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What goes bump in the office? 5 biggest fears about our careers

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What goes bump in the office? 5 biggest fears about our careers

With Halloween approaching we wanted to know what scares you most about your career? Are you terrified by team meetings or is it the thought of getting something wrong that sends shivers down your spine. If these sound familiar, don’t worry, you’re not alone.

We've been out to our network to gather some data on this topic and reveal what the general public fear most about their job.

1. 13% of people said they feared being fired from their position

This is hardly surprising given the uncertaincy surrounding the job market. With competition for employment fierce it’s no wonder that people are desperate to hang onto their paycheque.

2. Another 13% feared that they would fail

Whether it’s giving a big presentation to your boss or a performance review, we all hate the idea of doing any less than our best. No doubt many people’s fear of failing is coupled with their dread of being fired.

3. 1 in 10 people feared the overwhelming anxiety of dealing with too many tasks

It’s tempting to be a ‘yes’ person in order to impress, especially in a new job, but taking on too much can have its negative impact in the long run.

4. 8% feared confrontation

No one wants to be a bother, particularly in the workplace where everyone is busy. But rather than addressing our issues directly, we stick to being “nice” and complain to someone else instead, which of course solves nothing.

5. 6% feared that they wouldn’t fit in with their colleagues

Finally, no one likes being rejected or left out, but striking a balance between making friends with the people around you and not turning into someone you’re not can be tricky.

But when you’re facing careers ghosts, never fear. Who should you call? The experts!

Forward Role MD Steve Thompson, gives his tips for overcoming your office fears:

“One of the key traits I notice in successful Executive level candidates is that they’re not afraid to be themselves in the workplace; they actively seek out cultures that suit their personality and world view, rather than attempting to mold themselves to a corporation. For this reason, I’m a big believer in self-selection when it comes to the interview process. I’d encourage candidates to give a true reflection of themselves and who they are and interview the company based on whether they think it’s a fit for them, rather than viewing the process as being solely the other way round.”

Michael Foote, founder of Quote Goat, had an unorthodox yet effective approach to quashing one of his fears, so don’t be afraid to just go for it!

“I, like the majority of people, had a fear of public speaking. I always find the best way to deal with an issue is to confront it head on. My approach to this fear of speaking publicly was to apply to go on national television and speak live on a BBC programme. Speaking to such a large audience on TV helped to put presenting and speaking to smaller audiences into perspective. I no longer worry about speaking in public.”

David Ingram, Managing Director of Bring Digital, also offers words of wisdom on dealing with colleagues:

“Working with others is a fundamental part of any career, no matter what industry you are in. But your desire to be liked shouldn’t come above everything else; you’re here to do a job, after all. We’re not saying be aggressive and difficult to work with - that behaviour usually ends up getting you in trouble - but don’t be afraid to be assertive and get the job done. You’ll win more respect that way and progress further.

For more help and support why not get in touch with our team of experts, who are on hand to offer career advice and employment information. You can also follow us on LinkedIn where we post regular news, blogs and useful information to our 23,000 followers.