning AP classes into study halls
- 20accepting that sleep will be poor the night prior and finding ways to occupy the mind rather than doomscrolling
- 21seeking reassurance and insights from peers who have experienced similar career transitions
- 22taking notes, asking questions, and acting like a sponge during the initial onboarding phase
- 23Doing ride-alongs for the first month or two
- 24Being honest about skill limitations with the service manager
- 25Carrying a pen and notepad at all times
- 26asking experienced colleagues for tips
- 27learning the differences in supporter mindsets
- 28playing dumb and making noncommittal statements when disagreeing
- 29taking time up to a year or more to observe organizational culture
- 30Giving yourself credit for what you do
- 31Realizing no one is a perfect teacher and doing the best you can
- 32Comparing your work ethic to less dedicated peers
- 33Waiting for experience to build confidence over the years
- 34Fixing the mistakes after they occur and relying on management reassurance that it is not a big issue
- 35Trusting your experience and having a good attitude
- 36Accepting that you won't know everything and asking the right questions
- 37Not taking it personally
- 38trying not to judge the job too quickly
- 39exploring technical accounting or SEC reporting
- 40switching to FP and A
- 41becoming a private CPA
- 42Asking more experienced teachers for reassurance and advice
- 43Learning to be flexible and accept imperfections
- 44Focusing on building connections and relationships with students
- 45Breaking complex tasks into smaller, guided components
- 46Spending 3 hours a day after school trying to catch up and plan lessons
- 47working through minor colds
- 48taking vitamin c and zinc supplements
- 49using Zicam for colds
- 50using hand sanitizer and washing hands frequently
- 51showering right after work
- 52thinking positively
- 53starting therapy sessions
- 54walking on lunches
- 55trying to log off at 5
- 56leaving the short stint off the resume
- 57continuing to apply for new jobs
- 58studying for CPA exams full time
- 59asking a lot of questions and taking notes during training
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I graduated this past May and recently landed my first full-time accounting job as a Staff Accountant at a private entertainment company.”source ↗
“I ended up getting fired after only 3.5 weeks, and I'm honestly still pretty shocked and frustrated about it.”source ↗
“My biggest struggle was the training. The company itself was pretty flexible/chill, but I didn't feel like there was much structured training for my position.”source ↗
“Ultimately, I was told I was making too many mistakes, and they terminated me.”source ↗
“Making a lesson plan is really making four lesson plans with all the paperwork required for admin.”source ↗
“I am so overwhelmed.”source ↗
“I feel homesick, and kind of a sense of dread like oh my god what have I done I am going to do this for 30 years.”source ↗
“It’s Saturday afternoon and I’ve just been in tears all day long, like the Sunday scaries but on Saturday.”source ↗
“I have never felt more depressed and drained in my life.”source ↗
“It is so difficult and every workpaper is harder than the last and I feel so stupid”source ↗
“I have been in this weird state of anxiety and like hopelessness.”source ↗
“I kept shaking, and I had a three day long panic attack at a client site.”source ↗
“I just got a job at Avalon bay (merged into vivmark residential) and I’m dealing with substantial amount of pressure. I keep on forgetting things, feeling unorganized, manager teaches me once on how to do things, extremely slow movement where I work, and not knowing how to answer common sense questions that gets thrown at me.”source ↗
“Just recently I forgot that I needed to take pictures of an apartment for a soon-to-be move-in. I’m literally giving up and this is my first office job.”source ↗
“My manager has high expectations for me and It’s turning into a disaster. She’s a great person but I feel like I’m just increasing the stress towards her because of my own mind. Think I’m just ranting, overthinking, and just giving up in all office jobs in general. Maybe this isn’t for me”source ↗
“I’m just so overwhelmed from work, it’s so so much.”source ↗
“Today was my first day crying bc I was the only person in office today. So I had 5 tours, a move in, and a re-tour from 12pm - 5pm.”source ↗
“Tomorrow, I kick off my new job in New York City, and honestly, I’m feeling pretty nervous.”source ↗
“Even with all these positives, I can’t shake this feeling of unease and uncertainty.”source ↗
“Now that I’m about to start full-time though, I’m getting pretty stressed and nervous about how much I’m expected to know right away.”source ↗
“For those of you who started in Big 4 audit (especially if you interned beforehand), did you feel prepared when you started full-time? Or did you also feel like you had no idea what you were doing?”source ↗
