Ok, so I started a new job at Exxon a few days ago. I'm a VERY slow learner, but everyone has been very helpful, except for one girl.

Anyway, tonight when I got there, it ends up that I'm the only cashier behind the counter-the manager stayed outside cleaning and doing paperwork, so I could yell for her if I messed up, which I did a few times,but not as bad as I thought I would.

So at about an hour or so before it was time for me to leave, she said she was leaving because she had worked for 58 hours that week and was worn out and had to be back early in the morning-and was I comfortable enough to be left by myself in a gas station at night?

NO I WAS NOT!

But I felt so sorry for her and wanted to learn to do the job and be trustworthy, so I had her write me down some cheat sheets to go by. It was slow,but I still made two major mistakes-but on top of that, I was just a complete nervous wreck for being by myself and not knowing how to do quite a bit of the job-it freaked me out! My heart is still racing! I don't like that at all!

Anyone else ever been left alone at a new job, not knowing everything there is to know,and if so, how did you do, and do you have any kind of coping techniques so that you don't panic?

awww (((( Molli )))))

This reminds of a previous job I had and that was doing some administrative. Well they tested during the interview, that they really liked the way I performed on the test, so I was hired. Well I didn't have a desk, a computer or telephone and all they had me to do was organized this little library. Well I felt so overwhelm, with tons of books I didn't know where to start, lol. Then one day my supervisor had to leave me alone for a meeting outside the city. She had me do a project by then I already had a desk, a telephone and a computer which were all delivered 1 and half month after I was hired :mad: . I sat there all alone with no task except for 1 and that was doing a brochure. I became so insecure and nervous because I felt since I could nothing right I needed some supervision just to begin with until I felt secure, but NOPE.

I did the very best I could, and that is what you can do Molli, just do your best. Darn !!!! we all know we do our best, and if others can't understand that, that is their problem. I get so furious to see how others look down on us because we are either slow learners or sometimes we just don't grasp what we learn. They think they are so smart...I can't stand those kind of people.

Well as for that job, I was forced to resign by the president due to SLOW PERFORMANCE. Even my supervisor acknowledge that it should not be totally blamed on me for not having the equipment to do the job. I'm glad, for why bother to work for a bunch of nuts.

It does sound you may have got it down Molli, just give it more time, if not and you feel your not improving, just quit or look for another job meanwhile.

You were FORCED TO RESIGN? Omg-what a horrible sounding phrase! So, they wouldn't fire you-they forced you to resign so they wouldn't have to pay unemployment or something? God! You poor thing!

I'm hanging in there at my job-I told my manager last night that my husband is wanting me to quit. lol Which is true, but not until I find something else of course, since he's not working, just doing side jobs here and there. The manager acted like she didn't want me to quit though-she said I'm reliable and that I SMILE and am friendly-I guess those are very important things in this job.

The customers terrify me there-the store is in a very upscale part of town, and I'm not used to that at all-the customers of different races are incredibly racist there, I'm not used to that. Like, if you put there change or credit card, etc. on the counter instead of back in their hand, they GO OFF, saying "I didn't HAND IT TO YOU LIKE THAT!" It terrifies me,especially if I drop their liscense or whatever when I hand it back-they don't put up with that there! I'm used to a lower key neighborhood where people joke around and cut up with you-it's strictly business there,and very scary.

Actually my very first job at age 17 was at Sears. They put me through a day and a half of actual training and then took me to the sales floor after lunch. I was introduced to the manager who took all of 2 minutes to point out the three registers and two phones that I would be responsible for while waiting on customers as he and the other employee went to lunch.

I was in a total panic until the Hawaiian Tropic rep showed up and wanted to know where to put up his display. At that point I decided the manager must be an idiot for leaving me by myself and therefore nothing that could go wrong would be my fault. I calmed down. The manager was fired a few months later, for numerous other reasons, and I worked there for 9 years.

There are many things that I am bad at. But if anything that I have decent knowledge of winds up in a total clusterf***, I am THE PERSON to step in and straighten things out. I have earned the respect of numerous customers this way. I always work calmly and methodically and I have always had a very positive outcome in these instances in which "seasoned professionals" have failed.

Rule #1: Calm down. Anxiety of any nature worsens ADD symptoms. Always calm yourself.

Rule #2: Conduct yourself with self confidence. I've recently lost most of this ability myself and I'm having a very hard time getting it back, but I can assure you that it is crucial to success at any job. (Anyone have any ideas here???)

Rule #3: Own your mistakes. I am the first person to admit it when I screw up and I take the time to fix it. Most people are very forgiving so long as they know you are efficiently and confidently taking care of them.

Awesome success story! :) I wish good things like that would happen to me-but I just always end up fired. :( Thanks for trying to cheer me up though!