Fear of being “found out”

Four in ten Brits fear they will be “found out” for not being as able to do their job as their bosses and co-workers think they are, according to a new AAT study.

Researchers carried out a detailed study into the mood of the nation’s workforce and discovered people felt they weren’t good enough at work. However, the research also revealed the majority (84%) were mostly happy in their chosen role suggesting the issue was one to do with confidence rather than their actual job. A staggering 75% even went as far as to admit they were ‘lucky’ to secure the job given the competitive nature of the current employment market.

A further 67% admitted they were ‘out of their depth’ in their work situation, while 40% expressed fears they would be exposed for not being that good at aspects of their job.The data also revealed that 40% even admitted to using business “buzz words” but had absolutely no idea what they stood for, while another 48% said they felt they were in a job they perhaps weren’t sufficiently qualified for.

Half of those who took part in the survey even went as far as to declare they felt they ‘chanced their luck’ on aspects of their job. Unsurprisingly six out of ten workers expressed a desire for more on the job training to be made available.

Yesterday Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of AAT, which carried out the research of 2,000 adults said: ” The best way to boost your confidence and stop worrying about whether you are ‘out of your depth’ at work is to get some training.

“Studying for a qualification or training course will give you a strong foundation of knowledge, and could help put an end to feeling like you will be ‘found out’. The benefits of seeking training will not just help you in your career, but will also be of significant advantage to your employer, who will reap the rewards of having a more skilled, motivated and valuable worker in their ranks.”

Many people also expressed fears over the lack of a career ladder to aim for. The most common reasons for feelings of dejection at work were no prospects of promotion (48%), ‘the job is boring’ (42%) or too ‘repetitive’ (42%) and lack of pay rises (35%). Worryingly it also emerged another six out of ten (65%) feel ‘undervalued by their boss’.And one in three workers (36%) said they were in a ‘dead end job’.

Adam Harwood is AAT's Media Relations Manager.