Bitten more off then I can chew - New job

LegacyUser

I recently started a new job but I feel that I may have bitten more off then I can chew.

Its a graduate position for an American investment bank and they are providing us with training but the speed of it is nothing like ive seen before. They have been telling us that the job is going to be stressful unless you manage your time correctly, how we are expected to put in very long hours and how its a very challenging job. Even though I have pretty much just started (two weeks) and havent done anything too challenging yet I fear that this job may be too much.

One of the main jobs of this position, I was crap at while at Uni and I fear that I wont be able to do the job. During the process of getting the job I didnt do one of the main parts of the assessment a problem solving test (I asked for extra time to do it due to me having dyslexia and was told I didnt have to do it) and now I feel that I am not smart enough to do this job.

One guy has already dropped out and I fear that I may not be too far behind him. I have been commuting for the last few weeks but one of the other lads has found a house and want me to move in but I am not sure about signing a 6 month lease as I dont know if I will be still in there come then.

This is also my first professional job like the only job I had that would have had the same core hours, I knew everything I needed to know in two weeks and I pretty much just sat around the hole day not doing a hole lot.

Just before I started this job I was offered another job which was a higher pay and would be a lot less stressful but I turned it down as it was only for a few months while this one is a permanent position.

AngryBadger

Sounds like you're under pressure OP, which is normal this early in a new position. The first few weeks are always the most stressful. Bear in mind that this is a new situation for you, your previous job was a completely different set-up, nowhere near as challenging, or as stressful, so that change alone is a big deal to get used to

I'd suggest 2 main things
1) Make life easier on yourself wherever you can, as someone who's done the commute in the past I'd suggest moving in with your colleague, (providing ye get on), if you're not commuting it can make life a lot easier; you'll have more time in the morning/evening, and spend less time travelling to/from work.
2) Can you take some work home with you? Maybe some material to study in the areas you feel you are weak? Nothing too much, but if you spent a small amount of time every other evening it could make a huge difference to you in work.

Last thing I'd say is try to keep things in perspective. Everyone has difficulty in their first job, things will work out, and if they don't it's not the end of the world. The less you build this up in your own head the easier it will be for you to manage it.

dr gonzo

The issue as i see it is OP that you're worried about the Potential difficulty of the job and your Potential inability to deal with the work in a satsfactory manner so, and i dont mean to sound flippant here, you should forget the woes for the time being, put the head down and do your best. If it comes to it that your first impression was correct and its a bit out of your league at present then you simply say "i did my best" and hand in the notice. That is of course the worst case scenario and the only reason i suggest it is because regardless of the difficulty in finding a job at the moment stress can tear a person apart, especially stress in those large faceless american corporations.

I dont however think this will be necessary, youre qualified and have obviously displayed an ability to do the job so they're probably just scaring you straight at the start. I'm sure you'll have little difficulty once you find your feet.

cafecolour

You're smart enough, it's just being a question of whether you want your work to be your life. American investment bankers essentially work 80+ hours a week, especially just starting out.

In the US I had a flatmate who worked in finance - the 2 weeks before each quarterly report she would leave the house at 6 am and get back around 11 pm for 14 days straight (including weekends). The rest of the time, it was normally leave at 6 am and back around 8-9 pm M-F, and work a little from home on the weekends.

It was her choice though - and she also made about $150,000 a year, so even on an hourly rate, she was still pulling better than me.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

LegacyUser

Thanks for the replies.

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

Exactly, its why I am worried. When I asked for the extra time it was for reading the questions so I knew what would be asked and not the actual problem solving. I should also state the role is in Software Development. I have made my concerns about my job aware to the other guy who wants to get the house, so I want to try to get a shorter contract and know what happens if I break the lease agreement.

I have also made my family and friends aware of these concerns and they just seem to pass it off as the nerves of starting a new job. At the moment my goal is just to try and get as much training in as possible and just taken each day as it comes but signing a 6 month contract kinda just throws a spanner into the works.

I have tired to compare this when I started Uni (I also had a hard time adjusting at the start) but I know that they are completely different. I find myself wishing I could go back and start Uni all over again.

The only good thing is that I only have to give one weeks notice for the first 6 months.

ongarboy

Hi OP, Often we are our own worse critics. In a new job, we always feel like everyone else knows exactly what they're doing and that we feel so clueless and as if every question we might ask about the job is considered stupid or basic and that we are out of out depth. We may feel isolated and intimidated as we haven't formed social contacts there or made work friends as of yet. This is completely normal and almost everyone goes through it and it is a recognised stress and pressure.

