[4givrnt4gtr]

Im feeling really really low today
Well acutally have been for a bit.
I have been working as a receptionist of a small corporation for almost 9 months now. Around February I started to slack off a bit, sorta cutting corners in order to have time to get school applications ready.I know, total bad move.
Anyway things started falling apart, printers ran out of ink, we ran out of paper. It was a total mess. I then realized I couldnt just cruise through work. Unfortunately the damaged had been done. A few weeks later my boss called me into her office.
She told me some people had been complaining about how when I transfered the calls i would say is someone and then turn out to be someone else (sometimes names are hard to hear!). Also, that I need to make sure i get what people ask me to do right because apparently one of the big bosses had asked me to do send something to someone and I sent it to the wrong person. THen, the whole issue with supplies running out...it was just not good.
SO this was a few weeks back and she told me she would be keeping an eye out. Ive been trying extra hard to make sure i get my work done well. And then...That same boss that I sent that one thing wrong had asked me to send him a packaged a few days ago.
I did it but I can hardly understand his writing. When i input it the fedex
website automatically fixed it so i left it that way since it said that
otherwise it may not be able to deliver it.
Anyway he came up to me today and told me that it had gotten sent to the wrong address and that if he told me to do something or send something and I didnt understand his writing or what he wanted, to ask him.
I felt so stupid.
Since my talk to my boss ive felt like im walking on eggshells, trying to not mess up.
Apparently thats not working either. Im afraid that i may lose my job and mostly i just hate the thought that I cant even be a receptionist. What does that say about me???
In a way I want to say that this is just not my type of job (as I am training to be a Psychologist) but at the same time, I really like working where I do, and I hate to feel like I am not capable of being a secretary.
Is what has happened so far grounds for dismissal? Im so paranoid now. I hate feeling like this. My self esteem is getting a beating.

[whichwayisup]

It isn't grounds for dismissal yet, but it seems they are keeping an eye on you and how many mistakes you make.

All you can do is ask for help when you need it, double and triple check addresses and other important information before sending something out. Stop cutting corners, try to be more organized. Your past actions of letting things slip abit back in February has made them doubt your abilities, rightfully so. (Sorry, don't mean to hurt your feelings, but you did admit to slacking off, which was noticed by others.)

Work hard, ask questions when you aren't sure of something and just know that the effort you put in, the hardwork WILL be noticed by your bosses and other co-workers.

This may not be the right job for you, but for now, it's what you have on your plate.

[curiousnycgirl]

To be honest yes, poor performance is grounds for dismissal. But you are underestimating what it takes to do these jobs - it takes a great deal of attention to detail, and a service orientation. Not everyone is cut out for them.

Rather than saying you can't even be a receptionist or secretary, I would hope this experience is giving you a newfound respect for people who are able to do this job successfully.

I truly hope you are not fired, and that you are given the opportunity to make good.

[Moose]

Being an Executive myself, I would appreciate it if my assistant, (or secretary) would approach me herself to let me know she's aware of the slip-ups and that she's making a conscience effort to step it up.

If you let this go, it'll eat at you plus it will also cause management to believe you just don't care about your job.

[4givrnt4gtr]

Originally Posted by Moose

Being an Executive myself, I would appreciate it if my assistant, (or secretary) would approach me herself to let me know she's aware of the slip-ups and that she's making a conscience effort to step it up.

If you let this go, it'll eat at you plus it will also cause management to believe you just don't care about your job.

I did tell my boss when she first talk to me about it. I told her i knew i had been dropping the ball and i was trying to get back to how i began (which was good, i even got a raise a couple of months after I was hired)

AFter that I havent had any slip ups until today. Reason why i feel so crummy. Im trying hard but even then, im still messing up

[Touche]

If you don't understand the name on the phone, just say "Excuse me, I didn't quite catch that. Can you repeat it slowly for me?" Or you can ask them to spell it.

If you have ANY doubts about what someone's written. Ask. It's better to ask than to send a package out to the wrong person.

Just keep paying attention. You did it before so you know you can do it again.

[Taramere]

If you keep making mistakes, it could be grounds for dismissal on the grounds of lack of capability or incompetence. Catch all terms which also cover things like indifference and laziness. It sounds more as if you're stressed and nervous - but those things in themselves can eventually lead to a form of fear paralysis which can have the same outcome as indifference as far as your work goes.

The more nervous you get, the less confidence you have at work, the less initiative you're likely to be taking. So, for instance, if you don't catch someone's name on the phone you probably feel inhibited about asking them to spell it out.

Developing a friendly telephone manner (as opposed to the fake, alien sounding chirpiness that no sane person would warm to) is a really useful skill for a receptionist. That way, you get into the habit of developing very fast rapport with people you're talking to. When you can make the task of dealing with you on the phone fun and pleasant for people, they're far less likely to mind you double checking details of who they are and where they're calling from.

You'll always make mistakes at work. Everyone does. Focus on being relaxed, warm and approachable, apologise when you make mistakes - and you'll get away with a lot more as regards the odd f*ck up.

[4givrnt4gtr]

Originally Posted by Taramere

You'll always make mistakes at work. Everyone does. Focus on being relaxed, warm and approachable, apologise when you make mistakes - and you'll get away with a lot more as regards the odd f*ck up.

YEah i know i have to relax...but i really cant. Feels like im walking on eggshells now, and it just irritates me. Im doing everything i can think of to prove im a hard worker. Yet I still get the vibe my boss isnt very happy with me. Maybe its just me, or maybe she's just tired from her trip, i dont know, but it just seems she's a bit cold, much more than she used to.

THis is so irritating.

[lovestruck818]

I make a ton of mistakes @ work...more than I care to admit on this forum...but I am always honest about it and don't place blame on others. When I make a mistake, I admit it proudly. There is nothing wrong with making mistakes- they are unavoidable- the trick is how you handle it when you make mistakes.

If you are on the phone and you can't understand someone, as has been suggested, either ask the person to speak slower, have them spell it out, or even ask if there is someone else you can speak to. I sometimes do terrible with accents and cannot understand what people are saying at all.

As far as Fedex packages go, if someone hands you a piece of a paper with a name and address ont it, look at immediately when the person hands it to you. That way if you have any questions, you can ask him/her before they walk away so you can make sure you get it right. "Excuse me, what does this say?" You could even maybe ask them to type it out for you or e-mail it so that you can't make a mistake on the handwriting.

It is always better to ask and not know then to assume you know and do it wrong. Don't be afraid to ask questions and admit when you are wrong or when you don't know the answer to something. No one expects you to be perfect but they probably expect you handle things a certain way. If you get someone who calls and they ask you something you don't know the answer to, just say "I'm not sure but I will ask someone who knows and get an answer for you."

Don't let it get the best of you. Everyone screws up sometime or another.