So my boss is moving on...

BookstoreEscapee · #1 09-12-2009, 01:03 AM

Was informed yesterday that my boss has taken a new position in another department. Yay for him. (He'll be down the other end of the building.)

I don't know what exactly that means for us, though. I don't think anything will happen to my job but we don't yet know who, if anyone, will be replacing him. So I'm a little nervous.

The thing with my job is that I usually feel like I'm just waiting for my boss to tell me what to do. My boss says I'm doing good work, but a lot of the time I don't feel like I'm fully understanding what the purpose of the things I'm doing is. I'm an "analyst" but I have no analytical background (well, except for literature, which isn't quite the same as financial analysis). I have no financial background; I'm not a numbers person. I sort of fell into this job, and while I don't hate it I guess I am kinda bored, and frustrated when I feel like I can't quite grasp what I'm doing (which frankly, I think the medication I recently got off of has something to do with that). And now that we'll be getting a new boss (whether they put someone new in his spot or we just report directly to his boss in the future) I guess I'm afraid that whoever that person turns out to be they'll figure out that I'm clueless...

Anyway, I guess I'm rambling. I don't do well with change.

NightWatch · #2 09-12-2009, 01:45 AM

How long have you been at your current job? Are you good at what you do, even if you don't fully understand it? Have you ever made a serious error in your work?

You don't actually have to answer me on any of that. But if you've been there more then a year and do a decent job now, then I'm sure you'll be fine. And maybe if there is a new boss they will be able to finally help you connect the dots on what it is you're doing.

You're a confident and capable adult, don't underestimate yourself. Now repeat that phrase til it sticks in your troubled head. Mmkay?

BookstoreEscapee · #3 09-12-2009, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Quoth NightWatch

You're a confident and capable adult, don't underestimate yourself. Now repeat that phrase til it sticks in your troubled head. Mmkay?

I'm working on that. Actually, my boss and I were talking about that yesterday when he told me the news. I was having a bad day (having a bit of a hard time lately) and I was kind of upset about some other things ("troubled head" is more accurate than you know

). He said I do good work but I need to be more confident. Which has always been a problem. But I've never been in a job for this long and still felt like I don't really know what I'm doing. (I've been there almost 2 years.) I was thinking today that maybe I can get some more clarity of my job and potential career path from whoever becomes the new boss.

I was also thinking maybe I should update my resume and see what's out there these days. Though I wouldn't want to leave the department in a lurch (seeing as how there's only 4 of us, including the boss, and the other girl and I can't really do each other's jobs - we each know enough to pitch in when the other is out, but I don't know half of what she does on a regular basis. That would really leave my coworker T - who is the one who knows everything - in a tough spot). I don't really forsee changing jobs in the very near future, but it's always good to have the resume up-to-date.

NightWatch · #4 09-12-2009, 02:25 AM

See! You're a super-smart chica. You'll be fine. *big hug for the difficult crap you're dealing with* You'll make it through as long as you can keep your head up.

BookstoreEscapee · #5 09-12-2009, 02:29 AM

Thanks...though I might be putting up another thread for one of the other things I'm dealing with, since I'm not sure what to do there....(already had one thread on it but I had it taken down for the time being, so I'm not sure if I want to start another one...waiting for someone to answer an email but if she doesn't soon I might do the thread, anyway).

mharbourgirl · #6 09-12-2009, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Quoth BookstoreEscapee

That would really leave my coworker T - who is the one who knows everything - in a tough spot).

Well, there's one possibility. Pick T's brains. Let them know that you're uncertain about a few things and see what they say. That's what I've done in similar situations. I know what it's like to feel like you're treading water, or walking a tightrope, because you know HOW to do your job but the reasons for things aren't clear. You probably know more than you realize, but asking other knowledgeable co-workers for advice never hurts. They might even feel happy about being asked, it's always nice when people think you know things and ask you for help.

Just a thought.