AIBU to wonder whether anyone really truthfully want to work in a ‘fast paced environment’?

[DimebagDarrell]

I guess with the caveat of doctors working in emergency medicine, broadcast journalists etc whose jobs by definition are going to be fast paced.

But I’m talking more about your standard office type role - ‘emails, writing reports and meetings’ kind of jobs. I’m looking for a new role and virtually every job ad highlights being able to thrive in a fast paced environment. From my 15 years in various workplaces (charities, civil service, universities) I can honestly say I’ve met very few people who enjoy a fast paced work environment. Yes we all have a really busy day now and then and it’s fine, but surely no one actively wants to be constantly inundated with conflicting priorities and hundreds of emails!

So why is there this pretence where I have to pretend I like and thrive in a fast paced workplace? And where the people interviewing me about working well in a fast paced environment probably don’t even want to be in one themselves.

To me the phrase ‘fast paced workplace’ just sounds like a euphemism for a very heavy workload, unrealistic deadlines, competing priorities etc. And not being able to do anything to a decent standard as there’s so much else to do.

So, is it just me who’s constantly pretending that a fast paced work environment is absolutely fine for me, when I actually hate it! Or are there people out there who genuinely enjoy this type of workplace?

Fast paced is for the inexperienced who live just to work and still haven’t learned the lesson that, people pleasing the managers just results in more work without more money.

Fast paced in a job description would make my eyes roll.

I guess it depends on the type of job and industry, to me fast paced doesn't mean over worked it means an environment where you need to relish and embrace regular changes. Examples would be IT, cyber etc.

To me the phrase ‘fast paced workplace’ just sounds like a euphemism for a very heavy workload, unrealistic deadlines, competing priorities etc. And not being able to do anything to a decent standard as there’s so much else to do.

This is so true. Trying to make a virtue out of a chaotic work environment and/or bad management practices.

I agree that it can be a bit of a code in job adverts. To be honest though I have a really low boredom threshold and a genuinely fast pace that leads to outcomes quickly is the sort of environment I thrive in. Slower and I find it really hard to motivate myself. Short, sharp deadlines if possible.
It doesn’t mean I want to be overworked, but I like to be busy while I’m at work.

@Doubleraspberry

I agree that it can be a bit of a code in job adverts. To be honest though I have a really low boredom threshold and a genuinely fast pace that leads to outcomes quickly is the sort of environment I thrive in. Slower and I find it really hard to motivate myself. Short, sharp deadlines if possible. It doesn’t mean I want to be overworked, but I like to be busy while I’m at work.

I’m the same, I need deadlines and the day drags if you’re not busy. I like brisk-paced 😂

I think it usually just means that they want someone who won't cave under pressure.

I find the pace of my work a bit much sometimes, but slow paced isn't always good for everyone either. I have a very low boredom threshold (awaiting diagnosis for adhd), and actually, I do well in an environment which is a bit fast and frenetic - it's about finding the right balance, I think. I don't cope well with overwhelm, but equally, if you give me too much time to get stuff done, I will just grind to a halt.

I tend to think “fast paced environment” = “we can’t / won’t hire enough staff so everyone is massively overworked and fire fighting to keep going”

I hate being bored at work, just click watching and waiting for the tumble weed to blow through. Makes me feel like I'm wasting my life. I much prefer to be so busy that I don't have time to get bored. I need a lot of deadline pressure in order not to procrastinate, as well. I'm not too concerned about breaks, would rather skip lunch and leave early honestly

Yes we all have a really busy day now and then and it’s fine, but surely no one actively wants to be constantly inundated with conflicting priorities and hundreds of emails!

I do. I love it. My work is high pressure, nothing but one crisis after another, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I'd go insane doing some mundane, typical office job.

Me. I'm massively insecure about my work performance and need to have more work on than I can reasonably do, just so that I'm kept busy from one thing to the next - I don't mind working extra hours if something is "urgent". A slowdown means I start worrying that my clients have gone off me or something is wrong.

I'm only happy when I'm really under it and prioritising work above all else.

(That's absolutely not healthy but I know who I am.)

My current workplace advertised themselves as a "fast paced workplace" and they absolutely are, Monday to Friday - but there isn't the same pressure carrying on over the weekend to Monday morning than my last role, which is a massive relief. I'll happily work late on weeknights and switch off on weekends.

@AlexaShutUp

I think it usually just means that they want someone who won't cave under pressure.

I find the pace of my work a bit much sometimes, but slow paced isn't always good for everyone either. I have a very low boredom threshold (awaiting diagnosis for adhd), and actually, I do well in an environment which is a bit fast and frenetic - it's about finding the right balance, I think. I don't cope well with overwhelm, but equally, if you give me too much time to get stuff done, I will just grind to a halt.

Agreed. I’d read it as that: someone who can handle a bit of pressure without their knees wobbling, plodders need not apply.

Agree with PPs, my work is fast-paced (advertising) and I love it that way! I'm easily bored and need to be kept on my toes to get things done. Juggling so many balls works well for me.

I love it. I work in an industry where crises are daily occurrences and I live to calm everyone down and sort it all out. Anything else and I get bored. I can cope with the mundane for a couple of days but then I need madness again.

I’m odd one out in my team though and they tend to throw those types of projects to me as they know I won’t crack under the pressure. Takes all sorts eh?

