my first job and i'm stressed!

[Empressallie]

So I started my first "real world" job last week. I am so frustrated and stressed! There is no actual training (which they did warn me about - but i didnt think it would be this bad), my boss is swamped with work, and I thought it would be so much more interesting than it is. This whole office/professional thing is soooo overated. It's like I am afraid to go in the morning b/c i am so scared of making a big mistake or that my boss hates me. My co-workers are very nice and supportive, but we all have so much work to do that its hard for people to give too much time without cutting into something they have to do. Seriously, I have so much work...I thought I would be able to talk on QLC during the day..or at least take my entire lunch break. How do you all deal with the stress of starting a new job???

[jcm12]

Some jobs are like that, using the "jump off the deep end and sink or swim" approach. A lot of service jobs are this way to weed out the weaker workers.

Learn the important tasks first, then work on fine tuning mistakes and such.

[Empressallie]

I am trying to soak up as much as I can...but there is so much. I am scared to be weeded out...I am living on my own and I dont know what i would do! And this is a professional job, in a big company. In the company policy thing it promises training to its employees...i have yet to see that. I havent made too many mistakes (that i know of anyway), but i am constantly stressed and paranoid about making mistakes. My boss is nice but she is super busy and such a perfectionist. And very unclear in her directions.

The hardest part is the change from college i guess. All the hard work i did before doesnt seem to matter one bit now. I just want to be able to forget about it when i come home...but i find myself stressing about work even when im not there! This is crazy!

[winneythepooh7]

What do you do? Maybe there is someone on here that does the same thing that can offer you some pointers. Supervision is such a critical part of what I do, I think it is awful that it isn't the same in many other fields. Especially in the beginning stages of a new position.

[Empressallie]

I am an editorial assistant for a publishing company - which is the job i wanted!!! Only now i see that its not what i though it would be. Another co-worker at my level is responsible for helping me - and shes very nice - but i know she has her own work to do and helping me slows that down. My boss doesnt seem very sympathetic, which seems to be due to her being totally swamped with projects. It's mostly learning the computer systems and how they like things done, but since nothing has been really explained from step 1 i have a very base level understanding of the things I do know how to do. They said it would take 2-3 months to be comfortable there, but thats soo long! I am used to getting stuff quickly, but this is just so much. I feel bad taking my lunch break and leaving at the time i am suppsed to. I feel like i should be staying late - but i am sooo not getting paid for that. I am so tired by the end of the day that i wouldnt be able to reatins much anyway. Ughh...i am so afraid my boss hates me (even though she prob doesnt - she just intimidates the hell out of me. And she doesnt know how to do my job, so she wouldnt even be the person to ask). I am just so nervous all the time and i know this isnt good for my health.

[dreams82]

I wish I had a job to be stressed over. I am stressed by not having a full time job. What are the actual tasks you do there?

[TennisPlayer]

I can relate to you, and I think almost everyone feels that way you're describing when they start a new job....just like anything else, once you get the hang of it (it'd help if someone showed you things but sometimes companies just want you to figure things out on your own) everything will be smoother. Ask questions.

Do something FUN every night that you can look forward to to separate work from home!

:huge:

[Empressallie]

Good idea, about having fun after work. So far i have hung out w friends, my SO, and had fun nights. At least thats something to look forward to. What I do is basically assemble panels of univ. professors to review books, go over reviews, deal with the prof's, pay them, a million amd. tasks, it doesnt sound so hard - but the comp. systems are new to me and my computer hasnt been on the network all week. I have called and eamailed the tech people 3 times a day and nothing. This prevents me from getting organized and totally prevents me from doing some tasks. I should just give myself some time i know - and the other girls in my position totally understand how i am feeling, they are great. I am just afraid of getting canned or having my boss be disppointed in me