Training or lack of...

[MrsLeclerc]

I started a 8 month secondment to another department last month. I had no experience in the field so we discussed that I’d need extra training and support.

On my first day I was handed notes on all the ongoing work and told that everything that was urgent was marked. I was given some basic information about the team set up, this took 20 mins and then I was left to it.

The person assigned to support me works PT and he was very friendly but I have been told by coworkers just to ask questions as it’s a bit complex to explain it all. The problem is, as I have no experience or knowledge of the field, I don’t know what questions to ask.

I was sent into client meetings on my third day with no understanding of my role. I’ve told my manager I’m struggling and have been placated or sent to ask another member of staff for help. For example I asked for a process guide on something they do regularly. My manager advised me to talk to 2 specific colleagues. One came back and referred me to a document that had nothing to do with what I asked. The other still hasn’t replied 3 weeks later. I’ve now been told to find out and write my own.

I spend my morning, evening and weekends in a state of anxiety. I have a huge fear that I’ve forgotten/not known to do something important. I’m struggling to eat properly. My sleep was dreadful but has improved.

I contacted a counsellor to get some tips on coping with the anxiety. She said that my lack of training and support is not my responsibility. This made me feel better but now I’ve convinced myself that it is my responsibility to find ways to learn.

Is this just how they train people now, am I expecting them to hold my hand? Or should they have provided more training?

You need to go to your manager or HR and tell them you cannot do the job. If you were seconded with full knowledge that you were completely new to the role then it's completely unacceptable that they aren't supporting you. Can you go back to your normal post?

Thank you @balloonsandboobies. I’m a hard worker and if things are explained to me I can do it. Part of me feels embarrassed that I can’t cope.

I don’t think there’s a possibility of returning early to my old post. I checked the office policy and both managers have to agree it. The new team is understaffed and I don’t think the line manager would agree to let me go. In their eyes nothing is wrong (even though I’ve raised my concerns, I haven’t f**’d anything up yet) so I think they’d push to keep me.

Sounds very similar to my position which I started one month ago. No real guidance and left to a huge list of urgent tasks with little knowledge on the subject or what to do for each task and a very demanding boss. I have spent so much extra time in the evenings and weekends catching up but have now decided to resign as it is not worth all the stress. I think it shows poor management and you should go back to your line manager and say you need more guidance and help.

@Gogogoe I was doing the same, spent lots of my own time trying to figure stuff out. Now I’m just a bit apathetic, I don’t know what is considered urgent or what could cause issues so I don’t know what I can do about it.

If it was my permanent role I would have resigned. As it is, I seriously considered it even though I know I’ve got a ‘nice’ job to go back to. Each week feels like an eternity.

I am going to stress to the manager again that I haven’t had the training or support promised. If that fails I think I’ll need to get HR involved. I’m loathe to do this as I don’t want to stir up trouble but it’s impacting my whole life. Sobbing after work and having to meditate every morning just to stop shaking with anxiety isn’t ok.

I don’t know what is considered urgent

Wasn't this on your original list though?

I would focus on understanding just those urgent items, they are the specific tasks that have been flagged to you as being time-critical.

Take these tasks to your manager and ask for support on how to tackle.

Can you give an example on here of one of those tasks on the urgent list (just to understand the wording) - maybe we can 'unlock' the words a bit for you. In my experience most processes can be made quite generic when they're boiled down "Do X, using Y system, liaise with Z person/role". Yes the Devil's in the detail, but the key is the method, how to tackle the task.

Your employer is being ridiculous, giving you a secondment knowing they are placing you into a role you've never done before then blocking their ears when you ask for help. Recipe for disaster.

@daisychain01 Sorry I wasn’t very clear. The list had urgent items to complete e.g. book meeting with x. I have completed all of these. What I meant was in the new issues that crop up, I don’t know enough about the work streams to make a judgement on what is urgent/can wait a few days.

As an example, I have about 20 work streams all in different stages of development. I haven’t been given a frame of reference (e.g. We start a work stream by filling out form A, email person B and setting up a meeting with client C where depts D,E and F attend) so I have had to try to work out what stage their at.

I have asked my manager for specific help with tasks but have found that the managers don’t have a working knowledge of our role. All practical support comes from colleagues on the same level. So I keep getting referred back to coworkers. They are very helpful and friendly but extremely busy so I’m catching someone about twice/three times a week for anywhere from 10-30 mins.

A specific example of the tasks was I was told to ‘plan dissemination priorities’. Assuming this was a department process or they had the basics of a standard plan they could explain verbally I asked about it. It turns out that it’s just a term the person who wrote the list must use and other colleagues can’t help me. Even though there must be something they do or it wouldn’t be on the list?! It’s just ridiculously draining.

Thank you for making me feel like I’m not an idiot. I have been worried it was me.

So similar to my role. I don't understand how managers can manage people but not know anything about the work that they do and expect them to find out from coworkers. Perhaps you can say to your manager that your coworkers are busy and you still do not understand what the tasks require? I can relate, it is so draining! Hope it improves for you though.

Thank you @Gogogoe. It’s so frustrating but nice to know I’m in good company!

I’m going to keep highlighting my concerns and keep a record in case anything bounces back. I’m really trying to compartmentalise and not let the worry take over my entire life.

I don't understand how managers can manage people but not know anything about the work that they do and expect them to find out from coworkers

A good manager may not necessarily know the detail of a person's role, but what they should be doing to support their staff is using their authority to facilitate the cooperation of the SMEs (subject matter experts) in the process who can give the working detail to the new staff member.

If the SMEs are not giving that person the time, or fob them off (that's not unknown, and it isn't always because they are too busy), then the manager needs to get involved and step in so the job gets done. It is really difficult for a new member of staff to exert that type of authority over people they've never worked with or formed a working relationship with before.

@MrsLeclerc the example you've given of "plan dissemination priorities" is, as you rightly point out, vague-speak, with corporate jargon buzzwords mixed in that make no sense whatsoever to someone like you who has never tackled the job before.

I would go through your list and mark up each of these expressions and as part of the meeting with your manager, ask the direct question "please can you tell me what is meant by xxx, I don't understand". Be direct, and don't allow them to get away with fobbing you off. If they've written down those tasks, they need to tell you at least in the clearest of terms, if not the intricate detail, what they mean.

Good move to document everything!