First Day Of New Job
July 8, 2009 | Filed under Uni/Work
Yesterday was the first day of my new job. By far the most painful part of the day was the 6.30am wakeup in order to get into the city by 9am. My current/old administration job in the city only necessitated a 7.30am wakeup for a 10am arrival – and you wouldn’t believe it, but that extra hour really makes all the difference, even when you go to bed at a reasonable time the night before.
Anyway, I can see the job being challenging already. The tasks themselves aren’t challenging (though I really need to learn how to use MYOB accounting software properly, rather than just by instinct), but starting next week, I’ll virtually be flying blind with no prior experience. The person who is currently in what will become my role finishes up at the end of this week, and I’ll only have had the two days (yesterday and tomorrow) to spend with her in learning the ropes around the office.
Now if it was a simple administrative office I could do it blindfolded – I’m an organised person, I’m computer savvy, and I’m down with paperwork. However, being a not-for-profit organisation, they follow certain practices and procedures in order to legally maintain their status – with none of these practices or procedures having been written down and detailed. As the current person has been in the role since the inception of the organisation, she’s simply always done things in a certain way, and worked on the assumption of “Oh, I know how to do it, it’s fine”.
That’s just not good enough now that she’s leaving and an entirely new person is coming in. All organisations should have contingency plans in place where someone can easily step into a role left empty by another. There should be procedural manuals, etc., drawn up and made readily available. That’s what I’ve been doing at my current/old job – writing a “how to” manual for each responsibility held by the role I’m vacating. Whoever I’m replaced with won’t have any problem settling into their role, because I’ve made it easy with a clear-cut procedure manual. It’s a pity that I won’t get that in my new role.
Anyway, it will be an incredibly autonomous role which will be great in that I can really put my own stamp on the place, but less than ideal in that I’ll have no support (literally none, I’ll be the only person in the office while the board of directors come in only once a month) while trying to get settled in a new role. It’ll take me a few weeks to muddle through, but I’m sure I’ll get there in the end.
6 Responses to First Day Of New Job
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Woo and yay Amanda! This is the kind of thing you win at. You’ll have the place running better than ever in no time at all!
Jake on July 8, 2009 #
I had a similar (though easier) situation. When I started interning at the doctor’s office, the assistant was all “oh EASY stuff.” But I was just so unfamiliar with a lot of it that it took me a while and I was nervous I would do something wrong.
But it seems like something you’ll be fantastic at. Good luck!
marilyn on July 8, 2009 #
I hope that it’s an easy transition for you. I agree that one hour makes all the difference. I had to get up at 6am for my job last year and it was just dreadful.
Caity on July 8, 2009 #
Wow, only two days for her to teach you? Good luck with everything, and I hope it goes as smoothly as possible!
Regina on July 9, 2009 #
It always strikes me as a bad idea when places don’t have procedures and don’t have at least one other person trained to do a job (even if it’s half-arsed). It always ends so badly if that person quits or even is sick for a few days.
Bitching aside, good luck. Anyway, you know you’d be bored if it was too easy. ;)
Rebekah on July 9, 2009 #
yeah… i remember having to wake up at 6am to get to Prahran at 8.30…. basically had to get a train into the city and then out again!
But it’s true, I basically flew into my job without knowing anything or how the system operated! First staff meeting I went to, I looked like a complete idiot not knowing anything.
You’re a quick learner so you’ll be fine! =) Good luck hun! Let me know how it goes. We should catch up soon! xoxo
Mish on July 9, 2009 #