I feel like I’m failing at my new job even though it’s the same field
Hi, I just need to vent and maybe get some advice.
I recently started a new job in procurement. I already have experience in procurement from my previous role, so I thought I had a decent understanding of what I was doing. But now that I’m here, everything feels completely different.
At my old job, procurement felt more like execution — coordinating with suppliers, placing orders, tracking deliveries, basic negotiations. I was comfortable there.
But in my new job, it feels much more analytical and decision-based. There’s forecasting, reorder points, lead times, MOQ, and I’m expected to explain why I’m making certain decisions, not just do the task.
Today, my boss told me that I “don’t understand the concept of procurement,” and that really hit me hard. I know I’m not completely clueless — I’ve handled suppliers, POs, and negotiations before — but I also can’t deny that I’m struggling to explain my decisions in a more strategic way.
Now I feel really overwhelmed and honestly a bit embarrassed. It’s like I went from feeling competent to feeling like I know nothing.
Has anyone else experienced this kind of shift in the same field? Like going from a more operational role to a more analytical one?
How did you catch up or adjust? I really want to improve, but right now I just feel lost and pressured.
Any advice would really help.