“Hi all! I'm starting at a new organization soon. I started at my current org before my pre-frontal cortex was fully developed, in an entry level role, and have worked my way up to DoD.”source ↗
“I would love to hear any advice/tips/things to look out for in my first few weeks from those of you who have more experience job hopping!”source ↗
“im starting at a new company and just fear I don’t know what I’m doing or so afraid I’ll make a mistake and make a bad impression.”source ↗
“I started this position as Resident Manager July of this year, I’m new to this companies operations and procedures, so far minor hiccups that I fixed and got over”source ↗
“I did two move ins, both were completed, but one was not done to standard operating procedures, that was on me.”source ↗
“I feel like a fool, I know what i should’ve done, yet I messed up twice. I hate this feeling”source ↗
“I just started my first job as an accountant and everything seems different from what I learned in school, is this normal?”source ↗
“did anyone experience this that too much is going on in thier first week?”source ↗
“My dean refused to provide me an outline from the previous teacher so I’m literally writing plans until 9:30-10 at night”source ↗
“I’ve only been a teaching assistant for a month in an elementary classroom and it leaves me feeling drained almost every day.”source ↗
“I’m already having a hard enough time between work and constantly getting sick.”source ↗
“It’s only been a month and I’m feeling burn out slowly building up.”source ↗
“I got fired from my first job out of school. Just apply and go again.”source ↗
“it is barely my third day and I am feeling a lot of stress from the service advisors as well as the customers.”source ↗
“I am worried they will fire me before I even have the chance to get the hang of it.”source ↗
“I thought this was something I wanted to do, especially when it comes to electrical diag, but now I am worried I might not be cut out for it.”source ↗
“I am switching over to luxury leasing in two weeks. what are the major differences and pros and cons of changing?”source ↗
“These past two days have been very hard, to be honest I feel like all competence gets sucked out of me the moment I enter the classroom.”source ↗
“Lessons don't go according to my plans, this morning the activities I had prepared took almost half the time I had planned and I didn't know what to do in the moment.”source ↗
“at the moment I feel very incompetent.”source ↗
“I’ve never worked in a school before and have only worked at this school for a month and I’ve already missed 5 days due to being sick.”source ↗
“Now I’m at the new job, and I’m struggling more than I expected.”source ↗
“The processes, systems, and formats are completely different from what I was used to.”source ↗
“I know I’ve only been there for a very short time, so I’m trying not to judge the job too quickly. But I’m overwhelmed, and it has made me question myself as an accountant.”source ↗
“In my third year of teaching, I still can’t shake the feeling that I’m not doing enough, not good at my job, or that I even know what I’m doing teaching. When does it get easier…?”source ↗
“Fighting w/ Canvas, PowerSchool, behind on emails, have difficult kids, have imposter syndrome and believe I'm one blunder away from not getting a 2nd contract -first year teacher”source ↗
“I'm struggling with canvas and PowerSchool right now. the damn thing won't sync.”source ↗
“I just am so overwhelmed I already struggle with inattention as is as a undiagnosed possibly ADHD person I'm literally spending 3 hours a day after school trying to catch up and work on what we're going to be doing in the next couple of days or weeks.”source ↗
“I feel like I have imposters syndrome with a masters and a bachelor's and no teaching experience.”source ↗
“It’s my first day tomorrow at 7:30 am and I’m nervous as heck.”source ↗
“I have adhd and probably on the spectrum.”source ↗
“Flat rate, honestly, I feel like an outcast in my shop corner a lot of the people feel two faced, technicians included, but I could be thinking too deeply.”source ↗
“Had some similar feelings but just trust your experience and have a good attitude.”source ↗
“Property management takes a big toll on your health. I bet you didn’t even take lunch.”source ↗
“My first year teaching, I had nine colds over the course of the year!”source ↗
“I started a new role 6 weeks back and have felt all the same anxieties you did, I just accepted that my sleep would suck the night prior and occupied myself rather than doom scrolling the night away.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 12Why do I feel like a fake in my new management role?
- 20Feeling lost and overwhelmed starting a new accounting job
- 3Why is corporate industry accounting so boring after public practice?