Demoralised
Posted: Tue 8 March, 2005 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Thoughts, Work-related |7 Comments »It’s been two months now since I started with the new job. In that time, I feel like I’ve learned sod-all, and I still don’t really understand what the company does, or why, or even most of how. That’s frustrating.
I don’t know if some of it is due to permanent jobs having a far slower/shallower learning curve than contracting, where it’s always “in at the deep end”. I do know that I don’t react well to that kind of ethos, I far prefer the “sink or swim” approach. And at the moment I’ve spent two months paddling, with no real impetus or incentive to do anything else.
Now, I’m supposed to be analysing some reports and how they work, where they get the data from. That’s all well and good, and in basic terms I can figure it out no worries. But that lack of understanding, the fact I simply don’t know (and, if I’m honest, don’t care) about what a Net Net Shipping Forecast Figure is, means that I’ve frankly no clue whether the information I’m reporting back on is correct, flawed, or utter bollocks. My suspicion runs with the latter, but that’s because most of the work that integrates with marketing stuff seems to be filed under “Bollocks, Utter” in my brain.
Will that change? I don’t know – with time it might, were I to work out what the figures mean, and why they’re important. I’m still going with the hope that at some point all of this will suddenly click into place, and I’ll understand it.
What really grates with me though is that lack of understanding. I’m not stupid – far from it. But to be told that a method is “easy”, when it then takes 90 minutes to be explained, leaves me wondering whether I’m cut out for this stuff. I don’t like being made to feel stupid, and I don’t handle it well. I know that about myself.
What I don’t know about myself is whether I’m just missing something fundamental, or whether this job really isn’t for me at all.
I’ve been convinced for many years that it takes a minimum of six months to settle into a new job.
that sounded depressing. I meant it in a ‘chin-up’ it’ll get better kind of way.
Thanks, Razor. It’s ‘just’ that I’m more used to a contract lasting six months, rather than an induction period/learning curve of the same.
Ah, it’ll all work out, I’m sure. One way or t’other.
Heh, I’ve been with Crapco 4 years and I still only have the flimsiest of understandings about their stuff. Confusion and demoralisation are the norm in permy work, I’d say. Oh, and boredom. I’ve never had much interest in learning about Crapco’s products – I only work for them because they’re based where I live.
Sounds like u hate it Lyle, might be about time to sit down with the line manager and ask him what he thinks to your performance. If he rates you or thinks ur doing ok and ur still clueless then me thinks u jumped onto a sinking ship. Could it be time to bale out once and for all?
I’m with Andy. Talk to your manager or a senior peer about this. Explain you want to move faster, or want more time for research or need more information about x y or z.
It’s HIS responsibility to make your job workable, but it’s YOURS to guide him as to your needs. And I’m certain you are smart enough, most causes in a new job it’s not the information I’m given I have trouble with it’s what I’m NOT given and what it’s assumed I already know.
What Gordon said. We spend too many hours of our lives at work for it to be miserable/frustrating/unhappy and chances are you could resolve it quite quickly by talking. If it’s not solvable, better to move now than later? Good luck though.