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AIBU?

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Feeling lost and unmanaged at new job

6 replies

CrowsInMyGarden · 14/02/2025 19:11

I used to work for an NHS Trust in an admin role but left a few years back and haven't worked since (I'm in my 60s and have been looking after my grandchild). I saw an advert recently for a similar job that is just one day per week, which would be ideal for me and would fit around the childcare and is handy as it is very local. When I attended the interview, the person who was supposed to be interviewing me couldn't be there so someone else stepped in, which was fine. I got the job and started a few weeks ago. On the first day I attended it seemed to me that the person I had been told to report to (the one who couldn't make the interview) wasn't expecting me. She seemed flustered when I turned up and said something like "oh, xxx isn't here today, she is working in another team" i didn't know what or who she was talking about. I was shown to a room where I will be working, met the girl I will be working with - who was surprised I was there as they hadn't been told the job had been filled. I had no basic induction i.e. didn't get told where the loos were, fire drill info, if there was anywhere to heat up food/sit and eat etc. There was no computer for me to use but I just sat and chatted with the person who will be my co-worker, who was very friendly but didn't know what tasks I was going to be doing so was at a bit of a loss to show me what to do - but gave me some general info on the team. On the second day I had a PC but no log on details and the PC had been disabled so I had to cal IT to sort this out and get some software downloaded, which took most of the day. The person that I had been told to report to (I am not sure if this is my line manager) told me to go in today for a Trust Induction Day. She said she would give me some headphones and I could sit in with her to do it online. I went in today and she was on annual leave! The random person who answered the door helped me to find a spare room and I logged on and did the induction and left. It feels really strange. In every job I have had I have had someone to greet me, show me around and make me feel welcome. This just feels like they don't really want me there. I have been told that another person started in my role a while back and left at the end of the first day as it was so disorganised and she didn't want to work for such an unorganised team and some of the staff was betting if I would do the same. The Trust seems like a good place to work, it is very local, I'd love to work for the NHS again but AIBU for wondering what on earth is going on? This surely isn't normal. Or is it just that a one day per week role isn't important and someone will get around to showing me the ropes when they get time? Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
stonebrambleboy · 15/02/2025 01:31

I'm sorry but this made me laugh. Your not in the North East by any chance? The IT balls up is standard. My DIL worked for a different Trust to me and she had exactly the same problems when she started.
It's a bloody shit show. I'm so glad I'm retired from all this.

blueshoes · 15/02/2025 01:41

Sounds shambolic. If they don't give you a proper induction, you cannot really do much.

If you like the fact that it is local, then stick around. It will take you longer to get your feet under the table since they are disorganised, but what is the worst that could happen? They sack you or you leave? Same result so no need to rock the boat at this early stage.

I don't work in the NHS or any form of government service but have experience as the manager of new joiners. You need one person to take charge of your induction experience. If you are only doing one day a week, I am guessing your role is quite bespoke and therefore, the induction is also relatively bespoke. If the different parts of your job are currently with more than one person and no one who sees the full picture is tying it together for you and making sure the people hand off to you in a coherent way, then you get the chaotic situation you are experiencing.

Just be thick skinned and ask questions. You will have to figure it out yourself and grab any attention you can get to find your way.

Accept there isn't going to be one person who takes charge of your induction who will hold your hand.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 15/02/2025 01:51

Oh god I have been here so many times and I hated it. Back when I felt the need to be useful, I used to beg for work and ended up being overwhelmed when everyone needed scut work doing.
Take your sweet time.

Fifiworks · 15/02/2025 02:34

Sounds so much like an old job I had. We used to joke that the induction was “oh hello, here is the number to ring to set up your PC” If it anything like that place you will need to talk to at least ten people to do up what your actual function is and how to achieve it. I didn’t have a meeting with my manager until I had been there two months and had already put together a work plan.

It was a lovely place really. Chaotic but nice. Give it a while and see where it takes you.

Tutorpuzzle · 15/02/2025 06:29

I’ve had jobs like this. Always public sector. Just make sure you’re on the payroll and take in a book!

CrowsInMyGarden · 15/02/2025 19:24

@stonebrambleboy No it is in East of England. I've worked in a couple of different Trusts and never been neglected before! When I did the Trust induction it seems like a great place to work and like they want to look after and keep their staff. I'll go in Monday and do all my training and maybe contact HR in a few weeks if I can't get started doing any work.

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