No Social Thermometer

[shinyleaf]

I've been in my brand new job for almost 2 months. I cannot tell if anyone at work thinks I'm
a) brilliant
b) half-retarded
c) friendly
d) stuck-up
e) helpful
or
f) incompetent.

Now, I am not typically a person who cares what others think all that much. I mean, I don't base my self-worth on whether others think I'm A-1 or not.
And I usually have a very accurate social thermometer - I'm adept at judging the dynamics of the people who surround me... I was a social psych major for crying out loud.

But my workmates have me stumped. They are enigmas. I can't even tell if they like each other! I'm afraid I'm going to get all paranoid and anxious by convincing myself that my bosses roll their eyes when I leave their offices, or complain amongst themselves how incompetent I am and that they should never have hired me. Then again, they could be totally satisfied. ??

Is this normal for a first job out of Uni?

[J-girl]

Hey shiny,

I know its normal for me. Although I usually dont care what people think about me but at work I really wonder what they think about me. It IS wierd.

Did you trying going for coffee with them or something?

[shinyleaf]

Oh, the thing is my coworkers & I chat all the time and take coffee breaks together, etc. I'm pretty sure they think I'm alright.

The bosses I"m not so sure of... it's a wierd dynamic that I just don't "get". I think I have maybe been spoiled rotten in the past by praise & popularity. :confused:

And I'm not a suck-up by nature - which I'm gathering comes in handy in workplaces sometimes. oops. Good thing I'm not in advertising, I'd be thoroughly rotten at it.

[J-girl]

Yeah with my boss- I *still* cant figure it out although I like to keep it that way and wouldnt want the boss to my friend or a buddy. I just feel awkward around here- should I make small talk?

If we walk to a meeting together- even thats wierd.

IT always creates uncertainity. I am never sure what to expect from her.

[winneythepooh7]

I am alone most of the time for my current job, so I always wonder too what my bosses think. I mean, they have told me several times I am doing a good job, but it is still wierd.