I'm so frustrated! What should I do?

Question

I've been at my job for less than 2 months, and this is the second time I've seriously considered leaving (see 'Should I stick it out?'). At first my uncertainty was due to my mistakes and inability to learn fast enough. Now, it is mostly because of my supervisor's actions. She's been losing her patience with me in varying degrees, and it has gotten to the point where I'm uncomfortable even asking her any questions. Most recently, she behaved in a way that I felt was unprofessional (she snapped at me, then proceeded to complain loudly in the next room). While I should have everything down by now, this is a completely different field than my previous job, and there are still some areas I need to work on. I've been trying my best, but feel that all my supervisor sees are my shortcomings. I would bring this up with my manager, but they're friends and I'm concerned that might create more problems. Has anyone been in this position? What do you recommend? I'm just so stressed.

TY, I'm a bank teller...

Answer 1

Two months is not a long time. I was a bank teller as my last job and I was still learning new things when I quit a year later. It took me at least 2 or 3 months to even feel comfortable being behind the teller line alone. Even then, I was still running to my manager asking for help when I didn't feel comfortable with a transaction. There is a huge learning curve, but you will begin to pick things up more quickly as you become more comfortable and knowledgeable about your job.

I would stick it out, but I would definitely talk to the manager. She may be friends with your supervisor, but she is also her manager. She needs to be able to take control when things get out of hand. Don't assume that just because the two of them are friends, nothing will change. However, if things don't get better, find another job or see if another bank nearby is hiring and transfer over.

Answer 2

Well that sounds like a drag.
Questions to ask yourself:
How well does the job pay?
Will quiting before you get another job put you under pressure to make rent?
Do you really feel you cannot talk to your supervisor about the way you feel. You might try sitting down with her and in a non acusitory, non confrentational way say that you are not happy with the way the two of you have been interacting. Say that you are learning as fast as you can but extreme negative pressure doen't help you to learn any faster.
Where they aware of your lack of experience for the position when they hired you?
If so they should grant you a gentler learning curve.
If she responds in a receptive fashion to the conversation so far express to her that her impatience has made you uncomfortable and has made her unavailable when you feel you need to request assistance. And that with all due respect cutting you off short and then loudly complaing from the next room is discourteous to you and you consider unprofessional on her part.
If she keeps up this abusive behavior look for another job.
When you get one, leave without notice.
When you do leave have a brief sit down with the manager.
Tell her that your are leaving today because you felt your supervisor has been repeatedly abusive in her behavior toward you. Be specific. Be able to site specific things said by your supervisor and the occassions (dates or circumstances) that the incidents happened.
The manager will say why didn't you come to me.
You will then tell her that it is apparent that the two of them are friends and you have concerns about whether your problems would have been heard by an unbiased listener.
You might also say that you are leaving without notice.
You do not feel the need to grant professional courtesy where your superiors have extended none.
You are surprised that the manager has had no idea the conflict between you and your supervisor or that the manager has no idea of the supervisors managment style which in your opinion is very poor.
You've said what you have to say, say good-bye, get up and leave. If she wants to talk more tell her there is no point in continueing the conversation, nothing could make you want to stay at this point and that you just wanted her to be fully aware of your reasons for leaving. Good day and good-bye.

Answer 3

Quit. I see huge lack of professionalism. The fact that your supervisor and manager are friends do not help the situation. There's basically no way to fix this. If you go to the manager, that person will most likely laugh behind your back. If you go above the manager's head, your opinion will not be respected because you haven't been there long enough. You need a job where you actually enjoy the working environment.

Answer 4

My first question would be if you think you can excel at this position? Why did they hire you if it is outside of your field? Something had to set you apart. If you are not happy with the position and duties (not atmosphere), then go ahead and start looking somewhere else. If you do like the job and its duties, try to improve faster (is there someone else you can ask questions). Also, if you plan on staying, speak to the manager and let them know that you can hear the supervisor complaining about you and that you need clear goals to be able to do your job properly.

Answer 5

Bank teller is a pretty good job to have. I would stay tough it out for at least a year, so you have some experience to put on your resume, and then it will be much easier to get a job at another bank. I've tried for years to get a teller job but have never managed to. It's hard to work with bitchy managers (I've had more than my share!) but there's no guarantee another job would be any better. So stay put, and get in the experience. And after you've been there for a while, who knows, she may mellow out, or quit.

Answer 6

Stick it out, it looks bad on a resume to be out of work, and even worse to have short job stays. Have you tried doing extra research to understand what you don't get?
Get your supervisor to notice what you do right. Show her how much you've accomplished by saying, " I've gotten this and this and this down, but I'm having a little trouble with this. Do have any tricks to make it quicker and easier to understand?" As a supervisor I have always appreciated it when someone tried to learn, but supervisors are human too, and we get frustrated. Showing that you have eagerness to please also gets you brownie points without kissing up!
www.tesh.com can give answers too!

Answer 7

I actually have been in that position. I have taken my boss into a private room. First told them if I was to be reprimanded it needed to be done in a private setting. Not publicly where I would be humiliated. Second tell them how your feeling. If there at all a decent person they ll deal with it in a professional way. If not and the behavior continues I would not continue to work in that enviorment. It is not healthy mentally or physically for you. Good Luck

Answer 8

Yeah, when you came in and seemed incompetent she started to feel as if you were a bad hire.
Stick it out, but only if you feel you can really blow her mind by doing a first rate job.
If you hate the work and therefore don't feel motivated to excel, then quit.
About the friend thing: yeah don't complain till you've got something actionable.
And yeah, they are probably setting you up to get fired as you read this so get that resume ready!

Answer 9

Well you can tell them both how you feel and say thta if the problem persists then it is harrassment and that is against the law.

Answer 10

Get out asap.... Find employment that you really like to do...