Need help adjusting to new office environment....?

Question

I started working in a new position in a new field--I held my last job for 6 years. I went from being in a 3 person office to a HUGE office building with cubicles and such. I have been here since 5/30/06--I am NOT adjusting well to having others look over my shoulder, being the 'new gal', and coming into a field that is so unlike my old one (I was an admin before, now I process payroll for the state). What the position was described as, and what it is is completely different. My boss has admitted that they are aware that I was pulled out of my environment (I applied for an admin position, they offered me this one instead). I will not be returning to my old job (though some days I want to run screaming to it). Any words of advice to help ease the transition? I've never worked in a true office setting with politics, 'games', cliques and watchers before and am not comfortable in it. I'm not a quitter, but I don't want to do this job anymore (EVER). HELP!

Answer 1

It's only been a couple of months. Give it some time and throw yourself at the work. It might be something that you will grow to really like. Office politics...don't say anything to anyone about anyone else...gossip will get you in the supervisors office for a little "meeting" faster than an Iranian missile headed for Israel.
Try to keep your work ethic high because you can always slow down and not upset anyone...if they have to ask you to step it up...your on the wrong list.

Try to enjoy it...if you can't or the pay isn't what it takes for your handling the job...look for work elsewhere within the agency and don't just quit.

Good luck

Answer 2

If you can develop a friendship with someone in your office, that will help. At least you won't feel so alone. I've never had someone looking over my shoulder, but I've worked with the "cliques" and that is a real pain. Don't let yourself be miserable though. I was to the point of hating my job! I dreaded going in every morning! I held out as long as I could, but finally transfered to another department. If it gets too bad, "even though you are not a quitter" I would find something else to do. Sometimes when you are miserable at work, it comes home with you too.

Answer 3

Boy oh boy have I been there! When I was 21, I took a job at a bank processing center that had excellent benefits, good pay, yadda yadda yadda. The only problem was, eveytime I turned around I had someone 'telling" on me for using the phone or being away from my desk too long. On top of that, my supervisor was a jealous *itch! I even went to human resources who immediately swept things under the rug even though I had several co-workers divulge that I was a target for my psycho boss's desire to flex her muscles.

I was so stressed out that I (one who harldy ever had headaches) developed migraines and had one EVERYDAY! It got so bad once, that I lost vision in one eye for a few hours. That was when I knew it was time to go. I literally walked out of there one day and never came back. So my advice to you is get out as soon as you can. Don't think of it as quitting- it just wasn't an environment you excel in and there's nothing wrong with that. Why be miserable just to save face? Look for another job immediately because your happiness and health are much more important than a paycheck.