Struggling at my new job - help!

[Vzzzbx]

As someone who Is 2 weeks into dealing with a new starter at the moment, I'd ask the person showing you the ropes to point out the important stuff and highlight if things are not worth writing down. for me the more time you spend writing the less time you spend listening. Then when they've finished explaining ask them if you can summarise what they've just said from your notes. That should make sure the notes are right and that your understanding of the situation is correct..

Also, nobody expects a new starter to be up to speed right away. we've said in my new starters role that they won't be up to speed for 6 months. As long as you are asking the right questions and showing incremental improvement it won't be an issue.

 

[ForssAwakens]

Ok fmttmers, need a little guidance here as I don’t seem to have anyone to talk this through with. So, in a nutshell… at 32 years of age I decided to pack up my job in construction and change career. I studied marketing at uni, I worked hard and got good results but I’ll be the first to admit I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed! I landed my first full time job in a marketing role about 2 months ago. It’s corporate and I was suprised they picked me as I didn’t think I was ready for the role. Thought I’ll give it a shot but now I feel like a fish outta water. I funk EVERYTHING up. I need to be shown how to do things a few times to learn. I can feel my coworker who I report to is getting sick of me. And the worst thing is I’m trying my funking best here! It’s starting to get me down and anxious and the road to competence looks so long. What to do

First of all it is natural to go through this in any new job, and even more likely to feel the way you do from jumping industry

You’re at the bottom of the what we call the change curve. The good news is this is should be as low as you get. Something will click for you, even though it probably feels like it won

Here is a version of it



Best advice I can give is do a bit of research if the change cycle , acknowledge where you and be patient cos things will improve

 

[ForssAwakens]

@GazBoro and @Artie helped me out with some management issues last year. There advice was sound. Worth asking the pair of them.

Think that might have been under my old username gazc_mfc

 

[Randy]

Think that might have been under my old username gazc_mfc

Yes mate.

 

[weemoby]

Ok fmttmers, need a little guidance here as I don’t seem to have anyone to talk this through with. So, in a nutshell… at 32 years of age I decided to pack up my job in construction and change career. I studied marketing at uni, I worked hard and got good results but I’ll be the first to admit I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed! I landed my first full time job in a marketing role about 2 months ago. It’s corporate and I was suprised they picked me as I didn’t think I was ready for the role. Thought I’ll give it a shot but now I feel like a fish outta water. I funk EVERYTHING up. I need to be shown how to do things a few times to learn. I can feel my coworker who I report to is getting sick of me. And the worst thing is I’m trying my funking best here! It’s starting to get me down and anxious and the road to competence looks so long. What to do

Jimmy, I have no words of advice.

But, I hope things improve for you very soon and I think that you are a smart man for asking for help/ guidance on here.

Best of luck to you and UTB

 

[JM14]

No one would expect a new starter to be anywhere near up to speed two months in, especially with such a big career change.
Sure every one of us have been in the same position at some stage in their career

Very easy to say but stick at it and things will click eventually

 

[Glover_elbow]

Having changed jobs recently its always hard, one of the biggest things is perception and lack of feed back. If your a boss or a mentor i think its really important to give good positive feedback at early an stage to new employees they might think they are performing terribly when actually they are performing to expectations or higher.

 

[redblood]

Ok fmttmers, need a little guidance here as I don’t seem to have anyone to talk this through with. So, in a nutshell… at 32 years of age I decided to pack up my job in construction and change career. I studied marketing at uni, I worked hard and got good results but I’ll be the first to admit I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed! I landed my first full time job in a marketing role about 2 months ago. It’s corporate and I was suprised they picked me as I didn’t think I was ready for the role. Thought I’ll give it a shot but now I feel like a fish outta water. I funk EVERYTHING up. I need to be shown how to do things a few times to learn. I can feel my coworker who I report to is getting sick of me. And the worst thing is I’m trying my funking best here! It’s starting to get me down and anxious and the road to competence looks so long. What to do

jimmyjazz,

I was thrilled to learn that another Boro fan not only lived here in Oz but actually lived here on the Gold Coast a couple of suburbs away from me.

I reached out to you and we made plans to meet up for a chat and a few beers.
Sadly, you had to cancel for that meet up as you had a lot happening that weekend and we haven't spoken since.

I spent fifty years in construction and I also had times in my life where I thought "it was time to move on " and did so.
I realised that one of the most important things in life was to be happy at work and that what you did on a daily basis was
enjoyable and satisfying rather than how much money you came home with.

