Once a wise old man told me that if everyone in the world was qualified to do their jobs, no work would get done.  While this may not entirely be true, it hints at an important truth.  For many in America, and indeed around the world, feeling unqualified is a fact of life.  In reality, it spurs many on to working “beyond their capabilities,” and creates some of the best productivity.  The thought of losing your well-paying and interesting job because you’re unable to perform to standards makes you work that much harder to demonstrate that you are capable.  Along the way, however, comes stress.  It creeps into your life slowly, starting with a nagging head- or backache, then builds to sleepless nights, weight fluctuation, and even depression.  The key to dealing with stress is, as we suggest in Dealing with Stress (link to Overworked article here), to recognize its symptoms before they begin to worsen and treat it immediately.  The stress generated from feeling unqualified has no doubt been the downfall of many otherwise successful employees.  Follow these simple tips to feel more confident about your work ability.

§         Get Educated.  Plain and simple, if you don’t feel you have the proper skills to do your job as your boss wants, get the skills.  There are community colleges in your area that offer courses in a wide variety of fields, and there may be adult education centers.  You could take a class on using Microsoft Office ™, being a better salesperson, even learning to cook.  Usually these classes are fairly reasonable and sometimes your employer will pay for you.  If you’re seeking an advanced degree, night classes are available at plenty of colleges and universities, and again, your employer may pay for some or all of the cost, because your increased knowledge will benefit the company.

§         Get With It.  Maybe your lack of confidence in yourself is completely unfounded.  Examine your work record—have you been consistent with completing the tasks you’ve been assigned?  Do you find that when you must do something, you do it?  Some people just need a bit of encouragement here and there, so don’t be hesitant to ask your co-workers, family, and friends to help give you the confidence you need to realize you’re a hard worker.

§         Get in Touch with Someone.  Tell your boss how stressed out you’re getting about work.  Though he or she may not like that you feel you’re unqualified for your job, your boss should appreciate your honesty and sincerity.  There may be stress-management programs offered by your company, or perhaps your boss can get you enrolled in courses that the company provides to its employees.

Being stressed is not a light issue.  Make sure you’re dealing with it properly, and if conditions worsen, seek the help of a professional, such as a psychiatrist or physician.  Don’t think you can deal with things on your own, because stress can rapidly spiral out of control, with your health, your career, and your loved ones affected in very negative ways.  See the article on stress for more information.  Overcome your lack of qualification with intelligent steps in the right direction.