Okay, so you landed the job (!!!), you’ve got your desk, your work badge, and a calendar full of meetings you don’t totally understand. And now you’re sitting there, smiling and nodding, secretly wondering if everyone’s going to figure out you have no clue what you’re doing.
Spoiler alert: we’ve all been there.
Starting your first job is exciting, empowering, and honestly? Terrifying. But you are not alone—and you don’t have to have it all figured out to show up with confidence. Here’s how to channel that “I’ve got this” energy, even when you lowkey feel like you’re Googling half your job in the bathroom.
💻 1. Confidence Isn’t Knowing Everything—It’s Trusting You Can Figure It Out
Let’s get this out of the way: you’re not supposed to know everything. No one expects you to walk in on day one with the answers. Confidence isn’t about having it all together—it’s about knowing you can learn, ask, and improve.
Big-sis advice: When you don’t know how to do something, say:
“I haven’t done this before, but I’d love to learn how.”
It shows initiative and honesty, which managers LOVE.
📚 2. Ask Questions Early (and Often)
If you're not asking questions, you’re probably not absorbing what you need. Asking for clarity doesn’t make you look weak—it makes you look engaged.
Try asking:
- “Can you walk me through how you’d approach this?”
- “Is there a preferred format or template for this?”
- “Who should I check with if I get stuck?”
Pro tip: Keep a running list of questions in a doc or Notes app and group them together to ask all at once during check-ins.
📋 3. Take Notes Like a Type-A Queen
During your first few weeks, you’ll be bombarded with info—systems, logins, tools, acronyms, office snacks (which ones are fair game??). Write everything down. It’ll help you remember and give you something to refer back to when you’re on your own.
Your “first job” note doc should include:
- People’s names + roles
- Login info or system instructions
- How-tos for repeat tasks
- Questions to follow up on
Bonus: You’ll impress people when you remember something they only told you once.
🧠 4. Reframe the Imposter Syndrome
Feeling like a fraud is soooo normal in your first job—especially when you’re surrounded by people who seem to have it all together. But trust: they felt the exact same way when they started.
Instead of thinking:
“I don’t belong here.”
Try:
“I’m new here, and I’m learning quickly.”
You were hired for a reason. They saw potential, and you’re allowed to grow into the role.
🧾 5. Practice Talking About What You’re Doing
You’ll get asked this a lot:
“So, what are you working on right now?”
Instead of freezing, prep a quick response you can update weekly. It builds confidence and helps you feel in control.
Example:
“This week I’m finalizing a report on XYZ and helping with prep for the marketing meeting. I’m learning a lot!”
Even if you're doing a lot of learning, frame it as progress. You’re building skills every single day.
💬 6. Don’t Be Afraid to Say “I’m Still Learning”
One of the most confident things you can say is:
“I don’t know yet, but I’ll find out.”
It shows you’re teachable, proactive, and not pretending. People respect that more than you’d think.
Just avoid:
🚫 “Sorry, I’m totally clueless.”
✅ “I haven’t done that yet—could you show me once so I get it right?”
🧍 7. Stand Tall. Literally.
Okay, this sounds silly—but posture matters. Sitting up straight, making eye contact, and holding your space in a room tells your brain: “I belong here.”
Try this trick:
Before a meeting or presentation, do a “power pose” for 60 seconds. Think Wonder Woman. Shoulders back, chin up. It genuinely helps boost confidence, even if you feel like a human cinnamon roll inside.
🎯 8. Celebrate the Tiny Wins
Your first week isn’t about becoming a CEO—it’s about showing up, learning, and doing one thing better than you did yesterday.
Celebrate things like:
- Sending your first email without rereading it 14 times
- Learning how to use Slack
- Asking a question you were nervous about
Those little wins add up and build real confidence.
👯♀️ 9. Connect with One Person
You don’t need a full work bestie crew right away, but having even one person you can Slack, sit with at lunch, or ask where the bathroom is makes work feel 100x less intimidating.
Easy icebreaker:
“I’m new here—would you want to grab coffee sometime this week?”
You’ll be surprised how many people want to help you feel included.
🧘♀️ 10. You Don’t Have to Be Perfect—Just Present
You’re going to make mistakes. You’ll forget someone’s name, send an email with a typo, or sit through a meeting where you understood nothing. That’s not failure—that’s growth.
Confidence is built through showing up anyway, even when you feel unsure. It’s reminding yourself daily:
“I may not know it all, but I’m here to learn—and I’m doing great.”
And you are.
💛 Real Talk Before You Log In
First jobs are weird, wonderful, and a little overwhelming. But you’re more capable than you think. You’re not supposed to be perfect right now. You’re supposed to be learning, growing, and showing up with a curious, open heart.
So breathe. Stand tall. Write the email. Ask the question. Take the seat at the table.
You’ve got this, babe. And the version of you six months from now? She’s going to look back and be so proud.
💼 Haven’t Landed the Job Yet?
If you’re still in the applying-and-praying phase, don’t stress—you are not behind. I’ve got you covered.
✨ Grab my free Job Search Starter Kit—your no-fluff guide to resumes, LinkedIn, interviews & everything in between. Whether you’ve applied to 5 jobs or 57, this guide will help you feel clear, confident, and ready to hit “send.”
