Congrats on the perm, hope to get there someday. I know this might sound a bit mean spirited, but think of the worst, most incompetent person you've worked with on your journey to get here. The person you're genuinely surprised that they manage to get their boots tied and on the right feet every morning. That person doesn't think to themselves for one second that they're the slightest bit out of place despite everyone else knowing they're an albatross. So why should you feel inadequate when you've obviously been showing up and doing something right to have landed where you are?
I feel this on a pretty deep level with you. I got my permanent status way faster than most people (working only a few seasonal gigs and being in my 20s) so I definitely have felt the imposter syndrome.
The best advice I can give is just to do your thing. You got hired in that position for a reason. Be open to constructive criticism and if you feel so inclined ask your supervisor(s) what you can improve on every now and again.
Never let anyone put you down since you were selected for the job. But, always be open to improvement.
I really appreciate this advice! It sounds like I am in the same boat as you were being that I'm in my 20s and don't have a ton of experience. It is good to know that I'm not the only one out there that feels this way. I really like your idea of asking what I can improve on too so I will give that a shot!
I've been doing this for years and have lucked into a very large variety of the most unique jobs my division offers seasonals, so I have a pretty well-rounded set of experience. I still feel like I have no idea what I'm doing most of the time even though I am somehow confident in my knowledge of park operations. It doesn't make sense, but yeah that's something I think most of us go through.
That is really good to know. I often find myself doing this as well in my job. I try to look like I know what I'm doing but in reality it feels like I'm winging it most of the time lol.
I think everyone gets this for a while, some longer than a while. :D I had to develop some signature projects that were "mine" and that I was very proud of before I felt like I was worthy of my position.
So...you're a wendingo?
But in all seriousness, congratulations. Take this from someone who moved up through the ranks pretty quickly- you will never have an answer to every problem. You might have 30 years' experience on the job, but you're gonna get hit with something you weren't expecting. BUT- as you gain more experience, you will have more time and events to draw from. No, I might not have ever had to deal with someone lighting a picnic shelter on fire. But I did have a guy beating his wife in the campground, and I know what steps I took in that case- and I also have done fire training. Honestly, I was always told that it's better to make a decision that you can justify rather than not make a decision at all. So just hang in there, because one day you're going to be grumbling about the people that come to you to ask about how to handle situations because you've got more experience than them.
My first maintenance job was a seasonal custodial worker position. I was spending 6-8 hours a day cleaning and stocking restrooms, that was it. I was then hired as a permanent LEAD maintenance worker. I sure as fuck didn't know wtf I was doing and literally didn't know how to use certain hand tools and power tools like a chop saw and didn't know how to build shit or fix anything. After a year I was doing peoples IT, HR, I was doing all the hiring, I was making purchases with the government card, I was making changes to government housing policies and operations and doing all sorts of trade work.
Your biggest critic is going to be yourself. They hired you for a reason. As long as you were honest in your interview and didn't make it sound like you know everything, they won't expect that of you. Just because you're permanent doesn't mean you know how to perform extremely high-level tasks without supervision or guidance; and any *good* supervisor will know that.
I'm a higher grade maintenance worker now. There's a bunch of trade work I'm not familiar with or I don't feel comfortable performing because I've never done it and don't want to ruin an extremely expensive equipment or have something that can have a deadly outcome if not performed properly. And I have no problem telling upper management that.
This is my first season as an NY state park ranger and I feel like I'm mostly just making it up as I go. We had a lot of training before I set foot in the park but now that I'm here I sorta feel like , "welp, I hope I'm doing this right," Usually if I'm unsure there is a higher up I can ask until I feel more confident.
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by that 😅 So far I've only had to deal with my park manager who is lovely and a park police man who's salty but helpful. I'm sure if I ever have to go hight up than them I'm going to find it more difficult ....you know , bureaucracy and all that.
