When I first entered the world of work my main strengths were working quickly and accurately and being able to pick things up quickly. I had a good work ethic too and I naively thought this combined with my ability would take me places in my career.
The first reality check was the fact I'd ace the tasks they'd give me at job interviews but not get the job because I wasn't a culture fit or had the wrong blend of experience.
Eventually I ended up working at an advertising agency which in hindsight was a terrible place to go for someone like me. Because they generally bill by the hour working quickly was frowned upon. Someone there once told me to think of the longest possible time it would take to do something and then double it when being asked how long something will take. As for accuracy, nobody cared. It was largely reports nobody would read and dashboards nobody would use.
I was there for many years and got used to spending a week doing something that could be done in a couple of hours. My work ethic soon went too when it became apparent doesn't lead to pay rises and promotions whilst those who were progressing were some of the most toxic people I've ever had the misfortune of knowing.
I'm no longer there but I still struggle to motivate myself to do anything. I'm still dragging things out for as long as possible and nobody has told me I work too slowly. As a knock on effect I no longer ace the tasks I'm given at interviews like I used to. I have an interview coming up and have a task to do ahead of it. The old me would have finished the task as soon as I got it, but I'm struggling to motivate myself to do it.
I used to also be good at remembering things but now my brain has become like a sieve particularly when it comes to work related things.
Has anyone else found themselves in this situation? If so how did you come out of it?
The first reality check was the fact I'd ace the tasks they'd give me at job interviews but not get the job because I wasn't a culture fit or had the wrong blend of experience.
Eventually I ended up working at an advertising agency which in hindsight was a terrible place to go for someone like me. Because they generally bill by the hour working quickly was frowned upon. Someone there once told me to think of the longest possible time it would take to do something and then double it when being asked how long something will take. As for accuracy, nobody cared. It was largely reports nobody would read and dashboards nobody would use.
I was there for many years and got used to spending a week doing something that could be done in a couple of hours. My work ethic soon went too when it became apparent doesn't lead to pay rises and promotions whilst those who were progressing were some of the most toxic people I've ever had the misfortune of knowing.
I'm no longer there but I still struggle to motivate myself to do anything. I'm still dragging things out for as long as possible and nobody has told me I work too slowly. As a knock on effect I no longer ace the tasks I'm given at interviews like I used to. I have an interview coming up and have a task to do ahead of it. The old me would have finished the task as soon as I got it, but I'm struggling to motivate myself to do it.
I used to also be good at remembering things but now my brain has become like a sieve particularly when it comes to work related things.
Has anyone else found themselves in this situation? If so how did you come out of it?
