Fresh grad Work dilemma.
-
As you all may know, I graduated this year and am starting out my so called fresh graduate term in this company. Well, and my line of industry is in the market research industry.
I feel really sad at work. I feel like I am merely a glorified clerk with a university degree. The work that I am given is menial, repetitive and dull. And the agonizing thing is when I have really this ANAL-ytical senior who is ANAL with nitty gritty items. SHE is ANAL that I conform to her ridiculous work format, like for e.g. questionnaire formatting. The font must be this size, the page margins must be this specification, the spacing and column width in the spreadsheet must be this and this specification. In my opinion, these ANAL-listic requirements are redundant as long as the questions are clear, formatted with correct page view and respondents can see the questions reasonably well.
There are other incidents of intrusions made by HER. For e.g. SHE has to interfere with the way I checked certain analysis in the spreadsheet. For Jesus sake, each person has his/her own style of checking as long as the findings are correct. But no, she will literally take over the mouse and show me step by step, on how to calculate the findings and present it in a manner which is easy for her to check. Please do not treat me like a 3years old kid. Common, I have to spend twice the amount of time in the calculations because I have to do extra manipulations to the spreadsheet to show her my working. This is really uncalled for; if she wishes to impose these standards on me, she might as well do the work herself. And if it is not insulting enough, she would check and recheck every piece of work done by me. That is insulting to me because it seems like she can never trust me to do a good piece of work. This is very agonizing.
In such duress conditions, I have been taught to be ultra-cautious; and that taking risks is a taboo. I cannot do this my way, even if it meant a way which is more efficient because of her ANAL-listic nature. And yet, in my work performance feedback, she can criticize that, I have no mind of my own, and that I am always just a “YES” man. Common woman! YOU clamped my mouth shut!
In retrospect, I know where I stand as a fresh graduate. I understand the need to start from the bottom, to do the so called shit work and slowly earn my credibility and all. But why must it be done according to HER ANAL-listic way, according to HER stupid style? If I can achieve an end result which is the same, why canÂ’t I do it my way? I feel I am becoming more and more stupid with each passing day. I feel like a wild lion, being captured and thrown into the cages in the Zoo. You know how lions over prolonged captivity lose their fighting spirit and shine in their eyes? I am feeling this right now.
Should I move on and change to another company? I like this market research industry. But it seems that my company is the only MNC agency willing to hire me. I have applied to other MNC agencies but they turned me down. Anyway, to the fresh grads out there, any such similar experience to share? -
dun think too highly of yourself.
the foundation must be there..
if u do things wrongly from the beginning and no one corrects you, you will continue to do it wrongly. -
just QUITOriginally posted by tigersushi:As you all may know, I graduated this year and am starting out my so called fresh graduate term in this company. Well, and my line of industry is in the market research industry.
I feel really sad at work. I feel like I am merely a glorified clerk with a university degree. The work that I am given is menial, repetitive and dull. And the agonizing thing is when I have really this ANAL-ytical senior who is ANAL with nitty gritty items. SHE is ANAL that I conform to her ridiculous work format, like for e.g. questionnaire formatting. The font must be this size, the page margins must be this specification, the spacing and column width in the spreadsheet must be this and this specification. In my opinion, these ANAL-listic requirements are redundant as long as the questions are clear, formatted with correct page view and respondents can see the questions reasonably well.
There are other incidents of intrusions made by HER. For e.g. SHE has to interfere with the way I checked certain analysis in the spreadsheet. For Jesus sake, each person has his/her own style of checking as long as the findings are correct. But no, she will literally take over the mouse and show me step by step, on how to calculate the findings and present it in a manner which is easy for her to check. Please do not treat me like a 3years old kid. Common, I have to spend twice the amount of time in the calculations because I have to do extra manipulations to the spreadsheet to show her my working. This is really uncalled for; if she wishes to impose these standards on me, she might as well do the work herself. And if it is not insulting enough, she would check and recheck every piece of work done by me. That is insulting to me because it seems like she can never trust me to do a good piece of work. This is very agonizing.
In such duress conditions, I have been taught to be ultra-cautious; and that taking risks is a taboo. I cannot do this my way, even if it meant a way which is more efficient because of her ANAL-listic nature. And yet, in my work performance feedback, she can criticize that, I have no mind of my own, and that I am always just a “YES” man. Common woman! YOU clamped my mouth shut!
In retrospect, I know where I stand as a fresh graduate. I understand the need to start from the bottom, to do the so called shit work and slowly earn my credibility and all. But why must it be done according to HER ANAL-listic way, according to HER stupid style? If I can achieve an end result which is the same, why canÂ’t I do it my way? I feel I am becoming more and more stupid with each passing day. I feel like a wild lion, being captured and thrown into the cages in the Zoo. You know how lions over prolonged captivity lose their fighting spirit and shine in their eyes? I am feeling this right now.