I suspect that a lot of the time it's a phrase put into the advert with little or no thought of what it means. Other examples include "highly motivated self-starter", "team player" , "deliver under pressure", "meet challenging deadlines" and "track record of delivery".

My job is probably what you'd describe as fast-paced. It involves working to tight deadlines, managing resources to make sure those deadlines are met, and constant planning and problem solving. I love it, I never have time to get bored and I enjoy the pressure.

You know what, you’re right! I want a leisurely pace with a focus on quality. Rather than slap dash get the task done.

Colleagues of mine are able to go at lightening pace but still do great work. I envy them!

To me the phrase ‘fast paced workplace’ just sounds like a euphemism for a very heavy workload, unrealistic deadlines, competing priorities etc. And not being able to do anything to a decent standard as there’s so much else to do.

But there's also such a buzz about working in a fast paced workplace.

You work hard and play hard too!

I love it! To me fast paced doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t stop to breathe all day… it means that literally any moment could bring you an email that changes your priorities! I do get slow days, but I’d say 3/5 days a week I get something unexpected land of my desk. Not always huge deals. Could you be a Teams message popping up saying, “I’m discussing xyz, do you have 5 mins to join the call?”

Because of the nature of my work, maybe half my deadlines are short. I like that. It doesn’t mean I feel rushed or pressured though, I’m good at it, and it keeps me interested. I do work long hours sometimes but there’s a good balance in my role.

It’s not chaotic - it’s just the nature of the job. People aren’t asking me for things cos they’re badly organised (usually!) - just cos of how my job is.

I don’t want to say what I do, but for example I guess if you’re a lawyer, you don’t know if the next call will be a routine enquiry about a divorce appointment, or a need to act very quickly on a non-mol.

I know what I’m doing, so the unexpected changes are a buzz!

@TheFoldOx

I suspect that a lot of the time it's a phrase put into the advert with little or no thought of what it means. Other examples include "highly motivated self-starter", "team player" , "deliver under pressure", "meet challenging deadlines" and "track record of delivery".

And yet all of those phrases are meaningful to me, and there are roles in my company where those types of people are needed!

@TheFoldOx

I suspect that a lot of the time it's a phrase put into the advert with little or no thought of what it means. Other examples include "highly motivated self-starter", "team player" , "deliver under pressure", "meet challenging deadlines" and "track record of delivery".

To expand, phrases are meaningful to me if I think, “could I give an example of that in an interview?” All of those I could, from last week alone (thanks Brexit and Russia!) and not from some tenuous shoe horning in of incidents to tick a wanky box. Each describes well something I have done.

Now we do have appraisal items around “integrity” which start to feel like tenuous grasping to fulfil wanky buzzwords 😉
But your examples are all fine and I’d apply 🤣

@Doubleraspberry

I agree that it can be a bit of a code in job adverts. To be honest though I have a really low boredom threshold and a genuinely fast pace that leads to outcomes quickly is the sort of environment I thrive in. Slower and I find it really hard to motivate myself. Short, sharp deadlines if possible. It doesn’t mean I want to be overworked, but I like to be busy while I’m at work.

This! I also have adhd and find the fast busy times keep me focused whereas slow steady times just drag (so I procrastinate to make the deadline tight instead!). Lawyer though, maybe we’re a certain breed. Too much fast paced and no breaks does lead to burnout though!

Faced paced environment is code for being proactive, being able to manage your own workload independantly, and making fast data driven decisions for the big ticket items. It means you might not get things 100% right all the time but that the key priorities will be covered. Used In a physical and responsible role, like in childcare, it nearly always means they want someone experienced

I don't like jobs with a lot of sitting around doing nothing - they drag on. So in that sense being busy can be better.

But I agree, it's better when you also are steady enough that it's not overwhelming, it's possible to do a good job at what needs to be done, you get a pee break and lunch at a reasonable time most days, etc.

When I see jobs advertised for a fast paced environment I do often wonder if it means they don't have adequate staffing and will expect you to work through breaks in order to get things done on a daily basis.

There are two types of fast paced jobs I think - dynamic fast paced, where the work is exciting and creative, and changes frequently. But yes, there is also overworked fast paced, where they just haven’t employed enough people.

The first version is great - I’d hate to work in a job where I was sitting twiddling my thumbs, or where I did exactly the same thing every day, forever. An exciting and varied job is exactly what I’m looking for. The second version is hell.

@Doubleraspberry

I agree that it can be a bit of a code in job adverts. To be honest though I have a really low boredom threshold and a genuinely fast pace that leads to outcomes quickly is the sort of environment I thrive in. Slower and I find it really hard to motivate myself. Short, sharp deadlines if possible. It doesn’t mean I want to be overworked, but I like to be busy while I’m at work.

Completely agree with this.

I like working in an environment where efficiency is rewarded and I have lots of different tasks or projects to work on to keep my brain busy. I like having lots on so that I can - according to deadlines - choose certain tasks depending on what I'm in the mood to do on that particular day. I do think it only works if you enjoy the job, though, otherwise it just feels overwhelming.

I find slow-paced work environments with limited tasks monotonous and being bored saps me totally of motivation. Having been in a role where staff would spend hours a day scrolling mindlessly through the Daily Mail sidebar of shame just to kill the time, and now being in a role (that I really enjoy) where there's lots of spinning plates, I'd choose busy every time.