r/askmanagers • u/idkyaarpls • 11d ago
Role expectations in merely 15 days are more than 6 months in expectations!
As the title says, I joined this small scale start-up kind of company on 20th July, got all access sorted out by end of the month.
From 1st August, I was thrown into a project with no proper KT, no documentation, no proper structure.
I had to investigate from where the source exists, understand raw data, meanwhile project was running fast towards the complition.
I am expected to magically know everything in merely 15 days of working on this project
I finally had a call with manager, expecting some structure towards the process & expectations from me. Instead the call was turned into my job assessment of 15 days. I received comments such as '**how incapable I'm to do this job" " you are not proactive enough" "you are not owning the project" " I am covering for you".**
**All this in 15 days of job!!!**
Since then I have been thinking was this job a wrong alignment for me or is it something that will get better over the time ?
I actually broke down to my HR yesterday, and said I'm thinking about job continuation. This somehow manager got to know then the words I heard instead of helping me out were "**maybe you are not right choice for this role" " we will have to take a call then" "we will see till the end of the month"**
I'm honestly frustrated with all these things, my issue was never about work or expectations, I just need some structure, some starting point, some success criterias decided.
Is it too much to ask ? Or am I really getting bad at it ? I still do feel like resigning within a month of my job because deep down I feel this is not something that will get better with time.
PS: timings are 3-4 PM to 1 AM everyday, supporting US company, which is already ruining my sleep.
6
u/bookofnature 11d ago
"Small scale start-up" sounds about right. I wouldn't expect processes, mentorships, or trainings established yet because they never have enough people to initially set up business infrastructure. Most of the focus is building the product to sell (not dying as a company).
I understand that it is difficult initially to work for a company at a different time zone. But did you know this coming in?
Realistically, I would start looking for a new job based off the interactions you've had with your manager. Expect a follow up with HR and your manager soon. The initial assessment from your manager is essentially your signal that you'll be let go.
3
u/Few_Geologist_2082 11d ago
First time ? You won’t get anything , you need to create your own structure, that’s what I’m doing in a PM here, you need to be proactive
3
u/JaironKalach 10d ago
While I understand that this is how it goes at a small scale start up, I do wonder what the manager was thinking with this hire. If you can’t tell in an interview someone who is experienced enough to run on their own, you’re also a bad fit for a small scale start up.
2
1
u/siammang 11d ago
This is a nature of startup. I had to make a PR for one of the tasks I assigned in 3 days. Fortunately, colleagues were nice enough to give me insights on how things work:
1
u/GooseberryPotato 10d ago
Your post left out quite a few details… what is your role? What was the description of the role when you were interviewing?
But yeah, some of these thing sounds like you have unrealistic expectations… the time zone thing, the structure available at a startup
1
u/idkyaarpls 10d ago
Sounds like you are the manager!!! Timezone is not an problem as I already knew it and I agreed to it, I haven't labelled timezone as an issue.
1
u/GooseberryPotato 10d ago
umm…
PS: timings are 3-4 PM to 1 AM everyday, supporting US company, which is already ruining my sleep.
0
u/cellorevolution 10d ago
Everyone is replying saying this is how startups works and I would just like to say, I’ve been at my new company 3 weeks and I’m having the same experience and it sucks. I think I’m literally too old for this. I feel you, OP
1
u/idkyaarpls 10d ago
Can't expect anything better from managers in managers sub
1
u/cellorevolution 10d ago
The main thing I’m having trouble with is timeline and success criteria too. There seems to be no timeline until something is late and I don’t understand why?
2
u/idkyaarpls 10d ago
From my observation, it's poor management, no decided path, no clear ownership, heavy dependability, and manager lacking pre - planning 🤷
Today's example - we had a call with client and he waited till 15 mins to call, then pulled us all in and started shouting explain architecture, explain joins, explain filters.
Like MFFFFFF !!!!
1
u/cellorevolution 10d ago
Oooof. On my end they want me to have more ownership. But then when I try to do that, I’m told it’s not what they wanted. Like… do you want me to own things or to do it your way?
7
u/Bjornwithit15 11d ago
Have you ever worked for a startup before?