I like my new job, but I'm rubbish at it. WWYD?

[groovergirl]

Hi folks. Very tearful and in need of a handhold and/or kick up the bum.

After 30+ years in the private sector I gained an awesome role in government, working on a project I really believe in. But I'm three months into it, and I'm crap.
I've been suspecting as much, and today my manager told me I am "behind where I need to be" at the 12-week mark. There have been several problems. One is the content system, which I had to figure out for myself and which caused big delays at first. Another is government protocol, which I found out today I've inadvertently breached.

I anticipated this shitfulness on my part would happen, as I have a history of being really crap at new jobs, then having an epiphany, coming good and doing well. I'm really hoping the epiphany will happen this time, as I want to succeed. But I can't help feeling I've already lost my colleagues' good will and confidence. I've written down and am implementing the feedback, but I wonder if it's too late. If I'd come up via a traditional route, I'd probably be OK. But they've taken a chance on someone who hasn't worked in government before and I don't want to let them down. It's a six-month probation, but maybe I should pull the plug and save them the agony.

Any advice ye wise women of MN can offer would be most appreciated.

Don't pull the plug. Act on the feedback and await the epiphany. Ask for help when you need it. Try and find a mentor in house or externally if necessary.

Thank you @SquirrelSoShiny I really don't want to give up on this role. I just want to get better, but I just feel so crap.

The fact that they have told you now is a positive in the sense it gives you 3 months to turn things around, far better to know now when you have an opportunity to improve rather than them waiting til the end of your probation when it would be too late

The civil service is legendarily lenient with poor performance. I'd stick it out - hopefully you will be doing significantly better when your probation comes to an end, and then everyone will forget you were slow to get started.

What do you mean when you say you breached protocol? It sounds like you made a mistake, which happens. It also sounds like you haven’t had much training and have been figuring things out by yourself?

Do not pull the plug!

Ate you getting adequate training? The CMS thing sounds shot - why did you have to ‘figure it out’, was there not hands-on training and plenty of documentation?

Ditto the government regs - they can’t just assume you have the correct knowledge if you’re coming from the private sector.

If it’s poor onboarding processes and training & support, don’t take all the blame on yourself. Ask and be more vocal.

When you’ve previously had ‘an epiphany’ can you pinpoint what led up to it?

Did the Manager offer any advice. I would see the probation period through and see if it gets better, just so you know you tried.

I don't think just waiting to get better will help, but I think that there are lots of things that you can do to help it happen quickly.

For example, you've said that you've breached government protocol. Is the correct protocol documented somewhere? Could you spend a couple of evenings or some weekend time reading through everything, checking if you are doing anything wrong, and then change what you're doing to make sure its correct.

If there is a system you're slow on can you put aside some time in your own time to get to grips with it?

Yes, working evenings or weekends isn't ideal but I think if you like the job but just aren't quite there it would be worth investing some time to get there quickly.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your support.

I've been in tears, feeling so stupid that I've worked at the hard end of my industry for decades yet can't get this govt role right. I'm going to have a good cry, then figure out what I need to learn. The onboarding process has been a bit irrelevant -- heaps of info about procurement and "integrity" yet nothing about what I really need to know, which is CMS and protocol!

Echo others, don't take all the blame if you haven't received relevant training. Of course you will be slow if you have to work it out as you go along. Do you have a regular weekly check in with your manager (or whoever is close to the project)? If not, implement it now. You're working on a project so assume you have plans coming out of your ears but do you have a week by week (even day by day) plan of what you need to do? If not, write one and then use it to check with your manager that you're in track and doing the things you need to be doing. If they thought you weren't performing they should have been giving you constructive feedback.
It's horrible when you get a new job and feel useless but you obviously have the skills to do it so don't give up!!!

Thank you @RoseLemon Yes, I normally have a weekly 121 with my manager but she has been on leave for the school hols. This would not have been a big deal if I'd been properly inducted into the CMS side of things.

I do wish employers were honest about CMS and give us a day or two to become familiar with it.

Disagree with those saying to do this in your own time outside of work. It would be fine to do this inside your work time.

It really sounds like poor onboarding is to blame.

It’s in everyone’s interests to keep you in your job and not have to recruit again if that’s even possible with current freezes - nobody wants to risk losing someone they’ve onboarded!

Have you joined a union? If not, do that now.

Omg how many incompetent men who've made huge areas and costly mistakes and just breeze along, seemingly without care or effect to their career, have I worked with?

Don't take it to heart. It sounds like you understand your learning process which is a great start (it sounds a lot like mine.)

It sounds like you've had inadequate training/ induction or none at all and should politely but firmly make that clear if the opportunity arises.

New jobs are so hard. There's so much to learn as well as the social side/ expectations etc.

It will get better! Good luck.

Dear all, thanks for your handhold and your wise advice.

I'm working on a govt project I really believe in and had this wistful idea that newbies would get essential software training before being let loose.

I am 57 and have used all kinds of CMS but that doesn't mean I don't need a quick one-hour training on a new one.

Bosses, please take note! Short, tailored induction might be very effective!

One thing I’m wondering is: did you ask if someone could walk you through the CMS? What happened when you requested training?

From now on, I’d recommend being super proactive about seeking this kind of thing out, yes they should have provided it but you should also be seeking help out.

Sounds like they are to blame!
No training on the main thing you will need to use, no guidance on key protocol and your direct supervisor hasnt been available for half the time you've been there??

Someone working within the office already might have just been able to do everything despite that (given they would already have a lot of the knowledge plus would have strong relationships within the team to get support, which I think people don't realise makes such a huge difference) but not someone from a different office and certainly not someone from outside the sector!

