gone through 2 jobs in less than a month

LegacyUser

I finished exams in May, got qualified barely, and finally got a job in that field August after hundreds of applications, the company I joined knew I had no experience, but we got on well at interview and I got the Job.
From day one I knew something was wrong as I was being asked to do things I had absolutely no idea how to do, the person I was working directly under was clearly not happy with looking after me and every question was met with tuts and sighs, I was constantly reminded about being "thrown in at the deep end" and that it was "sink or swim". well after less than 2 weeks I sank, I was called into the bosses office and told that I wasn't working out.
The humiliation of going back to social welfare less than 2 weeks after signing off, I can't even put it into words. Shortly after I got some good news, an interview I took a few days after being fired turned into a job offer, the job was unrelated to what I had studied and at the interview I made it very clear I was clueless and and that I would need training, they said there would be plenty of training and from talking to me they knew I was well able for the Job.
The training consisted of a 2 hour power point demonstration, and no hands on learning i.e. actually sitting down with someone and going through things, when I head the words "You're being thrown in at the deep end" on my first day I knew it would the exact same scenario, only instead of having someone to report to like the first job, everyone was too busy to help and I didn't even know which questions to ask,
I have absolutely no idea how to do this job, not a clue. The anxiety I would feel before work actually made me vomit, so today I decided to quit, not even 2 weeks in. I can't bring myself to go in and sit there uselessly while everyone else works hard, I can't do that. So I'm in a situation where once again I have to tell my family I'm unemployed again, I dunno if I can do it, I might just pretend to go to work every day and sit in a library or something.
I just wish I had a capacity for learning, that I could actually pick up on things and learn how to do them, I'm so ****ing useless.

Padre_Pio

Why are you sinking while others are swimming?

Another day

God love you, really. Unfortunately this is now common and employers really take the p*ss. They are so understaffed they don't have the time to train you which is totally unfair on you and your colleagues.

Have you considered an internship? You are much more likely to get training. Or depending on your area of qualifications seek work experience in some bigger company to gain experience.

Don't give up, ask friends for advice on how they do their jobs in a similar area. You will possibly be surprised at how many of them struggled for the first six months. Give yourself a break, keep looking and next time ask can you shadow someone for a week or 2.

Best of luck

antix80

There's a couple of things going on.

First is these employers are poor at onboarding and probably poor at staff retention.

The second thing is college didn't prepare you for work. You seem to think you're doing last minute cramming for an exam and can't find your notes. That isn't work.. work is potentially the next 45 years of your adult life with no exams ever again if that's what you want. In your second job you should have befriended people, asked to file and shred for them, ingratiated yourself with them and observed what they were doing. 6 months in, you'd hopefully have taken over a few routine tasks.

It's actually possible college didn't even equip you with practical skills outside doing exams. So the jobs you're applying for and getting might not even be a good fit for you if it's just work for the sake of work. If you want a lot of supervision and quite a bit of training a callcentre job is probably more suitable for you.

Another thing.. you dread what your family will think and even what the dole office will think (!) .. That's probably contributing to your stress levels. You really need to drop what other people think of you. Would you even have applied for those jobs only for you think your family expected you to?

Daisy78

You are not useless, you have just been a bit unlucky that’s all. Don’t lose faith in your ability, losing the first job isn’t indicative of your competency, just that you weren’t a good fit for that organization and they weren’t right for you. I do think it’s a bit much to be expecting a graduate to hit the ground running without any proper training or mentorship, says a lot about how they manage their employees. So no loss then.

This might give you a bit of time to think about your options. Do you think you are well suited to your profession? Do you think you might need extra qualifications that might give you the confidence you need? Might an unpaid internship be the way to go where you are not under massive pressure to perform and allowed a bit of time to learn the ropes? Maybe talking to a careers expert might give you some insight on this?

Tell your family about leaving the job, I’m sure they will be in your corner and will offer you the support you need. I think you need to take a little bit of time to see what your next steps should be and trying to cover up or pretend will only add to the pressure you are already experiencing.

LolaJJ

Hey OP

I really feel for you.

The only thing I can add to the very helpful thoughts above is that it's really important to not let this effect your confidence. The thing is, if you were a dopey eejit, you'd have stayed in that second job, and sat there continuing to feel like you're not contributing.

You've had the good sense to recognise that you aren't stimulated in the way you should be in a new job and it's not a place where you will grow or prosper.

Work is somewhere you will spend most of your waking hours, it's FUNDAMENTAL to your overall happiness and mental health to make sure that environment is somewhere you will be content, feel stimulated and happy.

My advice....is to hold out for a job that you actually want to do, something that interests you. Take these negative experiences and use them to ensure your next move is a better one. Ask about training on the job at the interview. Tell them you are a person who responds really well to training and direction, your eager to learn and contribute.

