Hi! Need some advice

[izabella30]

Hello, this is my first time posting here...
well here is my situation,  I got laid off a year ago and recently landed a job here close to my house (1 mile) whereas last year I was commuting 160 miles a day (I know I know thats a long drive) Anyways I have been here now 3 weeks and I get paid half of what I used to get paid... I like some folks around here but I feel very lonely and bored... Nobody really talks to me and the boss doesn't really pay much attention to me as well.. Has anyone been through what I am going through and if so what did you do??  Oh and it took me a long time to find a job here in this town so I know if I quit then I lose the paycheck and probably will have search for another three or more months to get another job....

[countrigal]

First, I'd like to welcome you to DD.  I'm sure you'll get lots of input and advice over the next couple of days. Now on to your query...

I suggest you don't stress too much over the initial atmostphere in the office.  Most offices take longer than 3 weeks to "feel you out" and start socializing.  Also, a lot of offices don't do a lot of socializing, so you might not get that in this office.  If you're already feeling bored, have you talked to bossie or searched out additional things you could do.  Bossie might not know that you are ready for more challenges and is taking it easy on you until you get your feet under you in the new office.

If you need the socializing in the office, you might try to befriend one or two of your office-mates or co-workers and see if you can do lunch together once/twice a week (or more often, depending on the workloads) or if you could take breaks together, giving you all a chance to chat 'off the clock' so to speak, maybe even go walking on your breaks.  I did this at my last office.  A total of 4 of us, from different offices, arranged our lunches so that we took them together and that gave us a socializing time.  If one or more of us couldn't get away for lunch, we volunteered to bring them something back from the staff cafeteria.  If it was especially slow (before a long weekend, or a Friday while bosses were out) then we'd try to go out for lunch, and stretch our 30 minute lunch into 45 minutes.  Of course, our bosses and acting bosses knew this and approved it before-hand, but it gave us something "special" to do occassionally.  But even in that company, it took me almost 6 months before I found that comraderie.  I had folks I could chat with for a moment now and then, but not really anyone to socialize with until then.

As for the pay, 1/2 as much might not be bad if you figure in how much you paid in gas round trip each day to your previous job, and the 'wasted' time or vacant time you spent driving round trip each day.  Now that time is yours, for free time or family time or however you want to use it.  If you put a price on that, and add that to the gas money your saving and to your current salary, you'll have a more accurate comparison between the two jobs (money-wise).

Hope that offers a little help.  I'm sure others will have differing views and ideas for you too. Once again, Welcome!

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[Katie G]

Welcome, Izabella (what a lovely name.....)

Well, you haven't been there very long in the grand scheme of things, so I think there's hope.

Much as I hate it, sometimes you just have to kind of "put yourself out there" to get people's attention.  Now, I don't mean standing on your desk and singing :-), but try this:  when you walk into the office in the morning, smile, make eye contact, and say "Good Morning" to EVERYBODY you run into.  

It's a simple phrase, can't be misinterpreted much so there's little risk of foot-in-mouth disease, and you come across as approachable, friendly, pleasant, well-balanced.....you get the idea.  

Also, sometimes putting a voice with a name is as important as a face.  

I've found this to be useful in even the most clique-ish environments.  Face it, it's really hard to ignore someone's "good morning" in an office setting without looking like a completely rude jackass.  

Good luck and welcome!

[mathwhizchick]

I echo what countrigal and didface said.  Also, what works for me is to have a container/tin of mints on my desk/counter front to share.  I use Starlite peppermints.  Everyone needs a mint after lunch or as a pick me up, they are VERY inexpensive, and it provides a reason for folks to come by my desk and say hello and chat.

[mnaeempk]

Izabella, welcome on board.

I would just reiterate what others are saying. 3 weeks are too little a time to prove your worth both in terms of capacities (work skills) and personality (human skills).

mnaeempk
Naeem in Pakistan

[JessW]

I agree wholeheartedly - the guys in my original team where I still work did not even bother to learn my name until after I exceeded their estimation of 3 weeks survival at the job.  I have, needless-to-say, been here (although doing lots of different jobs in varying combinations) for getting on for 6 years now.

I also found that offering to help out the other secretaries was a good 'way in' as wel as taking up any and all social opportunities, which extended to making the coffee, having hangover cures in my desk and similar.  I was also able to provide a fast efficient turnover on all work (no more than 10 minutes wait from time of delivery for most work types) which has yet to be beaten by my successors.

[chris68]

The above post is also a good way to make yourself a valuable employee and one that cannot be parted with because you know so many other departments.  It certainly helped me out big time last year when we were doing our reorganization.  It definetly makes the workday go faster when you are busier as well.  Helping out other areas, as long as it is okay with your current bossie, is a good way to get to know how things work within the company and learning new things is always a plus.

Good luck and hang in there a bit longer.

Chris68
Peer Moderator

[izabella30]

Thank you guys  That is such great advice from everyone.. I kinda feel better that SOMEONE is actually responding to me  In one of the posts I think it was Countrygal she mentioned that now I have more time to spend with my family and not commuting back and forth all day... Well THAT right there made me realize that maybe it won't be so bad after all because if I have a real bad day I can just run home:)  
Once again thank you and I will keep you guys updated and I will put your suggestions to use

[donnap99]

You've received the best advice from some of the best admins around already...  I just wanted to say WELCOME!

DonnaP99

[izabella30]

Hello

Well I have been here at this job for about "almost" 2 months and to tell you the truth it is still kinda the same as I had described a few weeks ago... I am really unhappy here,,, I try my best to as positive as possible but is so hard being in such a negitive place... I feel like the bossie thinks I am stupid.........I feel that I may not pass the 90 probation.. This boss that I work for IS VERY VERY picky..  I mean REALLY.... Like today for example, I faxed a 42 doc for him and the stupid fax machine kept jamming (after 3x finally sent it)... So he came by and hands me the doc and says What is the problem here,,, Like I am dumb (THis fax machine is OLD and it has a "special" way of feeding  the docs) Also, there is a position available here that consists of entering data into Excel spreadsheets,  a manager brought it up to him that I may be able to run the spreadsheets and he said no that I am here strictly for faxing, and letter writing.. To tell you the truth I have a lot of down time and I hate to be bored... And as we all know the economy is not so great so I can't just quit...
Thank you for letting me vent.. but I hope this situation gets better

[elkiedee]

Is the spreadsheet position working for the same person?

As for the jamming fax machine, I know the problem well, I spend a lot of my working day unjamming stuff. Assuming replacement of the machine isn't an option, it may help with a plain paper fax to keep all your paper cool and dry, in the cupboard until it's time to use it - the paper used in copiers, printers and faxes doesn't like sunny or wet weather much at all.

We also have a sticky feeder - fan the document before you put it in. I sometimes have to stand at ours holding the pages and only letting go of one at a time. A pain and even more so with 42 pages, but it does get it sent. an