| Topic Name: |
All I want is a thank you... |
| Message Name: |
Confront your boss! |
| Date Posted: |
03/29/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
I just started a new job. But with the way the economy is, I'm walking on eggshells, thinking that if I mess up, I'm out the door with nary a bat of the eye.
I'm basically an assistant to a hyper-powered entertainment executive who rarely says a kind word, barely a thank you. I can't gage the quality of my work because all I get are criticisms. There's virtually no training program here so I'm forced to learn everything the hard way, as everybody is too busy to lend a hand. Inevitably, I mess up, and I'm super hard on myself whenever this happens.
I have a steely work ethic. I'm serious. Educated. Easy to get along with. I've put in 36 hours in three days, taking only smoke breaks and no lunches. I'm the first one in the office, and the last to leave.
I just feel like without the positive reinforcement I'm going to be constantly paranoid about losing my new job. I've asked my boss if there are areas I could improve in, and he was noncommital in the conversation and vague. So I'm definitely making an effort.
I love the people I work with and am excited about the industry I'm in. I'm just trying to figure out if there's anything I can do about the situation or if I should brush all this off as simply having to pay my dues. Help!
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| Message: |
If I were in your shoes, I would simply ask my boss for a few minutes of his/her time. If you ask to speak with him/her in a way that makes it seem very important, he/she will take the time to talk to you. Then, ask if he/she is satisfied with your performance. Regardless of the outcome of the conversation, your boss will definitely look at you in a different light and will surely have more respect for you in the long run. Remember that entry-level positions in industries such as entertainment, communications, and publishing are designed to test your passion for the industry, sort of like a rite of passage where you pay your dues and pay them hard! But once you get noticed, your career shoots into high gear very quickly. So, be patient and don't let the hard times get you down.
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