I started a new role approx two months ago after being out of work for roughly ten months. I admittedly sort of took the job because of no other options. The work is complicated and not exactly in my domain of expertise. I think its probably a good long term career path yet i don't really think its for me.
To complicate things, roughly two weeks ago i had an uncomfortable situation with my boss. He became frustrated that I wasn't quite up to speed on a project. I told him that i was trying but since i didnt really have a background in what we do it was taking me a while to understand things. He got angry and started raising his voice--calling me by my full name and demanding that i ask more questions. The whole situation even though it happened over two weeks ago has left a big scar with me. A day later he apologized after i told him ii felt like he was scolding me (mind you I'm 36 years old) and he said that he felt like I was being dismissive and non caring about my work (which no one would ever say about me). I don't believe that he is someone i would be able to work with over the long term. The fact that i am not enjoying the work has made me want to leave as soon as i can find another job.
My question is this: would it make sense for me to go my HR rep to discuss? I work for a large company and there are advertised jobs that i think would be more suited to my skillset. They like to promote from within but i worry that i havent been with the company long enough for them to facilitate such a request. I know that there is a rule that a new hire must be in their role for a year before applying to other roles--but i cant wait that long. I was thinking of just telling het the job isnt for me without telling her about the confrontation. Just so i don't burn any bridges. Any advice for me??
Hold out!
There are all kinds of things that you can do that will enable you to pass the time over the next 10 months, until you can apply for internal positions.
1) sit down with your boss and outline objectives; you can use your cover of "lack of experience" for the initial conversation. Be warned, that answer is nearing the end of its life cycle. Your boss may have snapped because he thought you were making excuses. Saying "I missed that, I won't make that mistake again" is much different from "I'm new and I don't understand". The latter sounds like you're not accepting personal responsibility.
2) BUILD RELATIONSHIPS - there is a podcast for that
3) Learn your job: it WILL pay dividends for you later. For example, my post-college career began as a military paratrooper. I'm well trained at breaking things and blowing them up. However, during a period in which I was recovering from a pretty bad injury, I found myself working in the supply chain arena. I HATED IT! EVERY DAY! After I left the army, I learned that there wasn't a high demand for paratrooper skills in the civilian world. I had a connection (see point 2) that brought me on board a private company in a supply chain role. I excelled and 15 years later here I am.
Your current company knew your limitations when they hired you. Step up and own this job and use it to move forward. Remember, every future boss in that organization will contact your current boss about your work performance. You want him singing your praises.
Re: hate new job
We had a guy that worked for the company I worked for for a month and a half. He is on my and the company´s black list. I think there are some decisions we need to own, give it a chance to work out, and persist until we can re-evalute them. The most difficult periods of my life have been also the ones I have grown the most, professionally and as a person. You don´t need to like it or enjoy it, for it to be the right experience for you. I have actually came to believe that one can live or work anywhere for one year. One thing is if you are in a situation where you are being abused constantly, and feeling miserable as a result of that abuse, and one should run away from those situations. But it doesn´t seem like that is your case. I am yet to see bosses that don´t loose their temper or control every now and then. It is not ideal, but they are human also, and we humans are tought as kids to say I am sorry, and also to accept other people´s apologies. Some people loose the capacity to say I am sorry (or never developed), others can never trully accept an apology, forget and forgive. If your boss has said he is sorry, forgive him and forget about it. And you can not change him, but you can change your actions to control his. I agree with Lar12 your answered sounded as an excuse. He may have said it the wrong way, but that is a very important lesson, and I believe MT actually has a podcast for that, I don´t remember which one, to bring the problem forward to your boss before it is actually a problem. Ask for help before you miss a deadline, or when you are taking too long on an issue.
So, to answer your question, I would not bring the issue to HR. Don´t run away from the problem. At least from the way you wrote the question there at too many "I think" there, and only one event you felt scolded by your boss, and it could just be he is a High D (tends to demand, not ask, and talks louder than other people), and you may be judging him by what would take you to act that way. He may not be as angry as you have judged him to be. You actually have more control over the situation than you actually think. You owned it to yourself and to the company, to stay longer at least until you have taken the "I think out" of the sentences.... Look at the situation as what is it that you are learning from this experience, look at it as a challenge. Once I read something like this: "Courage is to persist when fear tells you to give up. Wisdom is to give up, when fear tells you to persist."
If the situation were the other way around. Your boss thinks: "I don´t think that is a person I can work with the long term." Would you be ok with him firing you after a couple of months, or would you want him to give you a chance?
thanks
thanks all---some really good advice here. and you are probably both right. but there is just an aching feeling everyday when I go to work now. I can't get over it. plus as i mentioned, the work is really just not for me. I'm going to work everyday and putting in as much as I can give, but still looking elsewhere. thanks for the help!
Have you listened to the podcast?
MT has a podcast called "I Hate My Job." It is a very good podcast.
Listen to it and have a wise conversation with your boss. Let your boss know you want to succeed. Set common goals so that you and your boss know where your effort is to be spent.
If it truly is not a good fit, remember Mark's council that YOU want to be in charge of when the job changes. Be honest and be wise.
Good luck. We will keep you in our wishes.