Do you really like your job?

Ginevive, we've all been there. The nervousness will gradually wear off as you become more experienced with your job and you will see your confidence grow along with you. As for being a shy person, allow me to let you in on a secret. So was I, when I first started my job. But as time progressed I found myself in situations where it was necessary to get into people's faces and I was scared each time...heck, I still get scared on occassion.

I work at the local hospital, I'm a M.A. (Medical Assistant) and every time that I have to give someone an injection or draw a sample of their blood for tests I'm still afraid that I'll make a mistake or I'll accidentally spook someone during a draw. I've been working at the same hospital for three years now, and was a student/intern for a year. The hardest part of my education was learning to draw/inject. But with each practice on the dummy arm or leg, my confidence grew. When I did my first "live" draw, I was literally scared to death that I would some how screw it up. I made it through, but even to this day I get quite nervous even though I've done it a million times.

The longer that you're at your job, the better that you will be at it. From your origional post I can already tell that you are a warm and compassionate person, so I am confidante that you care enough to truly help others. From that I say, "take off your pants and slid on the ice." Because at the end of the day, you're gonna feel great about yourself and you'll notice that your confidence in yourself has grown another notch.

Asking questions is always the best form of self-education out there, even if it's job-related. The best employee that one could ever hope for is the one that always wants to learn more about their job. If it helps you remember things, try jotting a few things down on a legal pad and keep it with you, as a reminder. That way you're not always asking the same questions day in and day out, besides it looks great to others who see you writing their answers/suggestions down. It will make them think that you are in essence taking their words to heart and trying to catch up to the same level of knowledge/experience that they are at. They best foundations of a working relationship ( in my experience) are those that are formed while you are still learning the ropes.

Hope you had a wonderful day at work!

Chris

Wow, you guys don't know how much this has helped me. It is grat to know that, thuogh other people all seem so condifent and everything, other people can relate to this. I guess alot of it stems from this being a new job, and I was SO complacent at my old longterm job, I could do it in my sleep :) But the pay here is about double what I was getting there, and FT.
There are great, awesome days and dull, eventless frustrating days in this line of work. I got two programs started on tues and yesterday seemed pretty uneventful, but I managed to hit one of my goals yesterday! (my wage garnishment goal; not pretty, but it is satisfying to garnish people who have bn rude and vulgar on the phone with me!) So at least I will get some sort of bonus check. I always complained that my old job was unrewarding; at least financially, this job is pretty rewarding! But alot of it is luck, which does frustrate me; you cant draw blood from a rock. But I will keep hangin in there and I will keep all your words of wisdom in mind; it really helps!

Sounds great Gin! Just like Chris said so well, a lot of people feel nervous at their job or during a specific duty of their job but learn to deal with it, mask it well and find the resources to deal with whatever is the root of that fear.

In my past I've been both an emergency services dispatcher (fire/police) and a front line support worker in a women's crisis center (domestic abuse mostly). Even though in both jobs I was extremely well trained there were specific incidents that just had me shaking inside down to my boots. With the dispatch position every word I said was on tape, so the pressure to say exactly what was right and never fail was occasionally intense but eventually you get so used to it you just automatically deal with the situation but really never lose the fear.

That's why I suggested making it your friend. If not then sometimes it can drive you from a job you like or need, make you less able to perform your job or give you awful stress related health issues.

I'm glad you are hitting some of your work goals. That's always a good thing!


~~Jo~~

Quote:

---

It is grat to know that, thuogh other people all seem so condifent and everything, other people can relate to this.

---

It's very likely that YOU appear very confident and competent to someone else who works around you, while they feel themselves secretly shaking in their own shoes. It's amazing how differently we often are from how others percieve us to be. :)

Quote:

---

It's very likely that YOU appear very confident and competent to someone else who works around you, while they feel themselves secretly shaking in their own shoes. It's amazing how differently we often are from how others percieve us to be. :)

---

Excellent point Judy! :winner:


~~Jo~~

Wow Jo, that's just how it is here' our calls are not always recorded, but they are constantly monitored. It is pretty unnerving when you hear the "echo" on your line and know that your supervisor, an aisle away, hears everything you are saying! I do have a pretty good ability to block out emotions, and I am working on calming my nervousness more, but it does take nerves of steel to be recorded/listened-to and have the chance of slipping up and saying the wrnog/illegal thing!
See, we cannot disclose any info to the person unless we have IDed them by SSN number. Doing this will result in termination!

You sound like you're in the exact job i was in. Collections will never get easier, will never stop sucking. The pay might be good, but in the end you can find a job that pays just as good that you're happier at. I left my collections jobs for a manufacturing job, I make just as much pay, dont have to talk on the phone and feel like I actually accomplish something every day.

I got so used to knowing I was always being recorded that even though I was always mindful of it, it stopped bothering me and actually became a good thing. Working in emergency services everything you do is immediate but you still have to prioritize your resources...so complaints come in or calls are doublechecked as part of in-service training, whatever. As long as you've done your job correctly, or gone above and beyond, that recording becomes your best friend.


~~Jo~~

Congrats on getting to your goal!!!!*huggles*

A little late jumping in here Gin, but it sometimes just takes time.

I LOVE my job. I've been teaching Biology for the past five years....for the first two I was scared pissless! Getting in front of a bunch of 15/16 year olds and having my bosses come in and observe...sheesh! I shook like I was going through withdrawl when my first principal sat in on my "good" class. Last year was the first year I felt truly comfortable and this year I feel like I am finally going above and beyond. I truly can't complain about the money, I work part time and my county takes pretty good care of us so I get to spend more time at home with my kids.

It takes some time and we've ALL been there. Good luck!