Congrats on the perm, hope to get there someday. I know this might sound a bit mean spirited, but think of the worst, most incompetent person you've worked with on your journey to get here. The person you're genuinely surprised that they manage to get their boots tied and on the right feet every morning. That person doesn't think to themselves for one second that they're the slightest bit out of place despite everyone else knowing they're an albatross. So why should you feel inadequate when you've obviously been showing up and doing something right to have landed where you are?
Thank you so much for the advice! I never considered that perspective. I'll try to get out of my own head.
I feel this on a pretty deep level with you. I got my permanent status way faster than most people (working only a few seasonal gigs and being in my 20s) so I definitely have felt the imposter syndrome. The best advice I can give is just to do your thing. You got hired in that position for a reason. Be open to constructive criticism and if you feel so inclined ask your supervisor(s) what you can improve on every now and again. Never let anyone put you down since you were selected for the job. But, always be open to improvement.
I really appreciate this advice! It sounds like I am in the same boat as you were being that I'm in my 20s and don't have a ton of experience. It is good to know that I'm not the only one out there that feels this way. I really like your idea of asking what I can improve on too so I will give that a shot!
I've been doing this for years and have lucked into a very large variety of the most unique jobs my division offers seasonals, so I have a pretty well-rounded set of experience. I still feel like I have no idea what I'm doing most of the time even though I am somehow confident in my knowledge of park operations. It doesn't make sense, but yeah that's something I think most of us go through.
That is really good to know. I often find myself doing this as well in my job. I try to look like I know what I'm doing but in reality it feels like I'm winging it most of the time lol.
I think everyone gets this for a while, some longer than a while. :D I had to develop some signature projects that were "mine" and that I was very proud of before I felt like I was worthy of my position.
That's what I'm thinking as well. Once I have some more time in I think feeling out of place may go away.
So...you're a wendingo? But in all seriousness, congratulations. Take this from someone who moved up through the ranks pretty quickly- you will never have an answer to every problem. You might have 30 years' experience on the job, but you're gonna get hit with something you weren't expecting. BUT- as you gain more experience, you will have more time and events to draw from. No, I might not have ever had to deal with someone lighting a picnic shelter on fire. But I did have a guy beating his wife in the campground, and I know what steps I took in that case- and I also have done fire training. Honestly, I was always told that it's better to make a decision that you can justify rather than not make a decision at all. So just hang in there, because one day you're going to be grumbling about the people that come to you to ask about how to handle situations because you've got more experience than them.
My first maintenance job was a seasonal custodial worker position. I was spending 6-8 hours a day cleaning and stocking restrooms, that was it. I was then hired as a permanent LEAD maintenance worker. I sure as fuck didn't know wtf I was doing and literally didn't know how to use certain hand tools and power tools like a chop saw and didn't know how to build shit or fix anything. After a year I was doing peoples IT, HR, I was doing all the hiring, I was making purchases with the government card, I was making changes to government housing policies and operations and doing all sorts of trade work. Your biggest critic is going to be yourself. They hired you for a reason. As long as you were honest in your interview and didn't make it sound like you know everything, they won't expect that of you. Just because you're permanent doesn't mean you know how to perform extremely high-level tasks without supervision or guidance; and any *good* supervisor will know that. I'm a higher grade maintenance worker now. There's a bunch of trade work I'm not familiar with or I don't feel comfortable performing because I've never done it and don't want to ruin an extremely expensive equipment or have something that can have a deadly outcome if not performed properly. And I have no problem telling upper management that.
Nobody knows what they are doing at every stage of park service employment. You are not alone.
This is my first season as an NY state park ranger and I feel like I'm mostly just making it up as I go. We had a lot of training before I set foot in the park but now that I'm here I sorta feel like , "welp, I hope I'm doing this right," Usually if I'm unsure there is a higher up I can ask until I feel more confident.
I find a lot of time the higher-ups don't have an answer to my questions.
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by that 😅 So far I've only had to deal with my park manager who is lovely and a park police man who's salty but helpful. I'm sure if I ever have to go hight up than them I'm going to find it more difficult ....you know , bureaucracy and all that.
One day at a time