Asides from our age difference, I think that we will have a lot more in common than just being Boro fans and so I reach
out to you again and hopefully you will have that friend to talk to whenever you feel the need or desire.
I will always be available.

UTB.

 

[jimmyjazz]

First of all it is natural to go through this in any new job, and even more likely to feel the way you do from jumping industry

You’re at the bottom of the what we call the change curve. The good news is this is should be as low as you get. Something will click for you, even though it probably feels like it won

Here is a version of it

View attachment 55037

Best advice I can give is do a bit of research if the change cycle , acknowledge where you and be patient cos things will improve

Ahh I’m currently circumnavigating my way through the old Valley of Despair! Yeh gonna keep showing up and doing my best and hopefully things will click. Thanks!

 

[jimmyjazz]

jimmyjazz,

I was thrilled to learn that another Boro fan not only lived here in Oz but actually lived here on the Gold Coast a couple of suburbs away from me.

I reached out to you and we made plans to meet up for a chat and a few beers.
Sadly, you had to cancel for that meet up as you had a lot happening that weekend and we haven't spoken since.

I spent fifty years in construction and I also had times in my life where I thought "it was time to move on " and did so.
I realised that one of the most important things in life was to be happy at work and that what you did on a daily basis was
enjoyable and satisfying rather than how much money you came home with.

Asides from our age difference, I think that we will have a lot more in common than just being Boro fans and so I reach
out to you again and hopefully you will have that friend to talk to whenever you feel the need or desire.
I will always be available.

UTB.

Sorry fella! Wasn’t anything personal just had a lot going on around that time. I’ll flick you a text and hopefully we can squeeze a beer in soon.

 

[xxlshirts_fit_all]

I’ve not read the whole thread but get the general jist…

im 20 months into my job and while I generally like the work, I still find I’m struggling in my own head…

it’s a technical job, repairing instruments and there is only one type that I’m responsible for… however the companies procedures are all over the place… they’ve been an evolved system covering different groups in different countries all with their own interpretations…

they did a big reorganisation the day I joined so I’ve contended with old and new procedures and ways of doing things…

I joined a team of 21 across Europe that split into different areas and the 2 uk team and my self joined a new team that worked I’m different kit with different procedures, I’ve had 3 managers and often felt like an intruder in to the 2 man/woman club that I work with…

I often feel when I ask them questions, that they’re rolling their eyes because them with their 8 and 30 yr experience know the answers obviously… they are good collegues tho, it’s often just the way I feel in my head…

I’ve started caring a lot less if things don’t go as I hoped they would, themsnagers seem happy with me and the other 2 are still happy I’m doing a 1/3 of the work now instead of them doing half each…

I’ve adopted the calm breathing method and spend a lot of time just trying to get my head cleared … it really does help…

im guessing if I do start to underperform I will be told so….

im not looking for any affirmation or entering a ’ive got it worse than you competition’ just trying to let you know that there’s a lot of people who feel this way out there, some can hide it better than others and some are slowly falling apart… try to take enough time for your self where you are not thinking about work at all and just switch off, it takes time to perfect but as you get more competent at your job it will become easier to do so…

I hope the OP has had some good advice in this whole thread and things start to look better

 

[Boro in Devon]

I havent read the whole string of messages, so apologies if this has already been said. I have come from a semi marketing background and can appreciate some of your difficulties. In my experience the whole area is so broad that you rarely find someone who is good at everything, tending to specialise in certain areas. The best teams are those which have a blend of those skills.
If I remember correctly at university it was split into the 4 P's (product, price, place and promotion) although you can now add people. Being an analytical type I spent a lot of time profiling customers and understanding needs and wishes, I was never good at the promotion, but that is often farmed out to agency. It would be good if you can gain an understanding of a niche for you to occupy within the team of people and concentrate on that, rather than tackling the whole subject.
In terms of your personal development your move through a series of stages, from unconsciously incompetent (you dont know what you need to know), through to consciously incompetent (you realise that there is a lot that you dont know) before arriving at competent. It seems as though you may have reached the second stage, which is great as you can start working on what you dont know. I usually reckon that changing companies takes 6 months before you feel that you add something. Changing careers will take even more time.

In terms of building a career in marketing you need to use your marketing skills.
Focus on the strengths and positive aspects that you bring to the job.
Talk about the things that you have learned and the improvements that you have made.
Dont focus attention on your weaknesses, but work on them. Just describe them as development opportunities to other people.
Integrate yourself within the team by asking for advice and working with others, then make sure you credit them for their assistance.

I hope that these points may help and good luck with your situation.