It would be a miracle if you weren't behind imo.

I went back to an old job last year (at a higher level than when I'd left) and started at the same time as 3 others. At the 3 and 6 months mark I was well ahead of them in terms of managing my workload even though they were more experienced than me simply because I already knew a lot of the policies and background processes so just did the work (albeit with a quick check to confirm things hadn't changed) whereas they had to look up everything the first few time they did it.

The job still used the same cms so I could just start working whereas they needed to play around with it. And if I had any questions because a lot of the staff i knew before were still there I could just ring them for a quick catchup and ask whereas the newbies felt that awkward "who is responsible for this again? I feel bad bothering them...Will they think I'm stupid if I ring them to ask this basic thing...." worry!

Coming up to 9 months and we are all pretty much at the same level now.

I would definitely not leave a second before the day your contract ends and if they try and push you out remind them of all of the above. At the end of the day even if you only get 70% of the project done within the deadline that is far more than they'd get done if they sacked you and had to start again! Govt hiring being what it is they would probably take at least 3 more months to get anyone into the post!

Yes indeed @suzyscat i have trained quite a few men in the jobs that could have been mine ... and then I had to do those jobs for them, because they'd wander out at lunchtime and drive the office car home for a nap.

I will compose a letter to my (very nice, caring, wants me to come good) boss tomorrow about how I can become better. And how the minimal training can become better.

Thanks again, MN hive of wisdom.

I started a new job six weeks ago. First day I asked for documents in processes/procedures/governance etc and was met with blank faces. They want me to lead on establishing these so now I know where I stand but I’ve been very clear in what is/isn’t in place and what the remit is. I don’t think as PP have said that you are in any way to blame OP. If the issue was that important they should have given you training/instruction on what to do. Find out what you need to know and put a plan in place to learn it. As I always say you don’t know what you don’t know but definitely don’t beat yourself up.

Do not write a letter to your boss!!!

What did your boss say when you asked for some training on how to use the CMS?

I'm not local gov but I am public sector.

It's SO different to anywhere else. Have your new employer accounted for the catch you you've got to do not having worked in local gov before? That is huge and you can't underestimate how long it will take.

You absorb things as you go and don't realise it, but that means over the years those who have done public sector before just know stuff that you won't and that's not your fault.

Make sure you ask questions if you're unsure if you've inadvertently breached protocol. Just double check things for the next few months, and keep open the lines of comms between you and your manager.

I changed role last year and normally I settle in and am doing good within three months. I'd say it was well over six months before I felt like I was getting into this one. It's still public sector but completely different working environment and I deal a lot with central government now which I hadn't done before. It's not to be underestimated!

It's good to know I'm not the only new hire to be mystified. I'll try not to be discouraged, and to do better tomorrow. There are aspects of my performance that I can improve immediately. But I suspect I am not the right person for the role, and they know it.

Thanks again, PPs.

How are you getting on, OP? I am in a very similar position to you and feeling lost and a bit crap. Started a new job a month ago and have been thrown in the deep end on a project. Worried I'm adding little value and slowing everyone down. It's a horrible place to be when I was so competent and respected in my last role.

I'd also like to know how the OP is getting on. I'm in a similar position myself.

@franksauce @Bookridden

I would really try not to worry.

I started a role last year which I had experience for on paper, but I was a direct hire into the position as opposed to being trained for the role and then being internally promoted. So it was a bit of a weird one in the sense I’d worked for the company for x years already and was absolutely ready to progress, but hadn’t been fully trained for the role before getting it.

I’d say my first 3 months were, in hindsight, awful. Didn’t know what I was doing really, lacked confidence in my decisions, struggled with managing a team of entirely new people in a new environment.

But with every mistake you make, you learn something. And I started to spend a bit of time after every shift thinking about what could have been better and how I might approach it next time. Eventually you start having really productive, fulfilling shifts and things fall into place.

I’m in the role a year and a half now and while I still don’t know everything, I can confidently handle most of the shit that comes my way.

So my general tips for getting out of the slump are-

• if there’s anything you don’t know, don’t try to hide it- be up front and ask to be trained on it
• request a training file for your role and go through it, and highlight everything that you need clarity on, but also use it as a positive of seeing how far you’ve came since you’ve started
• plan your shift when you start work. I have a list on my phone of what I need to do in particular shifts (ie jobs that are essential and need done every day), and then tick them off as I complete them. It means I don’t forget to do anything obvious and I have more time to handle other requests because I’m organised and have things under control
• communicate with your colleagues about what you’re working on (sometimes I feel like colleagues just assume new starts are sitting there doing nothing and they enjoy the narrative that comes with that)- if you’re clear about what you’re currently doing, that mentality seems to go away

The main thing though is to speak to your manager and be clear on what you need help with, what you’ve mastered and ask for feedback. If they see you taking charge of your training and development it will be much more in your favour than if you hide from problems and then at the 6 month review it all comes to light how you really don’t know much and are hugely struggling.

Get yourself a buddy, be proactive about it, I've worked in the pubic sector for about 15 years, prior to that I was private sector it's very different. Ask if there is an intranet ,policy bank, equip etc. Everything will have a policy even if it's old. Read as much guidance as you can. Likely everyone is busy so you need to be coming forward among questions, asking to observe/shadow, get experienced staff to walk you through things as they do them. On the upside I once saw a member of staff 'square up' to a member of pubic with loads of witnesses and CCTV and even they didn't get fired. You'll be ok