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Awkward first day at work

Catwell
An associate of mine just started working for a company as of this week. He told me he can't stand it there. For one, no one looks him in the eye when they speak to him. And second, his new boss treats and talks to him as if he was just a tool. My friend thinks it is extremely poor firm to be spoken to in such a way. He said, "they pay me for my expertise, not my dignity."
 
This reminded me of every company I ever worked at. When you get in, you immediately deal with the same archetypes; the jealous guy who is afraid you'll steal his job, the boss who treats you poorly because he is paying you, the socially inept underlings that are reluctant to talk to you, And the person who thinks they are better than you and constantly wants to test your bonafides.
 
Perhaps it's a tribal mentality. Until you achieve some weird right of passage, you are not treated as an equal in your latest position. But on that first day, you are sized up. And it gets awkward.
 
The worst case of first day weirdness for me, came about two years ago. After getting introduced to everyone in the office, one person came up to me when no one was around. He said, "I know you have a lot of experience, your new, but I'm the electrical engineer around here. It has to go through me first. You better talk to me first before you do anything." I just said, "good to know," what else could you do in this situation? Afterwards, I avoided him at all costs. Self proclaimed gurus and office bullies make every day unbearable. The best strategy, by the way, is to ignore them.
 
What first day nightmares do you have?
 
Cabe
  • 0

    Hi Cabe. I started a new job and immediately realised I hadn't researched the place enough. The tools were broken or missing - I ended up having my own (locked) tool box in my room. I should have realised what I was up against when I found the $5 multimeter with a flat battery. When I asked the boss where I could get a 9V battery from (assuming foolishly that there would be one or two around for such an eventuality) I got a 10 minute rant about how the last guy never turned the meter off. The boss also wouldn't say what hours of work he wanted - he would only say the factory was open 7AM - 6PM.

     

    The other workers were too scared to talk to me for the first few days - they were terrified of the boss. At least I didn't get Cabe's treatment! When I first used the men's room there was a sign above the paper saying "One at a time please!" - another warning sign that should have had me out the door there and then. When I mentioned it to the others a few days later they groaned and rolled their eyes. I commented that I wasn't sure if it was a warning about paper usage or occupancy of the toilet - that broke the ice, anyway! Later on the first day I noticed that the draftsman was asleep at his desk from 5 till he went home at 6. Turned out the boss didn't care as long as he owned your ass for as long as possible.

     

    I lasted three months before extricating myself in a fashion which I found acceptable to me personally. Recently I've found a number of people on LinkedIn who have worked there and the average stay is still only 3-6 months. And he wondered why the corporate memory was non-existant!

  • 0 in reply to Former Member

    Overbearing and ill mannered bosses often set the tone for entire companies. I've left a few places for that very reason. After staying at a place with a terrible corporate environment for a year, I vowed to never do that again. Now, I am very selective in my job placement.

     

    For example, one interview I had the manager who was going to talk with me was late. He came in not prepared to talk with me, and spent a few minutes reading my resume. He spoke to me in a condescending tone the whole time. After I explained my experience designing motor controller based on MOSFETs, he asked me if I have had any experience with FETs, as in MOSFETs. I pointed out my experience in motor drivers once more, and he still asked that question again. At that point I had enough. I told him that is was a disservice to the both of us for him not being prepared for the interview, and not understanding what he was even asking me. I simply got up, and left.

    I could tell that place had a horrible atmosphere, not worth the mental energy to handle. Our lives shouldn't be spent at a place we can not stand.

     

     

    Cabe

  • 0 in reply to Catwell

    Exactly, Cabe. I also found out during my tenure there that hi ssupposed order book wasn't as full to brimming as he'd suggested. In fact he hadn't had an order in 15 months! When at the next interview I was asked why I left hat place after only three months, I merely said that the owner's view of reality didn't match that of his business. We all had a laugh and these guys were much better to deal with!

     

    But yes, it's very important to take something positive from each of these experiences, even if it is just a resolve to go in with eyes wide open and a more critical appraisal od the workplace. It's a place you're going to spend way too much of your life to be there hating it.

     

    Cheers.

  • 0

    My boss said "we usually wear ties here, and if you'd like to get a haircut there's a barber in the basement."

    (Summer job during college.  Intern program.  Programming in Fortran.  For an Oil Company.  In Oklahoma.)

     

    Although, after the initial culture shock, things worked out fine.  I got nice letters of recommendation and went back the next two summers as well, and I learned a lot.

    I woudn't judge anything based on less than a week.

  • 0 in reply to WestfW

    I think i have been pretty lucky with workplaces, at least since graduating. I think the worst experience was a job interview just after I had been made redundant. I lived in Ayrshire, Scotland and spent over £100 getting to the interview in Sevenoaks in Kent...about as far as you can go from Ayrshire in the UK without getting wet. First question at the interview was "so you live in Woolwich?", my reply "I did, but had to move back to Scotland, I will be willing to move"..."Sorry, we are looking for someone more local!" and walked out the room.

     

    First rule of finding a job...never, ever trust an agency, they'd given them my old address.About 18 hours travelling and two weeks benefit it cost me.