Should I move on and change to another company? I like this market research industry. But it seems that my company is the only MNC agency willing to hire me. I have applied to other MNC agencies but they turned me down. Anyway, to the fresh grads out there, any such similar experience to share?
there are plenty of jobs out there -
Yes, understand how you feel, there is a fresh grad working under me too, and I'm making him feel the same way too.
ok just kidding. -
ha actually like i said, i understand fresh grad starts with saikang. I have no issue with doing saikang; but to be subjected to such mental duress, such ANAL-listic brain-washing is indeed too much to swallow.Originally posted by ditzy:Yes, understand how you feel, there is a fresh grad working under me too, and I'm making him feel the same way too. ok just kidding. -
thanks for your feedback. Maybe You are right, I think too highly of myself. But the point i want to stress is, i do not mind and understand the need to do menial work in the beginning. But to be subjected to such ANAL-listic mental duress, its.. too hard to swallow bah.Originally posted by browniebaobao:dun think too highly of yourself.
the foundation must be there..
if u do things wrongly from the beginning and no one corrects you, you will continue to do it wrongly.
But yeah, i will always keep my ego in check. ;-) thanks! -
don't mind me asking, what is the appeal of market research? and what was your major in university?
cheers, and take things in your stride.. sometimes through sh!t you learn to see things differently, improves your mental resolve in the long run.
but since your're a fresh grad, i guess you could always bail out if you don't like it... plenty of job opp at your age, i suppose. -
Dude! QUIT THAT JOB. But first, I would suggest you to argue in your own way if you want to, with that anal-istic woman. I am fresh grad as well and I am working in a french mnc. My job is great and I love it =DOriginally posted by tigersushi:thanks for your feedback. Maybe You are right, I think too highly of myself. But the point i want to stress is, i do not mind and understand the need to do menial work in the beginning. But to be subjected to such ANAL-listic mental duress, its.. too hard to swallow bah.
But yeah, i will always keep my ego in check. ;-) thanks!
I am very sure you can find plenty jobs out there. But if its that particular industry then I have no idea. But you don't deserve to be spoon fed. There is a high chance that you might be over-qualified for that job and even higher qualified then her?! -
C'mon man, if you can handle ns, what is work?Originally posted by tigersushi:ha actually like i said, i understand fresh grad starts with saikang. I have no issue with doing saikang; but to be subjected to such mental duress, such ANAL-listic brain-washing is indeed too much to swallow. -
Hmm, i majored in marketing. Back in uni, i loved the beauty of market research, where you get to do the fun part, the focus group interviews,the consumer observation study, or mystery shopping study where i experimented with interesting medium like video clips, proto type of equipment and all, and then there is the data analysis part, when i get to input all the data into this satisitical software, where i can challenge my limits and utilize every statistical tooL to tell me a meaningful story of what consumers want.Originally posted by sir sickolot II:don't mind me asking, what is the appeal of market research? and what was your major in university?
cheers, and take things in your stride.. sometimes through sh!t you learn to see things differently, improves your mental resolve in the long run.
but since your're a fresh grad, i guess you could always bail out if you don't like it... plenty of job opp at your age, i suppose.
The analysis part was really thrilling especially when im though to understand what each statistic tooL measures in the Layman, marketer's point of view, and not from a Satistician point of view. That beings the whole element to life!. This is one industry which combines the fun part, (the qualitavtive , exploratory part) with the exciting data analysis part. At least, this is my utopia concept of MArket research in my uni days. FYI, doing Market research module in my uni days were the best time of my life spent in uni. So yeah, reality and utopia do not match right? -
Hmm yeah, well, at least in NS, i know i was just doing time,that no matter how bad the shit is, i will be over in 2.5 years. if endure enough.Originally posted by ditzy:C'mon man, if you can handle ns, what is work?
For job wise, it cannot be doing time, it does not have a definite end time. Sure, i can change Job, but is it advisable for fresh grads to JOB hOp?
What do you think? -
How you said you been in this job again?
-
sorry. Can you elaborate your question further? ;-)Originally posted by ditzy:How you said you been in this job again? -
you think yours is worst try mine.Originally posted by tigersushi:As you all may know, I graduated this year and am starting out my so called fresh graduate term in this company. Well, and my line of industry is in the market research industry.
