How do deal with anxiety when starting new job??
August 22, 2015 12:19 AM Subscribe
Dear Metafilter members,
I would like to ask you if you can share some experiences on how to fit into a new work environment after you have been fired unfairly at your old job and deal with day to day stress of learning a new job and dealing with anxiety of not fitting in, so I don't get fired again for work performance?
The old job was honestly not the best fit (a different field of work I had no experience with, huge workload and mobbing problems) and I am glad I got out because I experienced a severe burn-out and depression-like symptoms. I was able to get a new job while on a sick leave but had to move to a different Austrian city and was out of work for a month. Fortunately the job is in my field of work (laboratory) in a position I already worked in. I have been at this place for a week and I noticed that although I understand the whole work process a lot, their expectations and standards are high and I seem to make a lot of careless mistakes because I don't always understand the instructions in German and because I never learned how to do things properly at my old job. I am afraid of alienating my team members who have been very helpful and patient with me so far and being delegated to doing menial repetitive tasks and not having the trust from my coworkers. I am honestly feeling frustrated because my whole life changed and I had to start over again. I have a lot of work experience and good education but I am doing work that I believe is below my capabilities and the language barrier does not help. I also noticed that other workers might not be open to meeting me as I experienced at my old jobs and in the States, so I stopped approaching them so much and making small talk. Is it true that Germans are a little bit more distant to you at first and then they later open up?
The old job was honestly not the best fit (a different field of work I had no experience with, huge workload and mobbing problems) and I am glad I got out because I experienced a severe burn-out and depression-like symptoms. I was able to get a new job while on a sick leave but had to move to a different Austrian city and was out of work for a month. Fortunately the job is in my field of work (laboratory) in a position I already worked in. I have been at this place for a week and I noticed that although I understand the whole work process a lot, their expectations and standards are high and I seem to make a lot of careless mistakes because I don't always understand the instructions in German and because I never learned how to do things properly at my old job. I am afraid of alienating my team members who have been very helpful and patient with me so far and being delegated to doing menial repetitive tasks and not having the trust from my coworkers. I am honestly feeling frustrated because my whole life changed and I had to start over again. I have a lot of work experience and good education but I am doing work that I believe is below my capabilities and the language barrier does not help. I also noticed that other workers might not be open to meeting me as I experienced at my old jobs and in the States, so I stopped approaching them so much and making small talk. Is it true that Germans are a little bit more distant to you at first and then they later open up?
A new job is a chance to re-boot. A few years ago I was in a job where I had acquired some bad habits. I was aware of this but found it really hard to change because those habits were supported by the environment I was in.
When I started a new job I was determined to do things differently, and found it was much easier to start fresh with resolutions such as "In this job I will never put away the widgets without making sure they are free of foo" than it had been to change my habits in the old environment.
It sounds like this job is a chance to up your game. Slow down and be methodical, double-check your work, take time to read through any procedures or policies, ask questions. Good luck!
posted by bunderful at 7:44 AM on August 22, 2015
When I started a new job I was determined to do things differently, and found it was much easier to start fresh with resolutions such as "In this job I will never put away the widgets without making sure they are free of foo" than it had been to change my habits in the old environment.
It sounds like this job is a chance to up your game. Slow down and be methodical, double-check your work, take time to read through any procedures or policies, ask questions. Good luck!
posted by bunderful at 7:44 AM on August 22, 2015
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You also mentioned that you think that you didn't learn proper processes at your old job. So, think of your new position as learning the ropes and proper processes from scratch, so that you don't keep making careless mistakes. Over time you should be able to prove that you're capable of more difficult tasks. And hopefully by then the language is not such a barrier anymore.
Is it true that Germans are a little bit more distant to you at first and then they later open up?
Well, first: be careful about calling your coworkers Germans if they are actually Austrians.
But, yes, if Austrians are similarly socially reserved like Germans are, then it will take some time until you are taken into the fold. It took a good 6 weeks for me to feel comfortable staying for an after-work drink with my coworkers. But after 10 weeks I even got invited to a party. And this is a much more relaxed workplace than a lab, so you would think that would happen sooner.
In the meantime, greet your coworkers with "Guten Morgen" or "Guten Tag". If you go into the break room and someone is eating, feel free to wish them a "Guten Appetit". Say "Tschüss!" at the end of the day. I've never been to Austria, but if it's like Germany then people might be a bit more reserved, but they are very polite to each other. Constantly saying hello and good bye, and enjoy your meal, and thank you and you're welcome and and and. Even saying goodbye to someone they shared an elevator with but didn't talk to!
Be polite and courteous and smile at people. The small talk may just come later.
One tip for learning the language: Buy yourself a little notebook and write down important and interesting words that you hear throughout the day. Look them up again when you get home to remind yourself what they mean.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 2:35 AM on August 22, 2015 [2 favorites]