Dear Gilbert,
Nice to hear that you’re enjoying yourself in Sydney!
By the way, I think I owe you this email to inform you that I’ve landed up with a job. However that said, I am still having mixed feelings about this employment. Ironic right? Let me explain the situation below.
Right after I met you on the other day, I was called up for two different interviews for two jobs of different nature – one is a VWO, and the other, Corporate Communications in a government agency. Initially my heart, of course, went to the latter, as I am studying a degree in Public Relations and the job was something that I really yearn for. In fact, I aced pretty well for both interviews.
In a twist of situation, the VWO called me and offered me the position first, then followed by the government agency. As I had difficulty trying to cope my job and studies in my previous employment, I decided to take up the VWO job, thinking that I would appreciate working in an environment that is of a slower pace. During the interview, the boss also expressed his support for his employees in studying part-time too.
However, I am now in my second week of employment and I am starting to feel very regretful of my decision. This job was recommended by my friend, and I am supposed to take over his role. But, when this was the crucial time that he has to hand over his outstanding tasks to me before he leaves, my friend is on a frequent “half-day-off” or “full-day-off”. That hampered the handing over process.
On the first day of work, my friend wasn’t around, this person (who had just left last week) handed over the work briefly to me within 1/2 an hour. Without anything productive to do, I began to feel impatient and puzzled, which somehow had translated to my facial expression (that was my fault, but usually I don’t hide my feelings). In a moment, he said “don’t like that leh”. Of course, I felt very pissed, because everyone heard what he said to me, and that placed me in a very bad light.
To make matters worse, when I was chatting with this person, he told me that since I am about to graduate next year with a degree, he felt that I should had pursue a career in other companies/organisation, as the current VWO is looking for someone on a long-term basis. Certainly, I was in an extremely foul mood (but I managed to hide this feeling)
My boss told me I should be spending time to ask questions about my current work so as to better understand it, but I landed up doing ground visits to the various locations to understand the situation better, and I discovered that some information provided by the person who left, turns out to be untrue.
Also, there were many issues, some that were urgent, some others that is critical on a long-term basis, that were not brought up to me by my friend. That adds to the frustrations that I am having.
I am having half the heart about leaving this company, not just because of what has happened, but also because I do not wish to jeopardize the chance of getting a job as a public relations/corporate communication practitioner after I graduate.
I asked people for their opinion, and I got mixed responses. Some said I should stay and gain some experience, some said that by leaving my current job, it will not be easy to get a job again due to the economy crisis that we are facing now. Some said this job will indeed jeopardize the chances of me getting a job in a PR firm.
However, seeing the pile of unresolved issues at work, I felt compelled to stay behind and clear the mess before moving on.
I had only myself to blame for this. If I had not betrayed and doubt myself back then. I would be gleefully working as a corporate communications practitioner.
Gilbert, what is your take on this?
Regards,
Mark
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Hi Mark
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Hi Junnie,
somehow I’m glad to see your letter as I now know that I wasn’t alone in my current situation. A year ago, I was also on the crossroads as per what you are feeling now. But I had it worst due to my medical conditions and also many bills to clear too. You even had it better cause you seems to be younger than me too. Well Gilbert is right to say about situations at most VWO but you are certainly wrong to think that work life in a VWO is slow. It ain’t especially for positions like Corp Comm, Marcom or PR. You literally do everything. As a Marcom person, I take care of fund-rasing, media relations, events, branding, marketing, admin support and transportation. BUt having said that, think of it as gaining some useful experiences and especially in terms of the bigger picture that you are helping the beneficiaries or needy. It does help in making you more patient and empthatise with others more.
It’s been a year for me here, I won’t say that I’m enjoying it, but I certainly can say I felt good about it. I don’t get haunted by non-stop emails or calls from my company smartphone, never realistic targets, stress, pressures and never ending meetings, instead I get to leave work on the dot, spend more time with my family and friends and last but not least help others along the way. It ain’t so bleak as you think but just that now you have quite a bit of backlogs to clear thus you are feeling frustrated. Once they are done, I bet you, you will feel elated and a strong sense of satisfaction.
Hang in there and look at things positively, get out of the mindset that the grass is always greener on the other side. Make the best of what you have and be your best before you give up. Cheers!
*P.S.: If you still need some advise or just for a chat, contact Gilbert, he knows how to get in touch with me. Take care!
I was in the same situation as you. I worked in two VWOs before moving to the civil service. I regretted working in VWOs as the pay structure is low, bonus is crap and is practically a dead end job. When I was in the VWOs, I had to do everything under the sun which was in my job scope which was bad as VWOs do not have good funding at times and having to see colleagues leave every few months was bad as no one wanted to stay long, we even had a colleague who left after one day. I felt like I was doing ppl’s work for them. I too left in time and joined the civil service, I worked much longer hours and weekends but enjoyed it as I had supportive management, salary was decent, prospects were good, helpful well educated colleagues who weren’t shy of working hard and job satisfaction. Joining the civil service was the best work experience I ever had and joining the VWOs was in my view a big waste of time. If I could turn back time, I’d be happy to join the civil service as my first job ( I was offered a civil service job when I graduated but took on the VWO job first as it was offered to me first and I has agreed to join them – bad career move) just my two cents worth.
I believe you have mismanaged your expectation.
You think that VWOs are a bed of roses. How can it be? When you have a noble cause and financial constraints, it is not going to be easy.
You are quite lucky that you have someone to take over the job from. I have assumed position when the person had already left for several months.
Did he said “Don’t like that lah” in a loud and accusing tone?
I am glad that you have also know that observing the ground gives a better picture. Don’t be like our politicians, walk the ground more often! You have already experience the power of walking the ground. Excel sheet and Word document can only tell you so much.
And he’s right to ask you to raise questions. Only an un-open boss and MCP will dictate what his/her staff should do without questions.
If you ask for my opinions, I feel that you have learned a lot from this company. I think that your boss is a pretty nice person and trying to help you. And allowing you to study partime. Even in MNC, studying part-time is frown upon.
The main reason for the dissatisfaction is that you mismanaged your expectation.