Stressed out at work

LegacyUser

Hi,

I've been having major problems with work lately but they're affecting me more personally so i feel they belong here rather than work problems.

I've been in my job about 8 months now. It's my first "real" job in my career. I finished college and did 2 short internships (not job bridge) meaning I worked for basically free while keeping another job to pay the bills. I really enjoyed my first internship but there wasn't a position. for me. The second was a nightmare. Really over demanding. I worked day and night for free but never wavered as I'm passionate about my line of work. Once I found the job I am in now I was over the moon.

The first few months were fine. However my superiors are really starting to crack down on me for more output. I am the first person in the company to take on this role as it is a relatively new industry. However I am quickly realizing that my superiors are expecting far more than just I on my own can deliver.

A bit of background on this company. low number of staff but successful. Very used to getting freebies and limiting budgets. A lot of smaller companies under the brand name that I divide my work between. Also I do a lot of the gritty work myself which takes alot of time. Normally this is outsourced and managed my people in my position. I go to training seminars and I get jealous of people in my field talking about how they're getting on grand with their one or two brands that they manage while outsourcing the work while I have to plan and implement everything myself. It wouldn't bother me as much except my superiors are never happy.

Whenever I complete a project that goes down very well, they ask for more on top of what my day to day work is. When I can't complete it by the tight deadlines I'm scorned. I'm working at home after work and on weekends just to keep my head above water.

I don't know what I'm asking for specifically. Maybe coping mechanisms? I have all my projects organized and planned out but the high workload and expectations mean I'm always left disheartened. I do love my line of work but it's just too much at times.

Thanks

SoulTrader

You seem like a good employee and I'm sorry that you're having a tough time.

First of all, I don't think you should be looking for coping mechanisms. From what you have told us, the problem is clearly an excessive volume of work - the problem is not you or your ability to handle a reasonable workload. You need to address the workload, which is the real problem.

You mention that you work at home after hours and on weekends. Do your superiors even know this? It's possible they don't even appreciate the volume of work you do. When I did lots of overtime years ago, it was always in the office (by necessity) but at least my superiors noticed that I was working late.

I would also suggest that you try and take at least one day off entirely from work on the weekend. I know that can be difficult but it's good to get a mental break from just a constant stream of work work work.

Try speaking to your boss and reasoning with them. No need to be confrontational or anything. Tell them you like the work but are finding it difficult to cope with the sheer volume of it. You sound like a good employee and they can be hard to come by so if your boss is in any way reasonable, they will try and adjust your workload to make you happy.

Goldenlady

hi OP,
Sorry you are in such a position, but believe me from years of experience, the only thing you can do is stand up to them. Not in a confrontational way, but have all your facts and figures and advise them its too much work for one person. Discuss your previous successes proving you are well able for the job, and advise them you are fire fighting, not able to focus during your working hours and having to work week ends and in the evenings. Suggestion would be ask people you know in the industry in similar positions what the expectations are from their companies. Network. if you constantly get the results, they wont think there is an issue, its a vicious circle. have you any mentor in work that you can speak with or colleagues that you can discuss with? you need to tell them you are not afraid of hard work, but this is unrealistic....
Best of luck x