I'm really bad at my job

LegacyUser

I've started working in IT recently fresh from college for the last couple of months. It's a helpdesk based role and at the start it was going great. But I feel like I've crumbled in the last while once I've had more responsibilities given to me. I frequently forget tasks, make stupid mistakes and say the wrong things at the wrong time!

It hasn't been said to me yet but a few of the lads joke about it to me and I know they're half serious half messing. The thing is that I do genuinely love the field and the job I'm in but my confidence has taken a massive hit and I feel so insecure it's unreal.

I love dealing with people and would definitely consider myself having a thick skin when it comes to complainers to the helpdesk and getting a backlash from angry users but my own lack of confidence lately has made it harder to bear.

I honestly feel a bit lost and having worked in retail and customer service all throughout school and college I've never been like this until now, has anyone ever been in a similar situation?

Rubberchikken

What kind of support are you getting from your supervisor?
You need to speak to them because while you may think you've a thick skin, something is getting through it.
Take care

pharmaton

Sounds very much like its just a confidence issue as opposed to an incompetence one op. You know you can do the job, you even like the area, it may be that you feel inadequate working in an environment with people who have more experience than you, or is it just a case of suddenly acknowledging the level of responsibility you have taken on?
Either which way, experience can only be gained from doing what you are doing and your confidence will grow with that. If you are that concerned maybe seek some feedback from someone who can give an honest assessment of your progress, you might find that you're not doing so bad and if there are any areas that need improvement, opt for ways to do that be it some in house training or developing new approach to your work. best of luck

strobe

I honestly think everyone has felt like this at some point in one job or another. You're just on a bit of a bad run at the minute and it probably seems far worse of a one to you than it actually is. Just try to forget about what's happened, or what you think has happened up to this point. Draw a mental line under it, and start again next day in work. EVERYBODY makes mistakes in work all the time. The only lasting mistake you can make is letting the previous ones weigh on your mind.

Just start fresh from tomorrow. Forget about what's gone before and take it from there. Everyone's been through it. Just relax. Only your most recent performance is remembered or is important. Do great one week and and that's what you're working off the next week despite what may have happened two weeks ago.

Relax man.

InReality

Keep notes . Don't try and keep stuff in your head - when your getting stressed then your brain "capacity" takes a dive and it turns into a vicious circle.

December2012

Keeping notes is a great idea.

Separately, it's gonna sound mad but it might be other things that are affecting you. So, make sure you are drinking enough water, getting proper sleep, getting fresh air and exercise.

Take fish oils and improve your nutrition - the health forum is great for advice!

IT roles can be quite sedentary so you could try and counter balance that.

Neyite

I'm highly efficient, but without my desk diary I'm a bit like that forgetful fish in Nemo. The minute I'm asked to do a task, I write it down, identify the key things they want me to do, find out the deadline, and note who asked me.

If a deadline clashes with somebody else's I simply ask them to discuss between the two of them what needs to be prioritised. That way, if something doesnt get done, it wasnt me that made that decision.

If there is a new process that I have to follow, I go to the back of my diary and note each stage that needs to be done. That way, in a weeks time when I've to do it again, I have the steps there to do it correctly.

You are still finding your feet, and that can take ages in a new job. Regular feedback from your supervisor on how to improve areas of expertise will help enormously. If we dont know how to do something very well, that task becomes a drag. If its something we know inside out, its not a big deal and even enjoyable. So as you work on gaining knowledge of the tasks, things will get easier.

As for saying the wrong thing, maybe work on being a listener rather than a talker. Everybody loves an appreciative audience for their wit and still shows you have a sense of humour, and for now until you get to know people and their humour, its probably wiser.

funk-you

It happens to everyone at some point, don't dwell on it. Do some really simple things though.

Get a notepad & a new pen. Just 1 and bring it everywhere in work. It's your new best friend. Take notes of everything you need to do and timelines. Keep it organised. No irrelevant information in it. Note what you've done, what you're currently doing and whats next. After a while you wont need it anymore.

Don't be afraid of mistakes. You're human, it's going to happen. Learn from them and don't make the same ones twice.

Pay attention to what's going on around you, not just what you're working on. You'll never feel lost about whats happening again.

Don't be afraid of dead air, don't fill it because it might be uncomfortable for a few seconds. It's natural to feel you need to fill it. Don't. Use it to think through what has been said and then respond.

Don't get into the cock measuring contests IT people have about how much knowledge on any & every given thing in the industry. They happen all the time but are a complete waste of that time that don't do anything except stroke egos.

You'll be fine. IT can be great if you stay calm and and approach everything logically. Good luck.

-Funk

KungPao

Yeah, definitely keep notes. I'd recommend (if you have time) to make personal "how to" guides for tricky issues that don't occur very often. If you have a collection of these guides, you can even send them to the person if you are allowed.

I am doing an internship in IT myself, but I am pretty bad with people directly, so I remote to their PCs where possible, to apply fixes/do installations etc. Usually works a charm.

And don't be afraid to say that you are a little stuck sometimes and need a bit of help.

megaten

Keeping a notebook is always a good idea OP. I'd be lost without mine.

Eeden

Don't be embarrassed to ask for help. It shows a willingness to learn and improve.

Neyite

Eeden wrote: »

Don't be embarrassed to ask for help. It shows a willingness to learn and improve.

Absolutely. And I'd also offer this one: the minute you screw up (and you will, we all do!!) let someone know so they can help you fix it. The very worst thing you can do is hide a mistake, deny it or blame someone else. A mature person goes straight to their supervisor and says "about that project, I think I've done something wrong, how can I fix this?" and shows your willingness to be a problem solver.

iusedtoknow

I started in a helpdesk role, and it can actually be overwhelming (even if you are doing password resets and asking people to reboot). I found the following things helped me a lot

1. A note taking program on the computer, searchable where I had scripts, responses, quick "how to's" that i wrote. It was a way for me to stay organized and feel on top of things (simplenote was a lifesaver for me)

2. A piece of a4 paper/foolscap notebook near my keyboard that I could use to jot things down during calls/emails to keep things organized in my head

3. Actually using Outlook/google Calendar etc. Sometimes in helpdesk roles you forget you are the same as anyone else in the company that needs to stay organized. Use outlook or whatever email/calendar system your company uses to make notes of tasks, reminders etc.

never be afraid to ask for help. Everyone there was a newbie once, even though you may know a lot about computers, computers in the work environment and how they act with their other dependencies (network drives yada yada yada) are pretty different. Most desks have a 2nd level for escalations, and those 2nd levels have people they can ask.

I started at a desk in a January...was made "back office" that June, moved countries, moved up from level 2 to level 3 support and am now a service manager for a global team with 12 direct reports.