tell me how to recover from a bad start at a new job

[Anonymous]

Subject says it all. Job is a bit of a career change for me. I like the job and think I can do well in it, but I didn't hit the ground running hard and soon enough. Now I need to figure out how to regain the confidence that key people may have lost in me and how to regain self-confidence as well. I like the job and think I could do well here. At the very least, I don't want to leave without more to show for it. How much effort should I put into reversing course and how hard should I try to find a new job if things fall apart? I don't have energy for both.

[Anonymous]

Bump

[Anonymous]

Be the first to get there, last to leave, be proactive, follow up, show heart and fire, admit mistakes, acknowledge shortcomings, ask enough questions to produce excellent end product, check in frequently with manager/seniors. If you like it and think you can do well, pour your heart into it and don't even consider looking for a new job - make that not an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be the first to get there, last to leave, be proactive, follow up, show heart and fire, admit mistakes, acknowledge shortcomings, ask enough questions to produce excellent end product, check in frequently with manager/seniors. If you like it and think you can do well, pour your heart into it and don't even consider looking for a new job - make that not an option.

Agree with the first part but not the last. Good to have a backup plan. Can you find a mentor in your new career field? Or a career coach? I'd recommend using those resources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be the first to get there, last to leave, be proactive, follow up, show heart and fire, admit mistakes, acknowledge shortcomings, ask enough questions to produce excellent end product, check in frequently with manager/seniors. If you like it and think you can do well, pour your heart into it and don't even consider looking for a new job - make that not an option.

Agree with everything here, except the bolded. The OP made a career change. Sometimes it takes mistakes to grow and do better the next time around. Maybe this current job is too fsr gone, best to keep an ear to the ground.

OP chalk this up as a learning experience. Head up. Give yiurself credit for even making a career shift. Not many people have the guts to do that.

[Anonymous]

How long has it been? Everthing has a learning curve. There may be some who judge for not being a superstar out the gate, but you just have to ignore them.

[Anonymous]

Having managed disappointing new hires, I'd respect them more if they scheduled a check in meeting and said "I know I didn't hit the ground running on this project and I'm currently doing ABC to get up to speed. To develop XYZ set of skills I will also do 123. My timeline for this is LMNOP. are there additional things you recommend me doing?/other priorities to work on?"

[Anonymous]

Sorry to throw a wet blanket here, but the same thing happened to me at DOJ. I had been a star in my last job which helped me lateral into DOJ, which is rare. But I didn't hit the ground running. I tried everything to rectify the situation, including talking to my supervisor. I won EVERY case I argued except for one which I lost because we had a weak case just before I retired. But even winning every case did not change the first impression.

[Anonymous]

It really depends on your supervisors. Some people would give you a free pass the first time as long as you do well later - this happened to me. But this is not always the case.

[Anonymous]

As a manager, i never want to fire anyone. It is awful for all involved. I feel terrible doing it. If i had you come to me, admit your shortcomings, take ownership, present a get well plan and execute on it, that would go a long way with me. Im a firm believer that how someone deals with adversity say all i need to know about their character.

[Anonymous]

The idea you can "hit the ground running" at a new place is largely a myth. You don't even understand the IT system or know the people. You don't know how to solve problems immediately. People are not machines.

[Anonymous]

Showing initiative goes a long way in my book. If you are new and making mistakes, yet every evening you are leaving on time, then I am going to judge you. A person who makes mistakes needs to at a minimum be willing to stay longer hours to correct them. That was my biggest issue with a new hire of mine, not the mistakes, but the failure to put in the extra effort to stay longer hours to get better. You can't help that you are new and learning, but you should be willing to make up for your shortcomings in other ways. Prove that you are an asset who is willing to do whatever it takes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to throw a wet blanket here, but the same thing happened to me at DOJ. I had been a star in my last job which helped me lateral into DOJ, which is rare. But I didn't hit the ground running. I tried everything to rectify the situation, including talking to my supervisor. I won EVERY case I argued except for one which I lost because we had a weak case just before I retired. But even winning every case did not change the first impression.

Well, they let you stay there until retirement, so it's fair to say you turned things around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to throw a wet blanket here, but the same thing happened to me at DOJ. I had been a star in my last job which helped me lateral into DOJ, which is rare. But I didn't hit the ground running. I tried everything to rectify the situation, including talking to my supervisor. I won EVERY case I argued except for one which I lost because we had a weak case just before I retired. But even winning every case did not change the first impression.

Well, they let you stay there until retirement, so it's fair to say you turned things around.

DOJ lateral, the fact you "won every case but one weak one" isn't on the face very impressive when you're working at DOJ. We don't know what kind of cases you were getting. At DOJ you have the full force and power of the United States government at your disposal. If you're bringing cases against a bunch of rinky-dink bodegas who are accused of tax fraud, then heck yeah I expect you to win. If you're trying to litigate against say a Goldman Sachs type who can match you motion for motion, then you're going to have a tougher time.

Somehow, I'm going to guess you wound up with more of the bodega-type cases, and that you flooded them with taxpayer dollars to make sure you got the "win". Thanks for your "public service" .

[Anonymous]

everybody makes mistakes, especially when they're new at something. agree with previous suggestions re: checking in with your supervisor and making renewed effort to really kill it. we can't know whether that will help but good managers make allowances for rocky starts (including at DOJ, fwiw). there are, however, bad or mediocre or just brand new managers in many, many, many places.

unless your life is being made miserable, try to turn things around where you are instead of immediately jobhunting. you'll end up with a better recommendation in the long run if you turn things around now.