I was a student for many years (5 years of undergrad, 2.5 years of grad school), and I became very comfortable with always being able to look at the syllabus and my grade and know what I needed to do and how well I was performing. Work isn’t like that. Like I think is normal, I get a performance review once a year. I find this unsettling, because even though I come in and do decent work, I still often feel like I’m doing something “wrong” and worry that I’m secretly on the cusp of being fired. Folks who have maybe been working for longer than I have, how do you feel and stay confident in your work?
Get to know the people you work with and learn who you can bounce ideas off of.
Once you have a couple of work friends you can more easily figure out what those around you think of you.
I was in school while working (in my 40s no less) and as part of my classes I was asked to poll my coworkers about my strengths and weaknesses.
I learned that I was liked, valued, and that it was noticed when I was out sick, which was often.
It really helped me as I just assumed nobody really noticed me at all.
Chances are that you are the one judging yourself.
Also, be the one who speaks up in meetings. It helps give others permission to speak up as well.