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Well I got the job, but...

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  • Well I got the job, but...

    I'm a recent business grad and after only 3 interviews, I was offered a position with a great company with nice benefits and pay and what seemed like would be an awesome new field and learning experience. I've been there for a month now and the people seem nice, and the company seems built for future growth and potential. The only thing is, I've been there for a month and still don't know zip about what my job is or how to do it. When I run out of the piddly (as in just staring at reports that I have no clue what I'm looking at because I haven't been told) work that's been given to me just to pass time, I ask for something else to do and I'm told there isn't anything or their too busy to sit down with me and teach at the moment....ok...so this gets me wondering why there was a position opening if there's nothing for me to do but sit and kill time very slowly? This frustrates me because I am one who likes to stay busy at work, otherwise in an office job, all you can do is watch the clock which seems to drag on for days.

    I left my previous job because the learning and growth potential was absolutely zero but I loved the work I did, it didn't feel like work at work. And now I feel like I've made a mistake in accepting this job in which I feel wasn't particularly needed to begin with now that I am actually there. I can't even describe what it is I am even there for? But, the more I hear around me the more it sounds like a field of my degree that I most likely won't enjoy. I actually feel guilty for collecting a paycheck because most days I sit and stare at paperwork or a screen with no guidance at all, trying to teach myself really.

    I'm at a cross roads, because like I said..the company seems legit but after this length of time and still feeling unneeded and not learning anything at all is really making me discouraged. I actually sat down and applied for another job that appealed to my experience and interest before going into work this morning...but I'm wondering has anyone ever left a new job so soon after starting after maybe realizing it wasn't the line of work they would enjoy for years to come? If I am offered another position, I don't know how I'd go about explaining my leave from this new job to where it wouldn't be harsh and abrupt since the people themselves have been really welcoming, just the company has no system of training in place and that's really discouraging.

  • #2
    You should continue your job. Work for minimum one year , collect your experience certificate and jump to any other company. this is what going on in today's scenario.

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    • #3
      Give it more time. Let your supervisor know of your concerns.
      seek knowledge, not answers
      personal finance

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      • #4
        What exactly did you get hired to do? What is your job title? Have you spoken to HR or your supervisor about training?
        Brian

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        • #5
          Do you still have the original ad that caused you to apply to work at this company? If you can figure out some key words, I suggest getting some books that cover those tasks as they relate to that specific industry. Try half.com or e-books at your public library. You might offer to help colleagues with their work.

          Alternatively, you could spend time making up lists of people to contact for a new job search. Make a list of potential employers in your state. Don't use the employer's computer, paper or mail service to seek other work. Other employers are much more likely to hire you when you're employed than if you quit and are unemployed.

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          • #6
            I suggest you look for another job while continuing to work at the one you have. Leaving after 1 month really gives the impression "You didnt work out" which totally isnt the case in this situation.

            Also, as others have suggested go to your supervisor and express your concerns, but when doing that I suggest you come with recommendations of your own that you expect them to give you. such as "cross train with ABC", "start working to improve the efficency of XYZ process that I think could use some work" etc

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            • #7
              All of the departments are completely separate..all HR does is payroll..they don't do any of the hiring or firing. All of that is done directly by the lead person in the particular section of the company your working for. So the lead of my section is the only one who knows how to train me, no one else knows anything about each others job. This is why I find myself complaining. This large, teamwork focused company has no training program in place for new hires. NONE at all. When I've asked others around me things I can do or what is it that their working on, no one can answer me. It's got me baffled. At this rate, it will take me 6 months to even figure out one aspect of what my job is.

              The ad when I applied was very brief, it fit the title of what I was looking for so I applied. In the interviews they mainly talked about the company and since they made the company sound really nice, I accepted.

              If I have to be at work, I want to work. I don't want to just sit there and stare at paper that I've been staring at for weeks that makes no significance to me because I don't know what it is..just because they don't have anything else for me to do. That's not progressing my experience or helping me to pass the time by.

              Just feeling frustrated and confused, that's all...

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              • #8
                Give it time. I don't think I've ever been at a job where my first month or two wasn't exactly as you described. One day you'll be yearning for these days

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                • #9
                  Honestly I'm getting more and more frustrated. I have patience with training but that's the issue...I'm receiving little to no training! I thought companies would at least have some plan of training but literally I have no clue and I can't stand feeling incompetent at my job. But in this case it isn't my fault.

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                  • #10
                    To me it takes a good 6 months to get a good feel for a new job. And at least a year or two to become proficient at it. Just give it time.

                    Have you looked around the intranet to see if there's something you can read during this time? Or perhaps does the company offer online video trainings? Ask your supervisor for a small project to at least keep you busy.
                    ~ Eagle

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                    • #11
                      I also need time to settle in my new job. Give it more time, and talk more about your concerns.

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                      • #12
                        I had a similar problem. Write down all your questions and concerns so that they're documented, and then see if you can book 30 minutes with the lead to discuss. You could even take the initiative to create "training materials" from your experience; someone down the line may appreciate that. We have a week-by-week checklist that the mentors use when onboarding a new employee, maybe something like this would help. Ask if you can sit shotgun with a peer, just for exposure to the products and processes. Document everything with date and person's name (I use a small notepad), so that when you meet up, you'll have everything on hand.

                        Also bear in mind that this may be a test of sorts...what kind of person did they just hire? Does he or she just sit idly and wait for things to happen, or take initiative?

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                        • #13
                          Nobody seems to be addressing the real issue here - your lack of interviewing skills. It sounds like you didn't ask the right questions in the interview. You said that in the interview, they mostly spoke about the company. So what questions did you ask them about the position, training period, etc.? This type of thing will continue to occur unless you improve your interviewing techniques. Remember, they don't hire you - you hire them. The interview is a 2 way street.

                          As for why companies hire when there's no work... I don't have a degree or anything, but I've had that happen to me way too often on temp jobs. I know, you're thinking it's different category, but it's not. So many temp jobs I was sent to which didn't have more than a few hours worth of work. In fact, one company who couldn't keep me busy day after day actually offered to hire me! Of course, I turned it down. Couldn't figure out what the heck they were thinking. I've worked myself out of several real jobs because what I was hired to do...ran out. Lack of attention to planning on the part of the dept. head, I guess. Got to the point that in interviews, I would specifically say that I had worked myself out of the job because there wasn't enough work for me. You'd think the person interviewing me (small companies, so bosses) would have gotten the hint. But no. And thus, this is how the world turns. I guess.

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