• Question: how long did it take you to settle into your current jobs and what struggles did you face when you first started there.

    Asked by GaelleB on 13 Jun 2023.
    • Photo: Laura Thomas-Walters

      Laura Thomas-Walters answered on 13 Jun 2023:

      Currently I work for an American university, so have never met any of my colleagues face-to-face. It took several months to feel comfortable chatting to them just over Zoom

    • Photo: Ian Duffy

      Ian Duffy answered on 13 Jun 2023:

      The advice I’d give to myself now is to be comfortable with asking questions, asking for help, and letting people know who I am and what I stand for. It takes a while to get that confidence when first starting out but it makes such a difference.

    • Photo: Alastair Henniker-heaton

      Alastair Henniker-heaton answered on 14 Jun 2023:

      For me it took a good 12 months to feel comfortable in my job. I joined during the pandemic and have only ever worked from home in this role, meeting colleagues maybe a couple of times per year face to face during team away days.

      I also struggled and still struggle with something called imposter syndrome. This is when somebody feels like they’re not good enough or like they’re pretending to be something they’re not. I think I feel this way because the job was quite a big jump from my previous role.

      I have learnt to embrace the feeling though, and use it as a motivator to learn more, ask more questions and drive me forwards. There is a great tedtalk on it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNBmHXS3A6I

    • Photo: Sharron Kenny

      Sharron Kenny answered on 14 Jun 2023:

      it probably took a year to feel fully settled in as there was a lot to learn in the beginning. lots of new people to meet and all the lab equipment was new and different even if i had worked with it previously it wasn’t the same model and the products we analysed where different and also had to be learned

      but during this time everyone was so friendly and helpful and i didnt feel isolated or not included. it just took some time to learn my role.

    • Photo: Ferran Brosa Planella

      Ferran Brosa Planella answered on 15 Jun 2023:

      I started my current job last September, and I get the feeling that until I have done a full year I won’t be completely settled. The main challenges have been figuring out how everything works (the teaching, the admin…) but luckily I have very supportive colleagues that are helping me out.

    • Photo: Alexander De Bruin

      Alexander De Bruin answered on 16 Jun 2023:

      I think I always feel slightly unsettled in whatever I do, but in a good way. There is always more to learn in whatever you do, and allowing yourself the space to ask and learn is the most valuable thing in any job, especially in science

    • Photo: Amy Stockwell

      Amy Stockwell answered on 30 Jun 2023:

      My first job took me several years to settle in. I was very scared and not confident. I didn’t know what I was doing or how to do it. I was unlucky that my boss was very busy and didn’t have the time to guide me.

      I started a new job 18 months ago. I had a good understanding of what they wanted from me and the experience to know how to do it. Plus the people were very welcoming so I felt settled within a month.

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