Ask them about what kind of training you will receive and if there will be ongoing support for you while you establish yourself in your new role.

Also, don't beat yourself up about being on Social Welfare while you find the job you want. That's exactly what the social welfare is there for, you're not abusing it, you want to work.

Best of luck x

LegacyUser

Hi Op,
The first few months can be a difficult adjustment after college it can take a few weeks to give it a chance but sometimes if a job is too much its best to walk away from it for your own peace of mind and find something else that’s relevant and feel you can cope with it.

Is there any jobs in your field that you could do a graduate program or a job where you could have a proper mentor in place? Help transition into a job.

It’s a pity that 3rd level colleges don’t do better to equip people, I have found the Uni's are a bit better than the IT’s when it comes to career advice. Is it possible you could go back to your college for career help? Some still give help the first year after graduation.

Maybe consider a job a coach or career advisor to help you. You have no issues getting interviews and landing a job so that’s half the battle. I think you might need help just to help you transition from college to working life maybe the transition is harder for you than some people.

A life coach wouldn’t be much use but might help when it comes to dealing with people at work how you approach situations and how you deal with things yourself.

Might be a bit off key but to consider doing a course to bridge the gap maybe or do a short term course or springboard course with a work placement might help?

Unpaid work is no different but a short term contract or unpaid work for a few months might be something to consider and then go into a more long term role. Could be a case of needing to build up experience before settling into a job long term?

Try not to beat yourself up over it. Look after yourself with self care and be mindful of what you want to make yourself happy.

Best of luck!

LegacyUser

Padre_Pio wrote: »

Why are you sinking while others are swimming?

because I am useless, others in my class are getting on great in work, and even in the second job the other person they hired with me is flying along and doing great. To the rest of you I appreciate your kind replies, but I can't be out of work, it's not a thing in my family I am the only one who struggles to get a job, the rest of my family have been in their jobs for years. when I lost the first job my father said he knew that would happen and that I was a good for nothing, the rest of my family were so happy for me when I got the second job but now I've disappointed them all and I just can't face them.

Bob Harris

I'm sure you could do the job as well as anyone. It's not your ability but probably assertiveness and self confidence not helped by the attitudes of some at home and expectations of others.
Everyone starts somewhere and the people you see flying at their jobs were novices too and may not be nearly as competent as you might be led to believe.

As for the family, tell them you've left, don't have a lie snowball. Be assertive, tell them it didn't work out and you're actively looking.

Rubberchikken

imo neither of these employers behaved properly.

they must have seen your results/your lack of experience and still hired you.

id ask why? im not insulting you but if others with better results and experience also applied then why not them?

myself, i think its because theyre crap employers who will suss out someone desperate for work and who they hope will put up with their unprofessionalism.

you have done nothing wrong and have nothing to apologise for or explain to anyone.

these companies are out there preying on people with little or no experience hoping theyll stick with them.
they must go through a lot of employees and how its logical to do this instead of upping their game is beyond me.

i hope you get a good employer soon who give you proper training and a fair chance if a career.
good luck

SirChenjin

OP, is there any way that you could salvage this job, or have you actually resigned? Walking away might not be the solution. Everyone needs time to get used to a job, everyone has to start somewhere.

If you haven't formally resigned, could you make contact with the employer tomorrow, and be straightforward with them - that you need training, maybe shadowing someone for a few days, or whatever it takes.

You seem to have very low self esteem which isn't helping matters. Your father saying such disparaging things is really horrible. Nobody should be saying things like that, and most especially not one of your parents.

I would say give the job a go for another while if you haven't burnt your bridges.
You don't have to stay for life but it would help your confidence if you got to a reasonable level of competence with it.

Good suggestions in previous posts in relation to where you could look for advice. Some of the advice in this thread might also be applicable to your situation.
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058010729

Take care and I hope that things improve for you.

The White Feather

uselessUnemployed wrote: »

because I am useless, others in my class are getting on great in work, and even in the second job the other person they hired with me is flying along and doing great.

Firs thing is that you are not useless. Throw that idea out of your head straight away.

You got 2 jobs so you are doing something right. You clearly are good at interviews.

When you hear "sink or swim" or "thrown in at the deep end" that means they are bad companies straight away and they want to just slot you in. Usually means someone left and they are hoping to get someone to do their job on the cheap.

A good company won't ever say this. It takes 3 months before people settle into their job so relax. It wasn't your fault. Nothing you can do in those situations. You were just unlucky. I have been in the same boat as you where you feel like a muppet as everyone else is beavering away. I guarantee you that you don't know the full story in these jobs. The person that was hired with you may have more experience than you, they may know someone well so they get cut more slack. Even if they have no experience like you they may be put next to someone who is helping them along or maybe they are just bluffing it. They might not know what they are doing but to you and anyone else who looks at them they seem to be flying.