I feel really sad at work. I feel like I am merely a glorified clerk with a university degree. The work that I am given is menial, repetitive and dull. And the agonizing thing is when I have really this ANAL-ytical senior who is ANAL with nitty gritty items. SHE is ANAL that I conform to her ridiculous work format, like for e.g. questionnaire formatting. The font must be this size, the page margins must be this specification, the spacing and column width in the spreadsheet must be this and this specification. In my opinion, these ANAL-listic requirements are redundant as long as the questions are clear, formatted with correct page view and respondents can see the questions reasonably well.
There are other incidents of intrusions made by HER. For e.g. SHE has to interfere with the way I checked certain analysis in the spreadsheet. For Jesus sake, each person has his/her own style of checking as long as the findings are correct. But no, she will literally take over the mouse and show me step by step, on how to calculate the findings and present it in a manner which is easy for her to check. Please do not treat me like a 3years old kid. Common, I have to spend twice the amount of time in the calculations because I have to do extra manipulations to the spreadsheet to show her my working. This is really uncalled for; if she wishes to impose these standards on me, she might as well do the work herself. And if it is not insulting enough, she would check and recheck every piece of work done by me. That is insulting to me because it seems like she can never trust me to do a good piece of work. This is very agonizing.
In such duress conditions, I have been taught to be ultra-cautious; and that taking risks is a taboo. I cannot do this my way, even if it meant a way which is more efficient because of her ANAL-listic nature. And yet, in my work performance feedback, she can criticize that, I have no mind of my own, and that I am always just a “YES” man. Common woman! YOU clamped my mouth shut!
In retrospect, I know where I stand as a fresh graduate. I understand the need to start from the bottom, to do the so called shit work and slowly earn my credibility and all. But why must it be done according to HER ANAL-listic way, according to HER stupid style? If I can achieve an end result which is the same, why canÂ’t I do it my way? I feel I am becoming more and more stupid with each passing day. I feel like a wild lion, being captured and thrown into the cages in the Zoo. You know how lions over prolonged captivity lose their fighting spirit and shine in their eyes? I am feeling this right now.
Should I move on and change to another company? I like this market research industry. But it seems that my company is the only MNC agency willing to hire me. I have applied to other MNC agencies but they turned me down. Anyway, to the fresh grads out there, any such similar experience to share?
remember my first job,
Boss throw 1 whole pile of work for me to do.
No one taught me anything.
Seniors hack care go drinking and enjoy.
I was totally blured.
Push myself and learn the hard way.
When I finally got it done.
My boss backstab me and report to management that i made a big mistake.
Kena very badly from the incident.
I learnt it the hard way and managed to climb out of it.
You are lucky to get to MNC on your first job.
Treasure it well, there are worst people out there who are willing to stab you in any way you cannot think of.
Learn first and stop complaining so much. -
it's like this one lah .... got to suck it up and swallow your pride in the beginning ....
just like in the army ... everyone starts out as recruits, maggots, the lowest life form ....
at least you know how NOT to treat your underlings in the future, right ? ....
-
Hey sorry to hear about your nasty experience. Perhaps, you are right, i should treasure what i have now, and stop whinning like a kid. Your last line is really meant a lot to me. Thanks for the sharing. ;-)Originally posted by Guardx:you think yours is worst try mine.
remember my first job,
Boss throw 1 whole pile of work for me to do.
No one taught me anything.
Seniors hack care go drinking and enjoy.
I was totally blured.
Push myself and learn the hard way.
When I finally got it done.
My boss backstab me and report to management that i made a big mistake.
Kena very badly from the incident.
I learnt it the hard way and managed to climb out of it.
You are lucky to get to MNC on your first job.
Treasure it well, there are worst people out there who are willing to stab you in any way you cannot think of.
Learn first and stop complaining so much. -
Haha, yeah, I will treat my ROOKIes with dignity and respect in future ;-)Originally posted by Fatum:it's like this one lah .... got to suck it up and swallow your pride in the beginning ....
just like in the army ... everyone starts out as recruits, maggots, the lowest life form ....
at least you know how NOT to treat your underlings in the future, right ? ....
thanks! -
treat it as BMT.
-
There are a whole lot of mncs in sg... so just saying its an mnc doesnt really tell anything about how successful the company is. Mnc's have alot of staff and sometimes the QC along the way goes wrong... She seems to be one of those low iq people that was promoted into a supervisor position either due to long years of service in the company or 1336 balls carrying skillz
Good mncs almost always have an internal audit department reporting directly to the gm/md that tracks performance of its workers and evaluate them based on related key performance indicators. This is to help maintain the general QC of the entire staff, and keep promotion as fair and independant as possible. Very often your direct superior does not have the final say. If you deliver the results, and can justify mistakes with good valid reasons...you will get promoted.
