working and finding jobs

[HamSolo01]

Hey

been on this thread for a while but decided to start up a new post about work and jobs and what works for each person. I think mental illness has the potential to hold you back from employment (certainly something that has happened to me). I'm on the mend and I'm just wondering what it is people do for work. How'd you get to where you are now? What worked and didn't work? etc.

Thanks 🙂

[Ivy15]

Hi HamSolo,

Wasn't sure where else to post this but you asked some pretty good questions and I figured perhaps I could share some of my ideas and explain where I'm at.

Firstly, after being off work for about 4 years, I got a job 5 months ago in the Community Services Sector. Community service and the idea of helping others; particularly those less fortunate than I has been something I've wanted to do for a long time. My ill health and recovery increased this desire tenfold. I didn't get my ideal job but it's certainly something I'm enjoying and I know it'll be a good stepping stone towards the ultimate goal.

I was willing, prepared, and able to disclose so I guess I was quite lucky regarding explaining resume gaps.

To set the scene of what is bothering me at the moment, I need to admit I tried going back to work a couple of years ago-doing what I'd always done but on a smaller scale; at the time I thought this would make the job more manageable. 6 weeks in and I began struggling with developing relationships with colleagues, management, and team members, disagreeing with processes and procedured, not feeling like I was able to have enough of an impact because I knew where the company was aspiring to be; had achieved this successfully with another company, but not given the opportunity to put in place the changes I could see needed to happen. 6 months in and I had to resign.

So back to present day. As I said 5 months into my new job and the same issues are presenting again. I'm trying to be humble, gracious, diplomatic etc. But I feel like I can't achieve my best work because my ideas are not supported or implemented by the organisation, my manager needs some lessons in management and people skills, I'm becoming paranoid that I'm not liked by some of my colleagues, and what was once a job I got up early to get to is quickly becoming a disaster as it gets tainted by the above.

I wish I knew a better way to explain this. It's like every little thing that isn't right with the job is building layer upon layer. I can't resign, and I feel like I can't have a conversation with my manager about any of my concerns because I've experienced the way she deals with expressing views to her in the past.

I literally feel stuck!!

[james1]

Hey ivy,

Welcome and it sounds like you're really trying to make a positive contribution to the companies you work in which is awesome.

You talked about having difficulties in relationships with your co-workers, manager and having your ideas not listened to.

I hope you don't mind if I try to understand a bit better.

If it is a problem with the company, there is little you can do about it. Unless you are a manager yourself, there is little you can do about changing the culture and if you can't tolerate it, it is best to either speak to the offending people's managers, or leave. A lot of people in my workplace have done just that.

The other possibility is that, due to your mental illness, you could be reading into things a bit. Perhaps it's a good time to check the facts of what is happening - what are your colleagues doing or saying which may mean they don't like you? When your ideas are not supported, are you communicating them in a way management can understand? When you had a conversation with your manager previously, how did she take it and how can you help her understand your side of the story?

It might be that you're doing everything correctly which is great. But since we only have control over ourselves, maybe that's a good place to start?

I say that because I know I'm very guilty of feeling like my co-workers don't like me. It goes from me walking in and sitting down, and nobody saying hello. Then my psychologist asked me if I always say hello to them, and the truthful answer is I don't. I'm just waiting to see if they want to say hello to me first. No surprise then, that nobody says hello.

James

[Ivy15]

Hi James,

Thanks for your reply. The questions you posed to think about have helped me put things in perspective a bit. It was good to be able to bounce my thoughts on to someone and get a different perspective.

Ivy

[james1]

Hey Ivy, thanks for the reply. I'm glad I could help provide a second opinion.

If you like, you can always start your own thread if there is anything you'd like to speak about specifically for yourself, and that can be your safe space.

James