My dilemma: Hate my new job

[LotusRIP]

OK, so I just started a new job. It's only an 8-week contract temp position, but with NSW Government Australia.

 

Basically, the idea of it was awesome, and the pay is alright too... there is a possibility for the contract to extend or get a permanent position even, but it's not at this stage. My problem is... the job is too god damn confusing. I'm 2 days into it, and I just felt like getting up and going home and having a cry and apply for other jobs.

 

I'm not sure how the 5 other newbies are going, but I'm watching over a lady teaching me how to do the job... and it seems simple enough, but every single thing that comes through seems to be "unique" and gets done some special other way to normal. They had no idea we were coming in until yesterday so they're still trying to work out where to put us all... and the lady teaching me has no idea what exactly I'll be doing so she's just teaching me a bit of everything (for example, she doesn't know if the jobs will be divided up between the 6 of us newbies or we all have to do everything). It's very overwhelming and I absolutely hate it. I'm a musician with qualifications in music and writing music for film and games. This is supposed to be a day job, but it's a f*cking nightmare it is. I just want to know what the routine I have to do will be, and practice at it with assistance, then continue on my own. But it seems nobody knows exactly what my routine will be, and it seems pointless of them to just teach me a bit of everything. I have no mental picture of what my routine should be.

 

Should I quit a few days in? Or should I stick it out for the 8 weeks and see what happens?

 

Has anybody else ever been in my shoes in a new job? Where you basically feel anxious and absolutely mindboggled? No clear direction in training?

[xChaos Reigns]

I say just try your best to stick it out. Good luck.

[GTA-King]

I know exactly how you feel man.

 

My advice is to try and stick it out for about a week. If things don't get better by then, I'd consider finding a new job. It's possible they will work you into a good routine. Just have to give it a bit more time.

[xChaos Reigns]

Now that I think about it I was in a very similar situation. Basically my boss was a bitch and she was making my life hell while I was there. I seriously considered leaving after the first week but I stuck it out for the whole term (10 weeks). If it wasn't for a couple of good things I would've just quit but I'm glad I ended up sticking it out. Although it was a tough 10 weeks I did enjoy some parts of the job and overall it was an interesting experience.

[Andrew]

It's an 8 week temp position, I'd stick it out. At the end of it, you gain experience for your CV and get paid for it too. You're only 2 days into it, for 8 weeks I'd stick it out.

[Girish]

You ain't the first one to hate your job and you won't be the last. You can't expect everything in life to be straight-forward. If you feel like taking on a new challenge every day, stick with this one. Otherwise, look for something that would be more up your alley.

[LotusRIP]

You ain't the first one to hate your job and you won't be the last. You can't expect everything in life to be straight-forward. If you feel like taking on a new challenge every day, stick with this one. Otherwise, look for something that would be more up your alley.

It's not that I "hate my job" so much. It's really just that I don't understand it. The training is very loose and unfocused, showing me the surface of various things without going into detail about what my routine is and what of all these things I'll be doing (and not doing). It's mind boggling.

 

My last job, I watched the guy doing stuff for about 45 minutes... had a go myself with his supervision... and was working the rest of the day. Day 2, I was on my own computer doing the job and understood it so well that I very rarely had a question to ask. Sure it was a bore fest, but I knew my routine, I knew what was expected of me (and what wasn't), I knew where I stood and what I was there to do... I had my little routine and I was happy. So yes... I agree that I'm not the first to hate my job... but my reasons are ... hard to google

[Girish]

In the 2 jobs that I've had so far, the one thing that I've learned is that no amount of training ever gives you the full picture. Majority of how you go about doing your work involves self effort. Yes, it's difficult because the learning curve is steep. But in the end, you learn a lot of things which you wouldn't have learned otherwise. Observing others and asking questions help a lot. Even if you sound over-eager or annoying to others, trust me, it'll help.

[Saggy]

I'd at least wait until you're a week or more into it. Two days at anything the least bit challenging is enough to be overwhelming.

[Finn 7 five 11]

Stop being a bitch, it's not too hard or complicated, you just have a lot of learning to do.

What are you even doing anyway? Is it physical work? Or is it computer related? It'd be okay if we had a grasp of what it is that you might be doing so someone could tell you they've done it and it gets easier.

[The-King]

My last job was an everything at Wal-Mart, I took care of at least six or seven different jobs (considering I was only hired on for one) and got paid 25 cents or so over minimum wage. Suck it the f*ck up.

[Finn 7 five 11]

 

My last job was an everything at Wal-Mart, I took care of at least six or seven different jobs (considering I was only hired on for one) and got paid 25 cents or so over minimum wage. Suck it the f*ck up.

It happens like that.

