Lack of initiative new employee

[Waterdrophead]

Quick question - I am 7 weeks into my new office admin role. Very fast environment and lots to learn. There has been a significant lack of training which is usual in my sector and just picking things up as I go along. Some of the tasks I have shown initiative and done myself. A lot of the tasks have processes and require information, knowledge and experience to do straight away so am learning these as I go along. As mentioned lots to learn and not just a regular office admin job (if such a thing existed). Anyway, colleague has commented that I am lacking initiative which I think is a bit harsh. 7 weeks in, how do I react?

7 weeks is barely enough time to remember which cupboard the teabags are kept in. Ignore them! Or, if it’s really bugging you, ask them to explain specifically what areas they think you are lacking initiative in - maybe use as an opportunity to highlight to them the lack of training/processes?

I do think that after 7 weeks in an admin role you should know your way around most things. However I don't know the specifics of your job so I'd ask this colleague to clarify what exactly you should have shown initiative on. When I was in an admin role after uni, I was told I should have labelled and sorted three boxes of slides that I didn't even know existed. I was told I should have looked around and realised they needed sorting out. It was only when I left that I realised the person who said that was supposed to have done it and decided it was such a tedious job they'd find someone else to do it!

Well it depends. If you are experienced I would expect you to hit the ground running especially after 7 weeks.

I disagree.Even if someone is experienced in office administration/PA it takes time to learn new systems, processes,create new ways of working.I do know my way around most things but supporting a service of 92 people who all have very different roles takes time.Not years but IMO this is why probation periods are there.

I'm with you op , it does take time, I can remember searching for a file on the G:drive for ages as I just couldn't remember where my predecessor had saved it.

Are you an office admin aka there is also an office manager or are you the only admin person?

If you are only only admin person then yes they are expecting you to notice all the things that need doing aka sorting things out, pre ordering supplies, and showing initiative and without much hand holding so everyone else can get on with their jobs.

To be it possibly sounds like they wanted someone to hit the ground running, if you think you usually need lots of training this probably isn’t the company for you.

It took around 3-4 weeks to get access to all the accounts I needed access to. These are not familiar systems to me so of course I need to become more comfortable using them.I also work part time.I would say as I guess there are 30 processes that need learning.Some I do daily and regularly some are ad hoc, some very ad hoc and some bi monthly, monthly so how you can show initiative to do a monthly task when I've only been there 7 weeks and only just been given access beats me. I must say my manager is pleased with my attitude and work ethic. Who knows?

Not fair if there's been minimal training. You don't know what you don't know especially if you've not been told.

If your manager is happy, that's what counts.