Insanity bred from government work.

[bobjohnson]

Since the last time I posted I got a full-time job with the state government. I won't get into the details of what I do but that I am getting stressed out after only a week.

The person training me has no clue as to how to teach someone, this is really making me frustrated and clueless as to what I need to do.

I like this department, and the opportunity to grow but I can't seem to cope with the training stage.

Has anyone dealt with horrible trainers at their jobs. Any way that I can cope and get through this rough patch right now?

Any help would be great!

[Don Quixote]

I could get into all the details about my tenure with the State of New York's Parks, or my father's experiences with the State of New York's Corrections department. But those would take too long, and I'm saving it all up for my scathing yellow journalism report on the state of the State.

Suffice it to say, you're not alone in experiencing the stress and feelings of futility government work brings. I cannot offer help since I have always been smacked down and told I didn't have the right to question the way things work.

[Mighty Jack]

I never worked for the Gov but I have worked for plenty of a-holes and idiots. You can't avoid them, they are everywhere and you just have to deal with them, ignore them as best you can and do your work as best you can.

Training can often be a difficult time, but if you like the position, stick with it. See how you feel once you get comfortable with the job. If it still unbearable start looking elsewhere, but work isn't often a fun place to be. So you might be going from the fire into the frying pan.

Sadly this is a fact of life... work sucks.

After 45 years of various hells, I finally found a position where I have a minimum of contact with people, and while it gets lonely in my little corner of the world and the pay aint great, my stress levels are at an all time low and the idiot factor has been minimized. For me, the trade-off was worth it.

[Chuck]

I work with attorneys. In law firms, you're thrown in with the sharks, and have to learn to swim yourself.

Good luck, Bob!

[Bix Dugan]

Just be grateful you were hired?

[mccloud]

What Bix said. I work for the state, and yes it's stressful, but I have excellent benefits - health insurance including dental and vision - paid sick time and vacation time, and retirement, on top of overtime offered every week. In my opinion and experience, there's no such thing as a stress-free job. The better the pay & benefits, the more stress you will have to tolerate. Not to be rude, but be glad you are employed.

[bobjohnson]

I am starting to improve at my new job, it still needs work but I do like my progress!

[Bix Dugan]

Don't let them get to you, bob.
Maybe a little meditation at breaktime?

[bobjohnson]

Today I learned more of the office politics, and heard that I am coming in at a good time because the morale will rise once my trainer is gone. This is good for me and I think that I can be more comfortable once I do my job more.

[Skyroniter]

I've not worked for government but I've worked jobs with poor training. Keep your eyes and ears open. Pick the brains of your peers. And like Bix suggested take a little medication at break time.

[bobjohnson]

May 28, 2010 19:36:08 GMT -5 Skyroniter said:

I've not worked for government but I've worked jobs with poor training. Keep your eyes and ears open. Pick the brains of your peers. And like Bix suggested take a little medication at break time.

The flask of Jim Bean helps

[bobjohnson]

Update on the new job:

Things are improving, the intimidation factor is starting to go away and I am finding my place there. The job still tests my frustration but at least the new frustrations are here and not the same old ones.

[Don Quixote]

Bob,

Please don't take this the wrong way. I've been holding this back for a considerable amount of time. I get up at four thirty every morning, drive an hour, and clean toilets for twelve dollars an hour. I work with people who assume I don't know how to clean, so I get detailed instructions on how to do everything. The bathrooms and most of the rooms I clean have very poor ventilation, and I sweat buckets all day long. I would kill for a state job where I sit at a desk in a climate controlled building. I have taken several civil service tests, so it's not for lack of trying. You lucked out, buddy. I know it can be stressful, but as far as a job goes, flying a desk ain't so bad.

[bobjohnson]

Jun 3, 2010 4:21:57 GMT -5 Don Quixote said:

Bob,

Please don't take this the wrong way. I've been holding this back for a considerable amount of time. I get up at four thirty every morning, drive an hour, and clean toilets for twelve dollars an hour. I work with people who assume I don't know how to clean, so I get detailed instructions on how to do everything. The bathrooms and most of the rooms I clean have very poor ventilation, and I sweat buckets all day long. I would kill for a state job where I sit at a desk in a climate controlled building. I have taken several civil service tests, so it's not for lack of trying. You lucked out, buddy. I know it can be stressful, but as far as a job goes, flying a desk ain't so bad.

None taken, Its an environmental shift for me, always on the go versus always on the phone. Its not bad just different and I deal with change slower than most.

[bobjohnson]

Well I lost the job, I wasn't meeting performance standards but I was offered a job within the company that I will start next week, a little more brain-less but at least I am not unemployed.