 

"You only have to waiter and tend the bar and we pay you this much"

 

"Oh I forgot to mention you need to help the chef's prepare the meals? Yeah that's right, someone called in sick so you are now learning food preparation and how to bake cakes, also can you do the delivery? Can you write up the roster? Can you organise for this person to come in and can you plan that for 175 people?

 

Responsibility piles up with work, but it's all good experience, maybe you get lucky and get a raise.

[Andreaz1]

OK, so I just started a new job. It's only an 8-week contract temp position, but with NSW Government Australia.

 

Basically, the idea of it was awesome, and the pay is alright too... there is a possibility for the contract to extend or get a permanent position even, but it's not at this stage. My problem is... the job is too god damn confusing. I'm 2 days into it, and I just felt like getting up and going home and having a cry and apply for other jobs.

 

I'm not sure how the 5 other newbies are going, but I'm watching over a lady teaching me how to do the job... and it seems simple enough, but every single thing that comes through seems to be "unique" and gets done some special other way to normal. They had no idea we were coming in until yesterday so they're still trying to work out where to put us all... and the lady teaching me has no idea what exactly I'll be doing so she's just teaching me a bit of everything (for example, she doesn't know if the jobs will be divided up between the 6 of us newbies or we all have to do everything). It's very overwhelming and I absolutely hate it. I'm a musician with qualifications in music and writing music for film and games. This is supposed to be a day job, but it's a f*cking nightmare it is. I just want to know what the routine I have to do will be, and practice at it with assistance, then continue on my own. But it seems nobody knows exactly what my routine will be, and it seems pointless of them to just teach me a bit of everything. I have no mental picture of what my routine should be.

 

Should I quit a few days in? Or should I stick it out for the 8 weeks and see what happens?

 

Has anybody else ever been in my shoes in a new job? Where you basically feel anxious and absolutely mindboggled? No clear direction in training?

You're not saying what it is you do but my advice would be the same either way: stay.

 

I was in the exact same situation when I was starting at the job I was going to have last summer. It seemed straight-forward when the guy I was going to replace was showing me but the second he turned his back I'd get something that seemed pretty unique and needed some sort of special treatment. I still remember the way I felt when I came home the first day and just wanted to cry because I would never be able to learn all of it, but you will. I took me 5 or 6 days before I felt like I started to get the hang of everything, but the point is you will. Otherwise, I'm willing to bet there will always be others around for you to ask.

 

You're making money which is nice, but as the others pointed out you are also gaining experience and something else to put in your CV which can be worth more than anything in the future.

[TheGodDamnMaster]

You ain't the first one to hate your job and you won't be the last. You can't expect everything in life to be straight-forward. If you feel like taking on a new challenge every day, stick with this one. Otherwise, look for something that would be more up your alley.

Pretty much. People wake up at 6 AM every morning to go to jobs that pay sh*t.

[Deffpony]

It really depends on how important this job is to you. When I moved to miami I worked a several places, all of which I hated. But I needed the income.

 

Its only 8 weeks, same amount of time as boot camp, you should stick it out unless there is something better readily available.

[WHAT!?]

I have found myself in your position before. It's not your fault. It is the fault of the company. It's their job to know who they are hiring and why, by the sound of it, it is also their job to get you acclimated to your role. Just be a good sport while they unf*ck themselves and eventually it will all work out. You say the pay is decent so I say stick it out, since there is a chance it is only temporary then focus on that. Stay the eight weeks and at the very least you will look more dependable and attractive to employers down the road.

 

Best case scenario, maybe in a month things will finally go as they should and the job will seem like a piece of cake. You might find permanent employment you enjoy... You really have nothing to loose.

 

Of course if they don't train you well and then want to act like everything is your fault, feel free to tell them how much they suck. Use curse words and telling them off will feel pretty good.

 

Life moves on.

Edited January 8, 2013 by What!?

[GTA_stu]

You're recently married right? Well maybe you could get your wife to relieve some of that stress for you...

 

 

[FAH-Q]

Well with the jobs the way they are right now, I wouldnt reccomend quitting just because it's too hard. Every job you start out with is going to be difficult to get into the swing of things. That's the challenge, if everybody were to quit new jobs after 2 days because it's too hard then a lot of sh*t would never get done in this world. Of course it's going to be confusing when you first start out. CHALLENGE YOURSELF.

 

Stick it out, who knows maybe you'll grow to like it and meet cool people.

[Fireman]

Wait for the clarification of where you'll be working before quitting atleast, you can't even decide yet if you want to work there are not since they haven't positioned you yet.

[EscoLehGo]

My last job was an everything at Wal-Mart, I took care of at least six or seven different jobs (considering I was only hired on for one) and got paid 25 cents or so over minimum wage. Suck it the f*ck up.

It happens like that.

