Advice on work situation

LegacyUser

Need some advice on this please....I started a new job 4 weeks ago and am really struggling....I thought I would be more settled into it by now but I'm finding it still as difficult as day one, if not harder in some ways...I know some people will say 4 weeks is still early, but its a role where I deal directly with clients and need to know my stuff....what is really getting to me is I heard my supervisor giving out to another colleague about me today....the whole situation is really difficult and I guess I'm looking for some advice on how to deal with it....I need the money so quitting isn't an option....advice please...

Katgurl

Your supervisor was being unprofessional there. What is the point of giving out about someone? It's his/her job to enable you to do your work. Some places just set crap working conditions and make things impossible. It's not necessarily a reflection on you.

You say quitting isn't an option so why don't you say to yourself you're just there for the moment and set a timeframe. Send out job applications in the evenings.

Is there a way to get a handle on your current work load? Have you asked your manager for help?

Tell your manager what you need. Take a minute or two to set out what you think would help get you up to speed and comfortable and ask for it. It neednt be a hard conversation and if a supervisor has a problem hearing that someone is struggling only four weeks into the job then you aren't the problem.

I've had a raft of new starters this year and its been really tough to try to gauge what support they need or would welcome- someone willing to speak up constructively for their own and the team's good shows confidence and initiative.

zoobizoo

What stuff do you feel that you do not know and how quickly can you get up to speed on that?

Is there anything you can do when you don't know - "I'll double check that and come back to you this afternoon".

It's a horrible situation to be in.

SAMTALK

OP Im in my job 6 months and I can tell you it took more than 4 weeks to settle in. Your supervisor was way out of line to be speaking like that and you overhearing wont help your confidence.
Dont give up on it yet. You'll get a break a Christmas and see how you feel when you go back.

LegacyUser

OP here, thanks for all the replies...last week I asked for some guidance on bits I'm unsure of and her answer was "ah sure we all get caught on that"...my way of dealing with stuff I'm not sure of would be to get back to the client when I have figured out the correct info...my supervisor doesn't like this at all and made a massive deal out of it the other day, saying I'm wasting time....my confidence in my ability to do this job is at an all time low....the frustrating thing is there are parts of this job that I am very good at, but the bits I'm unsure of are really slowing me down because I simply don't know how to do them...I'm finding it impossible to relax outside of work and I dread going in every morning....my appetite has gone and I'm not sleeping properly...apologies for ranting, it feels good typing this out as I'm trying so hard to just keep going and get through this phase....

banoffe2

You are doing your best OP it takes some time to settle in to a new job, as you say some parts you are very good at, try not to be so hard on yourself and this will help your confidence.

look at your overall progress rather than focusing on the areas you have not yet learned, but believe that you can and will.
I was in a similar situation, and I can totally empathise with where you are at, I used to be full of fear, and wondered if I could hack it, each day I got more confident in my own ability, the experience made me a stronger person gave me great courage to face further challenges.

Each time you learn something new try to find some way of logging this for yourself, it is by doing and practising we learn, what is happening to you is normal, in an ideal situation there is a team around you to ask for or give support however not all work situations are ideal, even if you had one buddy that you could chat with it would help.

Believe in yourself, you are a very capable person who has got themselves this responsible position

When we have confidence in ourselves we inspire confidence in others.

Be patient and gentle with yourself, try to find ways to switch off from work and focus on stuff that is good for you. The supervisors actions are her problem and don't define you, don't take this personally, some people have no empathy or patience and poor people skills.

Take on day at a time, you have the worse over you, one day at a time, head up high, you are doing great to face your fear, this experience will make you stronger. Promise yourself a reward at the end of the week. Best of luck X

sashafierce

This post has been deleted.

loalae

Hi OP I know exactly what you're saying and I have been in the same situation. It's really difficult when your supervisor is a bit rubbish and you're not completely confident in your role. They way I am dealing with being inexperienced under a slightly crap manager is to look to my colleagues for guidance and support. I'm also lucky that my senior managers are also quite helpful. Can you look to your colleagues or other managers for guidance (or even just a bit of a moan?)

What I also did to cope was I worked about 60 hours a week for a few months. I'm not recommending that but if you can put in an extra hour or so here and there to inform yourself about certain aspects of the job it will stand to you.

I know you're saying that you're feeling so stressed that it's affecting your life outside work. Of course it is, that's why stress is so dangerous for our mental and physical health. What has worked to calm me down is that I go to dance classes 2 or 3 times a week where I am doing something energetic and not talking or thinking about anything to do with work. I think you may need to do something you enjoy, just for you, that will take your mind away from work.

I think that if you spend a few more months in this role, build up some experience and then request a transfer to 'further develop your skills' you may be more employable rather than if you quit within a couple of months.

Rubberchikken

your supervisor doesn't sound very professional. also sounds like someone who mightn't take to anyone that can actually think different to them.
is there anyone there you can speak to?
also, 4 weeks is still early days. keep plugging away, doing your best and don't pay any attention to comments or otherwise.
for your own sake, keep note of anything said to you or about you in your earshot, just in case.
best of luck