Work advice needed

Society Business and Career
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I took on too much this semester and as a result, I am behind on things for both school and work. I am a research assistant at a hospital; so far I have fallen asleep in rounds and presentations. I have also asked for a massive extension on a project. School only lets me down (and group members) but I am letting my boss down as well. It is the weirdest feeling; I am ashamed and regretful at the way things are turning out in the work direction but my semester is a heavy one and that is more of a priority right? I just hate shirking commitments.

I have learned my lesson about taking on too much but what I want to know is, how can I fix things with my boss? I can make it up by doing great work on the upcoming projects but what about right now when I have messed up so badly? Because of the sleeping in rounds deal, I have lowered her reputation because I “represent” her. To top it all off, I fell asleep sitting right next to the head of the neurology department. Should I apologize to him as well?

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Re: Work advice needed

Sarah, with all due respect...start looking for another job. I dont think they will keep you very long...the are probably looking for your replacement already.

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Re: Work advice needed

Thanks for the honesty Kaleem. I am leaving the position in April anyway.

It is well established that in every aspect of life, I am a royal fuuck-up.

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Re: Work advice needed

I would not go so far as that. I'm assuming you're talking about a health-related research position, or a science one? Those people are VERY familiar about what an overloaded student's life is like. I suggest you talk to your boss directly about the situation and explain to her that you took on way more than you feel was HEALTHY for you to take on. (i.e. that you are barely getting any sleep).

Rather than emphasize on how you can't handle it, ask for suggestions on how to minimize your time on the research and get more out of it, so that you can take care of your studies too. If the boss is not understanding about the school work, then its in your best interest to drop the position and find someone who is more understanding. You fire them. Don't let them fire you.

Time Pass
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Re: Work advice needed

This sounds like it needs some major damage control !

Although the situation sounds obstinate, PCG has some really good points… most employers do understand an intern’s situation if he/she is handling school and work.

It’s always prudent to accept your faults if you’ve realized them… it could go a long way in gaining back your respect. Try being proactive about it with your boss/superiors – let them know your situation, ask them for help and advise them of any remedial steps that you’re taking to resolve the problem.

Last but not the least, don’t lose the lesson – it’s very easy to fall into the trap of taking on too much without realizing it (I do it all the time :( )

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Re: Work advice needed

PCG, it's a clinical neurology (epilepsy) and neuropsychology position.

Umar, my supervisor's attitude toward me has totally changed. I usually run when I get myself into deep **** and when I was being lectured by her, I had almost uncontrollable urges to get up from her office and walk out. This position was the break I needed, right now I am afraid in terms of references. How much does extra-school stuff matter in terms of graduate school? Keep in mind that this is not my field (I am going into criminology but I am approaching it from a multidisciplinary perspective).

PCG, I hope your thread on failure was not inspired by this!

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Re: Work advice needed

Work references matter a lot... but how much depends whether you are thinking about completing a Masters program via the coursework option or the Practicum / Project option… for the latter, you’d probably be assigned on a field placement to an agency with specific needs, and this is where your references would be useful ! there may be less of a work reference stipulation if you were opting for a thesis based program.

Your references from a medical placement would indeed have been an asset to a collaborative/multi-disciplinary program in Criminology... there are quite a few programs I know of which have Psychology and Public Health Sciences based options.

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Re: Work advice needed

Thesis based program. I want to do research. Thanks Umar. I will take your advice re: fixing things with her.

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Re: Work advice needed

SarahSplendor, if she is at the point where she is lecturing you, then rest assured that no matter what you do, her reference will not be positive. And if you have to fight with the person to give you a break since you're juggling studies at the same time, then he/she is not an understanding mentor. Better you switch to another mentor and forget the hell out of this one.

MANY PhD's have these sorts of problems. One issue is that many of them (not all) do not have good social skills and interpersonal skills. They have no idea how to value people who work for them, and they will use you like a friggin mule and will not give you an inch of thanks at the end of it. I've been in positions like that, and the only solution was to really get out of it. When I have tried to fight my mentors/bosses and convince them that look, I got my studies to take care of as well, and other responsibilities, and they don't want to hear it...hell, I felt just like you do. What will happen to my rec letter? But its wiser to get out of the situation.

Think of it like this : Would you want a rec letter written by someone who has no respect for you?

People who are mentors usually need to have some patience with working with someone who is learning the ropes, and they need to give you some time when it comes to your studies. Some mentors are accomodating and respectful. Some are not. Rec Letters from arse's are not worth jack, in my opinion.

I've been in situations like this, and like I said. The only way to solve the problem was just to leave the job. Just tell them how you feel, what your greivances are, and PUT IT ALL IN WRITING. EVERYTHING YOU DO GOES IN WRITING. That will 1. scare the crap out of them and you'll find everyone being superbly meethay meethay and 2. you are only protecting yourself.

Regardless of what blunders you make, honestly, you are studying and working at the same time. If the blasted jerk can't realize that, then take this as a learning lesson, don't work for them again, and hell if anyone asks you to recommend this mentor as a possible mentor for other students, give THEM a bad recommendation!

Haha, I have done that with one of my old mentors. Any time a student asks me for a suggestion on that mentor, I just tell it like it is.

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Re: Work advice needed

PCG, I am concerned about the reference because what I do is too good to be true and not typical for undergrad students. The youngest person there as far as I can tell is a graduate student with a neuropsych degree. Obviously I have put this on my resume, but if I don't have her backing it up, all the stuff (all true) will look like I am telling tall tales.

I have worked hard before this and she has been appreciative and has given me a lot of freedom to do things as I want. But I have a bad rap at the hospital from some volunteering I did in my teens. So the recent falling asleep and asking for extensions seems like the past few months of good work were just a show and now my "true nature" is coming out. The truthful part is, I was extremely excited about this in the beginning, ie about epilepsy and so on, but this semester, because of the course load, I have become an uninterested zombie.

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Re: Work advice needed

Okay, it's all worked out! She isn't pissed anymore because of the work I stuff I showed her today, and I am not worried about the reference anymore.

Lizard se darna mna hai
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Re: Work advice needed

That's good, but how had you approached the situation? Did you let her know you're just feeling overworked?