Struggling to settle into a new role

Polarbeary

richdeniro wrote: »

Can I say temporary contract? Wouldn't they ask my current employer for a reference and then find out then?

I've done this a couple of times when I've left jobs within a few months. All the new employer ever gets is a standard reference from HR confirming dates of work, job title etc If you haven't passed your probationary period then you are still temporary anyway.

If you were to provide your line manager's contact details it wouldn't work but most big companies these days solely provide HR standard references. An awful lot of jobs are fixed term contracts and ALL jobs are temporary really!

TBagpuss

Is there an HR department? Could you speak to them about the desk move?
As it is a large company, are there any internal social activities/groups you could join?
I second the suggestion of bringing in some kind of treats and just introcucing yourself.

lisa110rry

Sounds like richdeniro has made his or her decision but I'd just like to add my experience.

After five years working with a team/company that was friendly and inclusive, I was posted as a consultant to a company which was intensely clique-y in a noisy open-plan office where I could not concentrate (figure work, formulae and coding). I hated it because everyone seemed to resent me, so much so that everyone (but me) was invited to a rugby match and on other occasions someone would stand up, look over my head and ask if anyone wanted a bacon butty!

I got myself some good, noise-cancelling headphones and proceeded to do my work to the sounds of Buddhist chanting or madrigals. Worked for me, but so glad when that project finished!

richdeniro

I didn't get the other job I applied for.

Had my three month probation meeting (conference call with boss in the US) today and it's been extended by a further three months.

Am in a major state of anxiety this evening, during the call she kept asking 'what else have you done' and part of my remit is to have regular calls with some of the sales teams based in other countries to ask about the status of the balances for some of the accounts and I said that I had called the team in France earlier this week but I haven't done it yet - I knew I'd made a mistake as soon as I said it as I meant the Frankfurt team - but I bumbled my way through and am now panicking that my boss will check up on me and ask the team in France if I did have a call with them. As soon as the meeting was over I quickly emailed the France team and asked if we could have a quick call but they haven't gotten back to me yet.

getmore4less

Is part of the problem you are not doing/understanding your job?

if you are supposed to be resolving time zone problems there should be regular contact and no reason for these sort of questions.

What have you done to investigate what the issue were before you were taken on?

This sounds like a proactive position where they expect someone o take the initiaive

Hedgehog99

Whoever invented open-plan offices has inflicted their curse on generations of workforces.

Being able to listen to your own music is a great sanity-preserver. My iPod has lots of playlists, natural sounds and podcasts. So much noise where I work, and unfriendly colleagues, so I'd rather keep myself to myself.

If you're on Oxford St, on a nice sunny day, go and sit in Soho Square for lunch - a little oasis.

As for your other time-zone contacts, it's hard being the newbie and having to establish relationships with them. Are they meant to get back to you within a certain time? Are they being laid-back about it because you're new? Do they have loyalties to your predecessor? Your boss should have given you clear guidance on deadlines/frequencies/reply times etc.

Good luck getting something else if you feel you need to, or hope things improve quickly if you decide to stick it out for the next three months.

RedfordML

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

One of my new starters who was a lot older than other staff in her area bought a giant box of biscuits in. The girls were soon hovering snaffling them up, and they all got to talk to each other and she seems to be fitting in ok now. My side of the office we have a dart board, TV and console, beers, also helps staff chat, exchange ideas, take a break etc.

Where do you work? Do you have any vacancies....

RedfordML

richdeniro wrote: »

Can I say temporary contract? Wouldn't they ask my current employer for a reference and then find out then?

How did you inform you current employers of the job interview you were having?


I find that is a going to be a big issue for me, when I get an interview, informing my current employers I am off for an interview and what impact this is going to have?