Personal timeline

Upper-Ebb-8700's journey

Milestones, reflections, and progress updates connected as your layoff-to-next-step story unfolds.

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    I recently reflected on my previous job experience that left me with significant anxiety about future roles. I was working at a marketing agency on a fixed-term contract, despite having no prior marketing background. They hired me because they appreciated my eagerness to learn, but the lack of training made things challenging. Initially, I received positive feedback and passed my probation in just one month, but then I was unexpectedly placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). The environment was tough; a colleague I was supposed to learn from often ignored my requests for help, and another called me 'clueless' for asking basic questions. A director who had been friendly during the interview process suddenly became distant, which added to my confusion. I’m usually reserved when starting a new job, but I try to be friendly and avoid drama, so I struggled to understand if I genuinely underperformed or if it was a result of poor management. This experience has made me hyperaware of how others perceive my work, and I worry about repeating the same mistakes in future roles. Currently, I’m in a corporate development/M&A position, and things are going well. I have a supportive manager and great colleagues, which has been a relief. However, I still carry the anxiety of potentially ending up in a similar situation again. I’m curious if others have faced similar transitions between companies or industries and how they managed their anxiety and perceptions of performance.

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  2. 1

    Today, I reflected on my past experiences with anxiety stemming from a previous job. I once worked at a marketing agency on a fixed-term contract, despite having no background in marketing. They chose me for my enthusiasm and willingness to learn, but I received minimal training and had to navigate most challenges on my own. Initially, I passed my probation with positive feedback, but then I was unexpectedly placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). The situation was confusing; I felt unsupported by colleagues who often ignored my requests for help, and one even called me 'clueless' for asking questions. A director who had been friendly during the interview turned cold, leaving me unsure if I genuinely underperformed or if there were other issues at play. This experience left me anxious about my work performance, making me hyper-aware of my colleagues' perceptions. Now, I’m in a completely different role in corporate development/M&A, where I thrive under a supportive manager and have great colleagues. Yet, I still worry that my next job might mirror my past negative experience. I want to understand how to differentiate between genuine underperformance and being in a poorly managed environment. I’m also curious if these experiences vary by industry or company culture. Has anyone else transitioned between such different environments and found a stark contrast in their experiences?

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