I remember getting let go after a week and you do feel useless. Then I heard later that they lost a contract and didn't want people to know. They instead told me it was my fault. It was only by a fluke that I found out when I was doing an interview for another company. They said we recently got a contract of work that company X had started.

So you don't know the full story. Whatever it is anyway its irrelevant. All you need to do now is think about yourself. Most people will help a new employee and not be tutting when they ask a question.

How are you meant to know things when just in the door and just finished exams? I would agree with SirChenjin. If you can, try to go back to them. Explain you were going through some personal problems and it was all a bit much.Ask could you get extra training to help you along? Now you might say no way am I doing that but you have nothing to lose. You are without a job now so if they say no then you are in the same position. If they say yes, then they might be more understanding.

Everyone is nervous starting a new job.It takes time to settle in. I think at least 3 months really. If you cannot go back or just don't want to, then dust yourself down and think of those jobs as practice ones.

Think of what can you do to improve? If its a case of they give you a load of information then they go away and you are left remembering only one thing. Then they come back and look at you as if to say thats all you have done? Well you need to get a notebook and write everything down as they give you the instructions. I would advise this anyway because if you ask a question, then come back and say what was that again then its annoying. Then they get irritated. Writing it down in front of them shows you are trying to learn and not just nodding along and then asking questions later.

Remember you got 2 jobs. That means you are doing great. They see something in you. But you don't know the full story. The person who interviewed you might have told the person who is in charge of you that you are really good. Then they feel threatened and don't want you there. If it was the same person they might think you are so good that you won't need training. There are loads of variables that you don't know about.

It sounds like they are just bad companies though. You can be just unlucky.All you can do is try to go back or move on. Whichever way, take a deep breath and ask yourself how do I improve? Remember though, It wasn't your fault. But we can all improve. Were you too nervous all the time? Did you take enough notes? Were you too quiet? too loud? Try to use these experiences as ways to improve.

Don't let negativity in though. Things like what your dad says are silly. You got the 2 jobs with no experience. Thats really good. If you cannot bear to go back to that job then move on. Next job will be better. You said to them that you needed training and they didn't give you it. Why feel bad?

Get out the CVs. Send them out. Begin the process again. You had a trial run. Now its the real thing. Act like those jobs didn't exist if you are not going back. Most places will help you at the start. They won't be saying Sink or swim rubbish. Anyone in your family asks what happened with the job? You just say they lost the contract they thought they had!! So you weren't needed after all!!

You got 2 jobs. You can easily get another as you impressed 2 different places. Whats one more? In a few months time you will know those places were just bad compared to your new place.

It will get better. Dust yourself off and go again. You proved already that you can after the first job. Keep going.

LegacyUser

Thanks to all the replies, I don't feel as bad about the first Job, I did my best, it wasn't good enough but I really tried, and that's all I could do, but I regret leaving the second job, I quit too soon and no one was complaining about my work or lack thereof, I just felt I wasn't pulling my weight and my line manager wasn't happy with my performance, but he was too nice to criticize me. On the other hand I was miserable coming into work and anxious to the point of being sick most days, I'm also sure that I was the only person who actually showed up besides the other person who started with me, so I got the job by default.
I don't like being out of work, as you can probably guess I don't really get along with my parents so I don't like being around the house, I pretty much stay in my room all day now to avoid them, I really want to be working so A)I'm away from them and B)I can get enough money to move out on my own, now I'm back to square one on that regard.
I won't rush into another job as quick, but my confidence is pretty low regarding my ability and I'm still not really sure what my next steps are.

The White Feather

Your next steps are to apply for jobs.Emailing out CVs to jobs that interest you. I say this as it takes time to get an interview and get offered the job. Get them out now so you can do other things while waiting.

What other things? Maybe volunteer somewhere locally. This will do two good things.

1. Gets you out of the house rather than shut in with negativity.
2. Will help get your confidence going again as you are doing something

If there aren't many companies near you, ask in a local shop do they need help moving stock in or out for an hour even every week.Even sweeping up the place.

Not only will it help your confidence, it will help you see that most places are good and are not like those 2 places you were. You can also use them as a reference which will help you get a job. It shows you want to work to prospective employers and you want to learn.

Then if you get any offers for jobs you can weigh it up. If you hear anything like "steep learning curve" or you will have to "sink or swim" then you can pass on them. The volunteer work will help keep you busy while you find something good and suitable for you. Gets you out of the house away from negativity and active too.