Thanks for the heads up

[twpStacey]

I walked into work today and was immediately called in to the managers office, where I spent the next hour (no exaggeration) having her and the long-time receptionist list off all of the things I am apparently doing WRONG;

Filing - wrong
Booking Appointments - wrong
Billing Clients - wrong
Answering the phone - wrong
Cashing out at the end of the day - wrong
Dealing with clients - wrong

Yeah, I know I've been making a few mistakes here and there, but this whole thing completely blindsided me. I've said from the very beginning that I didn't think the training I got was adequate, but despite that I felt like I was doing a decent job.. ESPECIALLY with things like the filing (which piles up through the day and basically gets left for me to take care of, since I work the closing shift), answering the phone (they had me taking calls the second day I was there, and I've never hesitated to grab a call), and being outgoing and pleasant with clients. I got the whole speech about how the receptionist is the first and last contact that a client has with the clinic blah blah blah. They also said that I need to take more initiative and make sure things get done... um, wtf.. I honestly can't remember the last time I took the 1/2hr dinner break that I'm LEGALLY entitled to because I've been trying to get things done.

I LIKE working at a vet clinic. It doesn't even make any sense that I would leave a good job in BC, move myself out to Alberta, commit to a full year lease on a place with not-cheap rent.. only to flake out on the job I came here for.

I feel like complete crap being at work now, wondering who it is I've pissed off, and who has been saying these things about me behind my back.

[yvonlidd]

Maybe it came off as too abrupt. Some people aren't good at constructive criticism. You haven't been there that long to have everything down pat anyways yet. Did they start showing you HOW you are doing these things wrong and the RIGHT way to do them? Training doesn't end the first 8 hours on the job. I am constantly training new people at work and it is an ongoing practice that (depending on the person) sometimes lasts up to six months before I trust them completely with some jobs. Ask the current receptionist to make a list of the right way to do these things so that you have it at hand as a reference guide. Start taking your break, I know from experience if you don't you won't get any extra credit and they will always expect you to work on your own time. You need that break as a time out and a breather don't burn yourself out.

[saffire_100]

Stacey, while is not fun getting that kind of feedback, it is useful if you want this to work out. Did the manager and the other receptionist offer how you can improve, other than you are doing things "wrong"? They should offer you a performance improvement plan "PIP". Can you ask for guidance more frequently? Are the correct procedures documented? If not, can you sit with the other receptionist and document for yourself how they want things done? just my 2 cents for now.

[Rachael]

Sorry Stacey, that must have been really rough for you. I'm sure you felt like everything was coming at you at once. It's possible that your manager really didn't intend to come off that way; she might be really busy dealing with a lot of stuff and just wanted to deal with your training in a way that seemed really efficient. I think managers do this at times and have a tendency to forget that you are actually a person with emotions and that that kind of criticism can be really hard to take. It's a good sign that she is at least willing to invest the time in you for you to improve. I think that shows she does recognize some of your efforts, even if she may not voice them outloud.

It can also be hard for people who have worked somewhere for a long time to remember how overwhelming and confusing it is at first. The senior receptionist may have just been doing billing, etc for so long that it's become really second nature to her and she can't even understand how it's not straightforward and obvious. I know I have been guilty of making the same mistake with people I've trained in various jobs, where I just forgot for a second what it was like to be new. It might help if you spoke up a little to help her remember. If, like Yvonlidd and Sarah have already referred to, they haven't given you ways on how to improve on the things they mentioned, then maybe you can ask for help as you are doing them. Or at the end of the night, ask someone to briefly look over your work to confirm it's all done correctly. Even asking the next morning, if you had left everything ok the night before can show that you are really interested and committed to improving.

Good luck. Some employers are just really business minded when it comes to things you are doing wrong, and not at all quick to praise. It does not necessarily mean you are doing a poor job.

[Melissa]

Thats always a bit of a blindside when you're think you're doing ok and no one has really told you otherwise
I would ask them for some more instruction/training and let them know that you want to take the initiative to get things correct

I have a really hard time taking criticism (constructive or otherwise), and I find that if you tell them you understand their concerns and you'd like some help to get things right and lots of smiling and nodding then you should be ok

[Heidi]

I know it's really hard to take that kind of criticism, but try not to let it get you down and instead focus your energy on making the changes they're asking for. I think I'd start off by thanking your manager for bringing these matters to your attention, then tell her how important this job is to you and let her know you are dedicated to doing a good job.

Then make sure that you are asking questions ask much as possible and keey your eye open for opporuntities where you can show your strength and initiative. I always find that by asking questions like "how do you do this" or "why is it done this way" it really helps me to understand things more thoroughly and I'm able to do a better job, and employers appreciate the interest and thoroughness. It certainly wouldn't help either to request feedback to make sure you are doing things correctly. It will show that you care about your job and are willing to put forth effort to do it right. I have trained many people at my work and most were horrendous to start. I'd literally pull out my hair seeing everything they were doing wrong. Some of them didn't care, I'd show them how to do it right, and they'd still do it wrong and didn't seem to care that they did. They never asked how to do it better, or if they were doing it right. The one's that really showed an interest in fully learning the job and that asked a lot of questions always did better and eventually were superb employees. It would be a wonderful world if every employer gave adequate training, but that's not always the case, especially in a smaller office where the staff have been doing their jobs for so long that it's just second nature to them. Often you will have to do a certain amount of self-learning in order to become properly trained.

Good luck. I really hope this job works out for you. I think you could be good at it, you just need to gain confidence in yourself and have them see it.

[twpStacey]

There was nothing constructive about this meeting, I'm afraid. When I tried to get a word in to explain something, the other receptionist immediately cut me off and literally talked over me. And then at the end, when she was done criticizing me, she left the room before I could say anything (she was actually talking AS she walked out the door). She was also bringing up some things that I had made mistakes on ONCE and making it sound like I was doing it all the time.

I have still been asking TONS of questions.. most people seem to be getting annoyed by it, but I've still been asking anyway.

I had every intention of being at this job for several years.. now..