Vet Tech Journals: Working interviews (very long sorry)

Mischief wrote:
snip

Cons: The rest of the staff, particularly the female technicians seem
a trifle distance. I'm not sure why, but i'm getting some weird vibes.

Examples: On day one, after i was done with the feral kitties I came
back out and noticed one of the technicians was getting food. I said
"Oh, its time for feeding now?" I know a mildly dumb question, but I
didn't see the harm in asking.

She said, "Uh....yeah?" The unsaid "DUH" hung in the air and i saw it
in her face. Um, okaaaaaaay.... I brushed it off and went about the
rest of the day, but kept an eye out for her.

Probably what you should have done was asked if there was anything you
could do to help (if you weren't busy at the moment).


And this morning i was looking for another technician to help me, and I
saw one who just came in, but I couldn't remember her name. So I said,
"Uh, Claudia, right?"

Probably a bad tactic. You didn't know her name. The best thing to
do, is say "Excuse me, I need a bit of help, do you have a second?" And
if she says yes say "I'm sorry - I don't remember your name...I have
met so many new people in the last few days..." and she would have *had
to* tell you her name because she already committed herself to helping.
In my example, you broke the ice, in asking for help, and apologized
for not remembering her name - you showed you are human and vulnerable,
which people can identify with. That's much better than guessing when
you obviously don't remember.


She gave me a somewhat condescending glance and said "No." And kept on
walking by. Didn't even stop to see what I was doing.

WTF?

She probably thought your approach was rude.


The two head techs have taken the time to try to get to know me, and
i've had conversations with some of the other males techs but not much.
But each of them took the time to introduce themselves.

NONE of the girls have really said a word to me, even a hello and
haven't even tried to get to know me. And when i do speak to them, I
get this feeling like I'm treading on eggshells.

Be proactive. Say hi first. Ask them how long they have worked there,
etc. when you have a chance to talk to them one on one (and you aren't
really busy). Ask about thei pets! People like people who are
interested in their lives.


So on the one hand the clinic shows promise, it bothers me that I've
only worked there two days and already am getting bad vibes. I've been
trying really hard lately to read people's body language and actions,
and what i've seen isn't impressing.

They seem to me to be mid-level technicians, which is wherabouts where
I would start. But I mean, am I THAT threatening to them already?

No. Being mid-level they are probably swamped with work. I think you
may be reading too much into such situations. You can't expect to
break into a working heirarchy when you are merely trying the job to
see how you like it. They have no vested interest in going out of
their way to get to know you - and in fact, may be waiting to see how
proactively personable YOU are.


mean as far as I know, I'm not acting like I know everything, cause if
I did why would they keep asking back? And I'm almost afraid to
mention it cause I don't want to start any rifts. Of course i'm not
going to mention it NOW, but with the way things are going, I wouldn't
be surprised if in the next week or so they made me an offer. If at
all, THAT is when I would mention it but worded very carefully.

I would not. It makes you seem like you have problems working with
people right off the bat. It would be petty to do so at this point.

Cause
the fit is very important and from the last two places I';ve noticed if
there's ANY kind of bad vibes, it's only a matter of time.

I think you are reading more into such situations than you have to and
then making it a self-fulfilling prophecy. You get your hackles up
right away and never let them down. YOU are in control, Kristy - not
anyone else!



At the last place, 'A' and I clashed early on. And as much as I tried
to work with her, it only got worse and I ended up being blamed for
"always arguing with her" And the place before that, this high school
brat with a major attitude and I clashed a bit as well. For two years
we managed to keep our distance, but the last few months it just got
worse.

Maybe the problem is that you don't give in and just let things go. If
you were being accused of arguing with a head tech then you should have
just shut up and done what she asked. If you *obviously* **** someone
off who is more senior than yourself, apologize to them *every single
time* - even if you KNOW you are right.



And if you've read my latest rant about my unemployment interview, you
can see how frustrating this is.
As much as I like this place so far, the LAST thing i want is to get
hired and have personality conflicts down the road that end up leading
to my termination. Doesn't matter if it's 3 weeks, 3 months or 3
years. That would be THREE jobs in a row where i would have been
discharged for 'not getting along with the staff'

God if that happened I don't know if i could handle that.

Then it is time to take a different road - yes? Maybe look at these
situations in a different way - that these people are NOT out to get
you and people are *not* saying things to you because they don't like
you, or have "attitude problems". Take a step back, give people the
benefit of the doubt, and LET THINGS GO. Value what people say to you -
they have been their longer and know what they are talking about!
Learn when to ask questions and when to be quiet. Respect the
heirarchy. Start each day new.



I'm trying ot keep my head up, and will see how the next working
interview goes. I have another interview tomorrow at a different
place.

ithinkicanithinkicanithinkican.....

You are extremely capable! You need to rely more on your knowledge and
not get so wrapped up in what others *may* be thinking. Believe in
yourself! You have a lot to offer and people will recognize that, but
you have to relax and not worry so much about "vibes" that you may or
may not be getting.

Look at it this way - if someone doesn't like you, so what!?! They
still have to work with you, right? So be nice to them under all
circumstances, and pretend any "slight" they throw your way isn't a
slight - because, afterall, you MAY be misreading them! Kill them with
kindness. If all you project is kindness and helpfulness, people will
see that in you. Greet each person each day in the way you would want
to be greeted. If you have a real run-in with someone, let it go.
Start each day new. People can't like you if you don't give them the
chance! Remember - YOU are in control of how you feel. No one can
make you feel bad without your consent.

Good luck, and knock 'em dead!

-L.