JOINING THE JIGSAW PIECES OF A NEW JOB

#midlifeblog cresting the hill

NEW HORIZONS

I have undergone an amazing transition in the last few weeks. A month ago I was a guru in my field. I knew every dentist and dental specialist in my vicinity. I knew who was good, who was great and who was indifferent. I knew the terminology, the appointment types, the item numbers and the costings and I could multi task several things at once. If you needed a goddess of all things dental I would have been a candidate for the job. Then I got bored.......

I stepped out of that comfort zone without a backward glance and then blithely stepped into a new field where I realized (slightly too late) that I knew virtually nothing....zip......narda!

A DIFFERENT WORLD

Starting a new job in your usual area of expertise is a bit like starting a fairly easy jigsaw puzzle. The borders are in place and you just need to join up a few new pieces. Launching into a new job in a completely new field is more like starting a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle from scratch. Someone tips the box upside down and you have to find a way to connect the pieces and make sense of the bigger picture.

The first day of my new job was like being cast as Alice in Wonderland. The rabbit hole got deeper and deeper and I was going down and down and down into a completely different world - my mind felt like marshmallow and I honestly wondered a few times what I had gotten myself into.

So many new things to learn - new people, new computer programs, new terminology, new appointment schedules, new networks etc etc - my brain was spinning like a top by the time I left that afternoon. I staggered home, put on my softest, fluffiest pajama pants and socks - drank two cups of coffee, took two pain killers and ate a chocolate chip muffin. I updated my facebook status to reveal my bemusement and then felt somewhat better and contemplated returning the next day and not heading for the hills as I'd originally been planning!

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

Since then things have gotten a LOT better - you know when you sort the jigsaw puzzle pieces a bit and find a few that are the same colour and join up and you can see where they fit in the big picture? You know that you still have a long way to go but there is a general direction to head in. Well that has started to happen and I am beginning to get a clearer idea of what is expected of me and what the job actually entails.

I think I had been so bombarded with new information that I lost sight of the fact that it is actually quite a straightforward job and I am more than capable of doing it and making a good job of it in the process. As I get more 'hands on' with the appointments and the filing and the daily processes I am feeling a little less bewildered and a little more like my old self. Things have started making sense and linking up and the picture is beginning to emerge. There are still about 846 pieces to go, but at least I've made a good start.

IT'S ALL OKAY

The biggest and best indicator that it should all work out in the end is that everyone there seems to think I'm doing really well and I'm catching on more quickly than expected. It's nice to know that there is still some life left in this old brain and the challenge of a new job will certainly keep me on my toes for some time to come (if I live that long!)



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23 comments

  1. This is coming soon in my world :-) 46 but I presume it will all be the same…

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    1. That's great news Carla - I keep telling myself that future-me will thank the struggling me for all the effort and pain eventually :)

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  2. Congratulations! I did not realize you found something...it keeps us young to keep learning new things. I have an interview this morning and I continue to work retail...the retail job is teaching me so much...I am exhausted but love the interaction with the customers. So happy you are on your way in your new life!

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    1. Thanks Pam - I hope the interview produces a great job, even if it doesn't it is still good practice. This job ticks most of my boxes - not perfect but pretty good - especially working less days so I'm hoping I'm getting the balance right.

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  3. Sounds like a roller coaster of emotions, and at the same time, like a positive experience overall.

    Change is good - right? That's what I try to keep telling myself when I'm scattered or drawn too thin. Congrats on your new job and your success at it.

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    1. Thanks Andrea - I keep telling myself that it will all be good in a few months but right now it is pretty full on!

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  4. Congratulations! It is amazing what the old brain can muster!

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    1. Thanks Haralee - I'll feel a bit better when my brain catches up with the learning curve!

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  5. Good for you! You are an inspiration. Deep down you knew you could do it, your confidence just needed to catch up. Best of luck!

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    1. That is actually a very good summary of what I was feeling Elena - my self esteem is a bit lacking at times and I just need to push that confidence button a bit more :)

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  6. I remember how a new job would feel... so glad you have begun to feel comfortable in your new gig!
    Carol
    http://carolcassara.com/afterlife/

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    1. Thanks Carol - still quite a way to go but it feels a little more normal every day - who knows, one day I might be an expert in this specialty too :)

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  7. I have a difficult time tackling something new. This old brain simply doesn't want to do the work! Kudos to you for being such an example to the rest of us! And well done!

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    1. Thanks Di - my brain is telling me to run for the hills but I'm hanging in there and hoping for the best!

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  9. Great post about overcoming the challenges and learning curve of a new job. Thanks for the reminder to remember the big picture, I will be starting a part time job in a couple of weeks and there will be a lot to learn and take in. #Wednesday'sWisdom

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    1. Hi Charissa - good luck with the new job - it does get easier as you go along but it is certainly a learning curve to start with!

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  10. I love the analogy you used! I bet you are rocking it! If not you will be soon enough.

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    1. Hi Rena - I'm not sure that I'm anywhere near the "rocking it" stage but slowly....slowly..... I'm heading in the right direction :)

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  11. It takes time to settle into a new job or anything new really. Change can be hard. I know you will be fine so thank you for sharing your story with us Leanne at #AnythingGoes

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    1. thanks Sue - change is always scary for me but it's also good for me so I'm persevering!

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  12. I'm sure you are doing a fabulous job and will become more comfortable in time. Its great to have a new challenge. Thanks for sharing your story with us at #WednesdaysWisdom

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Thanks so much for your comment - it's where the connection begins.