Most large firms closely monitor new employees during initial 6 months probation and give formal performance evaluations back to the employee as frequently as every month or even more often than that. Unless your employer is giving you negative feedback about your performance and capabilities during those initial evaluations, why should you be so harsh on yourself? Wouldn't it be a shame if you quit during these early days even though your employer found no fault with your work and performance or were helpful in offering you guidance on how to improve on your tasks and approaches to doing things?

I suggest you give the job the initial 6 months and if the company is pleased with your performance after this time but you still hate the job, then review your options then. No-one is saying you should stick with it no matter what if you despise it but one's view of a job during the first few weeks is nearly always completely different to the view 6 months on. Sure, you may still hate it then but at least you will be quitting based on a different set of more informed reasons by then and will be more comfortable knowing that you gave it your best shot.

kevin99

What concerns me is your apparent apprehension at the long hours expected of you.
In any job these days you are expected to put in long hours. So, that should not be an issue for you.
You say you weren't good at the central part of your uni couse.
And if that segment is what is required for this job, then my advice is leave now.
You say you have dyslexia. Have you attended any courses to help you with this problem?
I get the impression you are stressed out with the training element of the new job and you feel you won't be able to handle the workload.
Tender your resignation now.
Life is too short.

SerialComplaint

Legally, you are entitled to any 'reasonable accomodation' that you require to accomodate your dyslexia, under the Employment Equality Acts. This doesn't mean that you get away with not doing the job, but if there is anything you need by way of software, or particular paper types or colours, you can ask for this.

Emme

You're only in the job two weeks. Why not give it 3 months (that's 10 more weeks) and review the situation then. Is there any way you can move into the house for that period of time for the moment and review the situation then?

fret_wimp2

Keep a journal and each day jot down the things you learned or new responsibilites you can now carry out.

I dont mean "dear diary, today i did this, and that.." , just bullet points, page per day.

After a week look at it, you will have 7 pages of new stuff you can do. and after 3 weeks you will have 21 pages of stuff you can do!

It helps you see your progress, which otherwise goes unnoticed in our own self critical eyes and It can really lift your spirits when you see it laid out in a timeline like this. You will gain confidence in yourself each time you read it.

This helped me out before.

LegacyUser

I am already starting to struggle with some of the training, I am starting to get very stressed out and I am stating to wonder if I am really cut out for this role. I feel so stupid compared to my fellow coworkers who are in the training as well. I dont mind putting in hard work but I finding it very hard to get the drive to work hard after 5pm.

I have already been thinking what should I do if I call it quits, should I go back to college and go into another area or just get a job stacking shelves which I woudnt get in the current day.

My aim is too see the training out but at the moment I am not confident that I will last all that long.

fret_wimp2

you are showing tons of signs that you are low in confidence ,( and would benifit from CBT, but im not going to pus that point), and you need to just chill a bit..

1. you decide you will fail before you try.
your only in training. you need to put the knowledge in practice before you know you will fail.

2. you think your co-workers are better.
So everyone else is better than you? i feel this every day. fact is they are not. they just have more experience, or pick something up a little quicker than you, or you are just oblivious to your abilities.

Again, take your time. just cause someone else gets something quicker does not mean they are better, it just means you took a little longer to get the point. that is NOT a sign of stupidity or ignorance, it just shows you need to be sure of what ever you are learning before you are prepared to apply it.
uit
3. you are thinking of calling it quits, and wondering what you will do when you fail...

STOP! you are setting yourself up for failure by plannning for what you do WHEN you fail. you have not even finsihed training?? who said you will fail? Only you say you think you are failing. have you had ANY feedback to say you are terrible and they will chuck you to the side as soon as training is over?? no , thought not.

Its your job to try your best and be sure you can do the job.
Its their job to train you and try to get you to a place where you can do the job.

It wastes the companies money if they hire someone who cant do the job so they want to hire someone who can do the job, they wont hire someone who the think will suck, so everyone wants you to succeed!!!!!

you have been interviewed, they picked you, they think you are the best investment.

You now have to put the effort into learning and proving them right. you dont have to prove them wrong!!! odds are in your favor, remember that!!


Just have a bit of confidnece, and be optimistic. the are not out to get rid of you. the hired you as they saw something good, they didnt hire you so they could waste training money on you and fire you at a seconds notice.


Be cool, stay calm and it will work out!