 

"You only have to waiter and tend the bar and we pay you this much"

 

"Oh I forgot to mention you need to help the chef's prepare the meals? Yeah that's right, someone called in sick so you are now learning food preparation and how to bake cakes, also can you do the delivery? Can you write up the roster? Can you organise for this person to come in and can you plan that for 175 people?

 

Responsibility piles up with work, but it's all good experience, maybe you get lucky and get a raise.

This has been the summary of my last few sh*t jobs, you read a description and it sounds simple enough, you get hired and it turns out you're doing a 3 man job for the pay of 1. You sound like you're doing inside, non labor work OP, stick with it and it'll probably benefit you in the long run. At least you aren't loading delivery trucks in below freezing temperature or writhing all over a dirty supermarket floor in an attempt to take inventory of the tomato cans on the bottom shelf like my last two jobs. Just suck it up and truck through, or you can try that musician thing out full time and be poor for much longer in exchange for having no confusing work or boss at all.

[dr_killpatient]

dude..........its been 2 days. man up k?

[trip]

You know how fast time moves - 8 weeks is nothing.

 

Tough it out. At the very least it will help you pad your resume.

 

Oh and I hate my job too, but I'm kind of stuck with it.

[nightwalker83]

Wow 8 weeks that least that a term of school! Yeah, I feel anxious no matter the situation, what type of job is it?

 

 

@whatsstrength

 

It makes I different if actually enjoy the type of work too.

Edited January 8, 2013 by nightwalker83

[Algonquin Assassin]

I know how you feel. One of the jobs I had was producing bricks. 8 hours a day of packing bricks on to pallets and to top it off us on the afternoon shift had to clean out the cement mixer which was insanely claustrophobic.

 

We'd spend and hour or more in there with an air chisel cleaning out the damn thing. There were times where I seriously didn't want to go, but I stayed there for 6 months because after that the compnay went bust.

 

I believe it's just a natural reaction. I'm sure we've all had thoughts of a job after a few days where we think "why am I doing this?", but sometimes we just have to do it.

 

8 weeks isn't very long, but good luck with whatever you decide.

[018361]

Try to stick through it!

[LotusRIP]

Well... Day 3 down and guess what... they came to me and said they've been over-training me this whole time!!! I knew there was a reason I found it all so overwhelming. They seriously went through a bucket load of stuff that is unnecessary to the job I'm there to do.

 

So there you have it... I wasn't stupid after all. They realised their mistakes and I think they're a little embarassed to put me through all of it, when my job is only a fraction of what they've been teaching me. Still good to know that if I stay on permanently, I'll have a better understanding of how the whole place runs.

 

Thanks so much for the comfort and advice guys. I would have stuck it out anyhow I guess... but even better feeling now that I know they've been over-training me.

[Adriaan]

Nice to hear things are working out now.

[Mister Pink]

Sounds like a totally disorganised f*ckplace of a job. That's not your fault. That is their fault. It's incredibly unprofessional that the person training you had no idea you were coming and they don't know what you'll be doing. It's only leaving you with confusion etc..

 

First thing to do is express your concern to someone in charge, politely. You understand things get done in a rush but express your concern at the quality of training. You will save your ass and I'm sure they'll appreciate that you took initiative to correct the situation and compnay feedback.

 

Remember, you don't owe these people anything. It's mutual agreement you guys have. They have to pull their weight too.

 

EDIT: Just read your update.

[Stig]

 

My last job was an everything at Wal-Mart, I took care of at least six or seven different jobs (considering I was only hired on for one) and got paid 25 cents or so over minimum wage. Suck it the f*ck up.

Dude, WalMart is so f*cking bad. Store #2285, they had me doing maintenance jobs when I was supposed to be stocking shelves in grocery. f*cking prick managers, too.

 

 

But yea, stick it out pussy. You're not dumb, you just gotta learn the ropes. Don't expect to have it down pat in 2 days.

 

EDIT - Also just read your update, good for you dude. At least you'll be able to grasp it now!

[Mark]

My last job was an everything at Wal-Mart, I took care of at least six or seven different jobs (considering I was only hired on for one) and got paid 25 cents or so over minimum wage. Suck it the f*ck up.

It happens like that.

 

"You only have to waiter and tend the bar and we pay you this much"

 

"Oh I forgot to mention you need to help the chef's prepare the meals? Yeah that's right, someone called in sick so you are now learning food preparation and how to bake cakes, also can you do the delivery? Can you write up the roster? Can you organise for this person to come in and can you plan that for 175 people?

 

Responsibility piles up with work, but it's all good experience, maybe you get lucky and get a raise.

Indeed. Saying yes to any extra random sh*t at work has almost doubled my salary in 18 months to what it was in my previous job.

 

Good to hear it's going well now. Super overkill training did sound odd for an 8 week contract. It would take you that just to get up to speed on everything.