My advice is...if she knows you are more capable than her...she will do everything in her power to hold back your promotion over her. No matter how you suck up. If you stay for 2 years for the experience than leave, she may give you a bad referral.
The other thing is...the person before you probably couldn't stand her as well...thats why they are hiring. So why not leave and find the company/job that truly appreciates your talent? The first job offer that comes along isn't always the best. Look around, you're always find better... -
mmmmm.... -
In one of the companies I worked before, their company policies are structured in such a way that incompetent workers from supervisor, junior manager all the way to middle manager level are weeded out systematically and regularly.
For normal employee's if they resign suddenly, IA will interview both the employee's and his superior's statement. If results is inconclusive then no action is taken. However if its the 3rd person that wants to leave in a row for the same bloody reason...then the superior is hauled up to the gm's room...and if he can't justify why the worker thinks he sux, the aforementioned superior is jolly well fired. Hiring new workers cost money too for advertisements, delay time, training etc you know...
Edit: I have to add that managers have a say in picking the staff they want to work under them which have been short-listed by HR. That's why the manager who got fired deserved it fair and square. He couldn't work with the people he himself picked. -
sounds very interesting haha... too bad i'm not doing Marketing or Business... guess if you have the interest in your own field of expertise you can do well in this job, or any other job for that matter.Originally posted by tigersushi:Hmm, i majored in marketing. Back in uni, i loved the beauty of market research, where you get to do the fun part, the focus group interviews,the consumer observation study, or mystery shopping study where i experimented with interesting medium like video clips, proto type of equipment and all, and then there is the data analysis part, when i get to input all the data into this satisitical software, where i can challenge my limits and utilize every statistical tooL to tell me a meaningful story of what consumers want.
The analysis part was really thrilling especially when im though to understand what each statistic tooL measures in the Layman, marketer's point of view, and not from a Satistician point of view. That beings the whole element to life!. This is one industry which combines the fun part, (the qualitavtive , exploratory part) with the exciting data analysis part. At least, this is my utopia concept of MArket research in my uni days. FYI, doing Market research module in my uni days were the best time of my life spent in uni. So yeah, reality and utopia do not match right? -
I must agree utterly with your point that 1st job offer isnt always the best. As you probably figured, this was indeed my 1st (and only offer) despite attending interviews in many other Market research agencies. Other agencies turned me down, because in a way, i was a little too statistical or rather too "to the boOk'. I want to leave, seriously but unless there are Job openings in other MNC agencies in Market research industry, i find it hard to move on. ;-(Originally posted by Stoat:There are a whole lot of mncs in sg... so just saying its an mnc doesnt really tell anything about how successful the company is. Mnc's have alot of staff and sometimes the QC along the way goes wrong... She seems to be one of those low iq people that was promoted into a supervisor position either due to long years of service in the company or 1336 balls carrying skillz
Good mncs almost always have an internal audit department reporting directly to the gm/md that tracks performance of its workers and evaluate them based on related key performance indicators. This is to help maintain the general QC of the entire staff, and keep promotion as fair and independant as possible. Very often your direct superior does not have the final say. If you deliver the results, and can justify mistakes with good valid reasons...you will get promoted.
My advice is...if she knows you are more capable than her...she will do everything in her power to hold back your promotion over her. No matter how you suck up. If you stay for 2 years for the experience than leave, she may give you a bad referral.
The other thing is...the person before you probably couldn't stand her as well...thats why they are hiring. So why not leave and find the company/job that truly appreciates your talent? The first job offer that comes along isn't always the best. Look around, you're always find better... -
In that case, take things in your stride as they come along. Good luck and wish you all the best.Originally posted by tigersushi:I must agree utterly with your point that 1st job offer isnt always the best. As you probably figured, this was indeed my 1st (and only offer) despite attending interviews in many other Market research agencies. Other agencies turned me down, because in a way, i was a little too statistical or rather too "to the boOk'. I want to leave, seriously but unless there are Job openings in other MNC agencies in Market research industry, i find it hard to move on. ;-(
-
I know exactly what you mean and how you feel coz I've passed by your way before. Unfortunately that's the way things are in the working world. The key here is to leave our ego at the doorway once you step into the office. Humble ourselves and just do all that we can according to our superior's instructions, however idiotic. As long as it's still work you perform in office, who cares whether it's your way or your superior's stooo-pid way, right? Bide your time. Build patience. Know deep inside you that one fine day, you will overtake your idiotic superior \, spread your wings and soar. But it's not the time yet.......and you just got to develop your patience. Don't worry about losing your shine cause zhen jing bu pa huo........!