Reply to What to Do - Finally Got Federal Job But I HATE It

Forum Index » Jobs and Careers

Reply to "What to Do - Finally Got Federal Job But I HATE It"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I need help!  I recently started work at my first federal job (recent, meaning have been here about 4 months).  I absolutely hate working here and feel trapped.  I was interviewed virtually so could not really get a sense of/feel for the culture of the office until I started.  [b]I knew on day one that it was a huge mistake and after doing some digging realized this agency is ranked almost dead last in those annual work surveys and I can easily see why.  
[/b]
…  Also, management is lazy and not invested, takes really long vacations, constant long weekends and has essentially delegated "training" to my co-workers, who will assist with telling me how to do a task or training when they feel like it but not necessarily when I ask or when I need it.  For example (we are hybrid a few days), I will ask for help on a task that is due the next day and instead of responding, my co-worker will schedule a meeting a week or so in advance to discuss what needs to be done to complete a task that is due today in order to avoid doing any work on a day we are working from home.  The supervisors don't address these issues because essentially, they have delegated their jobs to the staff. And the result is that my [b]professional growth here is stunted because it is dependent upon someone [I]feeling[/I] like helping me learn these new tasks[/b]. I don't get the sense that they dislike me - it just seems like this is just how they do things and the way to not have to work too hard is to slow down information sharing and training so only they know what to do so you can't do it faster.

What can I do to survive? Just FYI, I am about 15 years out of school (so not maybe mid-career or not quite there) and generally, I do compliance work.  The office is mostly paralegals but I am not one.  I am miserable and honestly, am not interested in going to a new federal agency because I fear it would be much of the same.

[/quote]

Hmmm….mostly paralegals but not you. So, you’re an attorney perhaps? Well, that is something to be aware of when interacting with staff. They may assume until proven otherwise that you are a jerk. You’ve been there 4 months, you are still in the proving time that you are not a jerk. But you are complaining on the internet that they don’t help you enough.

They are hazing you. This is not unusual when new people start. I don’t think it is nice, but it is how it is and I’ve been new enough times to know you just get through it. Be as inoffensive as possible and use those soft skills to make friends and be likable. I don’t are if you don’t WANT to do it. They don’t WANT to train you. So figure it out - talk about what they like, ask about their kids or pets. You know how to make friends, right?  Just be low key and patient; they will probably come around enough for you to learn what you need to learn.

Also, you didn’t think to research the agency before you accepted the job? That does not speak well of your work ethic and motivation. Sounds a little like you expect to be spoon fed.

Stop complaining and fix it. And maybe watch Devil Wears Prada - you’re giving off pre-Stanley Tucci talk to Andi vibes.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics