Feeling competent when switching jobs?

[callingAAhome]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 2:46am

I've been working for the same small business for about 20 years with occasional job position changes along the way but nothing that required substantial formal retraining. Unfortunately I've been stuck in an office and haven't had a lot of networking opportunities. Now I feel an employer change coming since the majority owner is moving toward retirement.

I've never changed employers before, except to quit a summer job to go back to college. I don't have formal training or credentials for the finance position I've been holding, but do have an unused (largely obsolete) grad degree and feel totally unqualified and unprepared when I read descriptions for job openings at larger employers. Are these job descriptions boilerplate or set in stone?

With my current employer the job changes amount to having new stuff thrown on my desk with the implication being I have to learn it on my own. I'm pretty tired of it. Do you typically get an introductory/training period when hiring in?

I totally believe in the theory of learned helplessness right now...