... or is my new boss?

[kittifer]

My first thread (although been reading and occasionally commenting for years) so please be gentle...

I started a new job about 7 weeks ago, it is a role I have done before (project management type of thing) but in a new industry. I know I was not the first choice at interview (first choice turned them down) but they offered it to me and as it is a bit more money and I thought it would be good to have a new challenge I accepted.

From day 1 I have not felt particularly welcome. I was given the desk of someone who was on sick leave but he is now back so I have no desk I have to ask every morning if there is somewhere I can sit. I have no other resources and I also did not get a proper induction and have had to figure a lot of things out by myself. I haven't been given any objectives or told of anything specific I needed to do. I have sort of been expected to figure out what needed doing and do it.

I knew it would be a learning curve so I have thrown myself into understanding my new industry, meeting people, getting to grips with the requirements of the job which has meant quite a lot of desk research when not at meetings.

Yesterday I had a 1 to 1 with my boss where he basically told me that he was very disappointed and he had expected me to hit the ground running and I haven't. He mentioned some things he thought I would have done by now - this was the first time I had heard of any of them. He also told me off for asking for some information in a meeting (he said I should have been all over that before now). When I told him why I had not done as much as he might have expected (no resources, having to figure it out for myself in a new industry), he said I was playing the victim. He also said that other people have asked what I am doing as I seem to sit at a desk all day.

We left the meeting with him saying that I should think over the weekend whether I really wanted this job (not sure I do now but can't afford to quit).

So who is being unreasonable here and what should I do?

And sorry this was long and thanks for reading

Definitely not you OP.

Perhaps, PERHAPS you could have been a little more proactive early on in terms of seeking guidance as to what you should be doing. BUT a good boss should have just provided you all that as a matter of course.

Personally I don't see this job working out long-term. Make finding a new one your main priority over these next few weeks. It's unfortunate timing, with the the xmas break coming up. But it gives you a good chance to re-look at your CV and apply for some other roles.

Try not to let it get you down. Everyone has these weird blips in their employment history. If it comes up in future interviews, you can say something fairly casual like "we had different expectations of what the role consisted of" or "the organisational structure of the company was too lax for me. I prefer a clear job role and strong, reliable leadership."

I think you need to be looking for another job.

Pity you could not take a real Rottweiler into a meeting with him, assuming that would not be unkind to the dog.