I'm really stressed about my job

LegacyUser

I've been working a job the last 3 months since finishing college. It was going fine for the first month but all of a sudden I started constantly making stupid mistakes that co-workers would point out to me. I think everythings going fine but then something overlooked comes back to bite me. I was initially on a 3 month contract extended by 9 months so I thought maybe I've been doing something right but in the last couple of weeks the mistakes have been more frequent.

Now I've been given 'quiet' talks about these by my team leader but I'm afraid that this is the beginning of what might be the end. I feel like I genuinely try every day in my job to the point that I find it hard to disconnect at home and my coworker has turned resentful toward me as a result of my slip-ups.

I can't relax knowing what may be around the corner and genuinely don't know what I should do:(

Overthrow

Are you carrying out the same tasks and it's down to lack of concentration (or bad luck), or have you been given new responsibilities that you're finding difficult to get on top of?

freshpopcorn

All I can say to you is to try and eat properly and get enough sleep. This will allow you to be more alert at work.
If you are making the same mistakes over and over again, you could try and focus on these areas. Is there any way you can practice?

Rubberchikken

Is it a repetative job that is boring and so you lose concentration or is it more difficult than you expected?
Either way can you talk to your supervisor?

LegacyUser

I'd say it's more difficult in some ways, if I were to talk to my supervisor I just wouldn't know what to say without painting myself in a negative light

Merkin

Lost_worker_ wrote: »

I'd say it's more difficult in some ways, if I were to talk to my supervisor I just wouldn't know what to say without painting myself in a negative light

Your supervisor will have a lot more respect for you if you go to them, explain that you're struggling a little and can they go through the process/procedure with you one more time. The best way to learn is to let someone demonstrate while you take notes and then demonstrate it back to them so they can see that you've got it right . You can then use your own notes as a prompt when left to your own devices. If you're stuck, ASK for help. Far preferable to someone saying they know what they're doing when they don't. You'll be fine but do ask.

tenifan

It takes a lot of time and patience to build up the level of attention to detail you need in the workplace, especially one where all your mistakes will be spotted. Compare that to college, where 65% right got you a 2.1!

For routine tasks, see if there are any checks you can do. Accounting example: check the total of the file you produced to the total of the input file you were given. Or check the total of the file you produced to the same file last month.. is it massively different?

Also start making step-by-step procedure notes for any task, no matter how small. Checklists can also help.

it also helps to know your job inside out, and also to be familiar with both inputs and outputs -being able to spot things that are wrong (as opposed to just mindlessly following a procedure you don't fully understand)

Dark Phoenix

Lost_worker_ wrote: »

I'd say it's more difficult in some ways, if I were to talk to my supervisor I just wouldn't know what to say without painting myself in a negative light

OP what worried me about your post was this reponse. You don;t seem too sure what exactly the problem is that is causing you to make mistakes and that is difficult because if you cannot articulate what the problem is it will make it very hard to fix it.

Also you sound like you might be stuck in a vicious cricle of made mistakes in work - frets about making mistakes - makes mistakes because stressed out.

The best thing to do honestly would be talk to your team lead / supervisor. Explain how you feel i.e. you are worried you are making mistakes / are getting pulled up by your colleagues / are finding the job hard and work with them to identify 1) what the problems with your work are 2) what you need to do next 3) who can help. Depending on your industry things like peer review might help you (it would be common practice in my job but it depends what you are doing). Ive managed people before and the previous posters are right, its easier to help a team member who acknowledges they need some help and is willing to work with you to get up to speed.