How I survive my first year at work.

Being a new kid on the block, I blended a mixture of some humility and assertiveness in handling the uncertain situation at that time. It was rather a weird situation as some of the more senior peers perceived me as over qualified for the job and, though not verbally said, may outdo them in progression due to my higher qualification while I was keen to learn from them in order to perform my job successfully.

Hence, I used some humility to acquire knowledge and learning from my senior peers while my assertiveness was used to allay any attempt of bullying. The latter required slick maneuvering for longer-term survival as I was fresh from college and had not had any substantial working experience prior to the job.

Bullying is of course something that is also prevalent at other places such as at boarding schools, colleges and the like. However its intensity at the office is quite different as it involves two parties who are required to work together as a team. Logically rather than create enmity by bullying, the seniors and juniors should have been in tango to achieve the common set goals.

Hence in the couple of months on the job, the experience was challenging and stretching on my interpersonal and social skills. I had to fit myself into the team synergy as well as learn the job from my peers and accept the guidance and directions from my supervisor. I was rather fortunate as I was not alone in that situation. They were five of us and we immediately established a support network among ourselves. It was a loose network where we would exchange day-to-day experience and learning either during breakfast or lunch.

I received my confirmation after six months on the job and my salary was adjusted to RM700 per month. This adjustment was not received well by some of my senior peers as it was a 20% increase and was perceived as excessive, actually it was more for envious reason rather than anything else. The adjustment was actually given as retention incentive as there were a high number of diploma holders who resigned prior to that. They were mostly recruited after me.

Due to this adjustment, I had to endure a lot of trial and tribulation until the end of the first year as it had created dissatisfaction from the others who did not receive it. I was verbally and psychologically abused but I persevered. The network I was in was instrumental in providing support through these trying times. I had also by this time established a mentor and mentee relationship with my departmental manager. He was also helpful in providing motivation and moral support during this time.

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Bagaimana saya melepasi cubaan tahun pertama

Sebagai seorang pekerja baru, saya telah mengadunkan sifat-sifat merendah diri dan pengelakan dalam menghadapi situasi tidak ketentuan itu. Situasi semasa itu dianggap ganjil kerana sesetengah rakan sekerja saya merasakan saya tidak sesuai melakukan kerja itu kerana berpendidikan tinggi dan, walaupun tidak dikatakan kepada saya, mereka merasa akan terpinggir di dalam peluang kenaikan pangkat kerana pendidikan saya yang lebih tinggi berbanding dengan mereka. Walhal saya mahu berlajar dari mereka untuk melaksanakan kerja saya

Oleh itu, saya merendah diri dengan rakan sekerja untuk menimba ilmu dan pembelajaran manakala pengelakkan digunakan untuk menepis cubaan membuli dari sebahagian rakan sekerja yang lebih tua. Ini memerlukan muslihat licik untuk ketahanan jangka panjang kerana saya baru saja tamat pengajian dan tidak mempunyai sebarang pengalaman kerja.

Buli sememangnya adalah satu fenomena biasa di lain-lain tempat seperti di sekolah berasrama penuh, kolej dan seumpamanya. Namun di pejabat kehangatan buli adalah lebih hebat kerana ia melibatkan dua pihak yang perlu berkerja sebagai suatu pasukan. Secara logiknya, dari membuat musuh, seharusnya pekerja lama dan baru berkerjasama mencapai matlamat bersama yang telah ditetapkan.

Oleh itu semasa beberapa bulan awal perkerjaan saya, pengalamannya amatlah mencabar kemahiran sosial dan hubungan peribadi saya. Saya perlu membiasakan diri saya dengan sinergi kumpulan saya, mempelajari kerja baru dari rakan sekerja dan menerima tunjuk ajar dan arahan dari penyelia saya. Saya bernasib baik kerana saya tidak keseorangan. Ada empat lagi yang senasib dengan saya dan kami mengadakan satu rankaian sokongan yang tidak resmi sesama kami. Kami akan bertukar-tukar pandangan dan pengalaman setiap hari samada semasa sarapan atau makan tengahari.

Saya telah disahkan di dalam jawatan saya setelah enam bulan berkerja dan gaji saya telah dinaikkan kepada RM700 sebulan. Kenaikan gaji sebanyak 20% ini telah menimbulkan kontroversi di kalangan rakan sekerja senior saya dan telah dianggap berlebihan, sebenarnya mereka cemburu. Kenaikan itu sebenarnya diberikan sebagai insentif kerana terdapat ramai pemegang diploma telah meletakkan jawatan mereka sebelum itu. Mereka ini diambil berkerja sesudah saya.

Saya menghadapi cubaan dan tribulasi sehingga akhir tahun pertama saya oleh kerana kenaikan gaji ini telah menyebabkan pekerja lain tidak berpuas hati kerana tidak mendapatinya. Akan tetapi, rangkaian tidak resmi saya telah berjaya memberikan sokongan di sepanjang masa yang mencabar ini. Saya juga pada masa yang sama telah mengadakan hubungan mentor dan mentee dengan pengurus jabatan saya. Beliau memberikan sokongan moral dan motivasi kepada saya.