Anonymous Confessions: One Week In, I Was Told To Run

Rejected or Selected: This podcast is recorded on Wajak Nungar Buja, country where sovereignty was never ceded, and we like to pay our respects to elders past, present and those emerging within the community. Hello everybody and welcome to the very first episode of Anonymous Confessions, a rejected or selected show brought to you well with just me, Simon Carabetta, today. No Deanny Jagdor, unfortunately. She's traveling at the moment and ⁓ has left me to run our first Anonymous Confessions episode. But she has very kindly shared with me. Our latest anonymous confession and the first one we're sharing in this format episode. So for those of you that don't know, we run rejected or selected. That's every fortnight. And there's always that week in between that's kind of, well, there's no show. So, you know, what do we listen to? And Dee Dee and I thought, well, let's just fill that week with the anonymous confessions. So we started sharing these previously on our main show, but now we've decided to have a little spin-off show where we will share one of our anonymous confessions from you lovely listeners with all of you again in the weeks between our main episodes. So this week's anonymous confession is actually, I'm gonna bring it up now on the screen. So those of you who are watching out there on YouTube land. You might see this. ⁓ and for those of you who are just listening in, well, you can just enjoy listening in. So there's our little ⁓ if you and by the way, for anyone that is out there and has not done so yet, and there are a lot of you, you can hit up our anonymous confessions page via the show notes, which I'll put in on this show anyway. And this is what will basically come up for you on the screen. So there's me and there's Dee. And that's me without any, well, a little bit of facial hair from a long time ago. And Deanny barely changed. ⁓ okay, so let's get into it today. So what kind of confession are we spilling today? And this particular person. Now I haven't read this, by the way, folks. Deanny has. She said it's an absolute doozy. I'm gonna love it. I don't know what she means by that because it's an anonymous confession. It can't be that good. ⁓ okay, so this one is the selected. So this ⁓ the category is landing landing the job you weren't qualified for, corporate politics, wild co-workers, or office drama. And this person has given us a very juicy title. Maybe they should come work for our show. This is called One Week In, I Was Told. To run. Okay. Now I'm gonna read this verbatim, folks. So hopefully there's no grammatical errors or it isn't a wall of text, and luckily it isn't. Okay. Here is the confession. So here we go. Just graduated from TAFE as an international student, which meant completing an advanced diploma that locals do not usually pursue. Because it is not commonly required in the industry. Okay. After years of paying extremely high international student fees, while also covering rent, food, and everyday expenses by myself, I finally reached a point where I thought life was about to become easier. I have a feeling there's a rug being pulled out after this. Here we go, let's read on. I got a job at an engineering company north of the river. For those of you outside of Perth, there is a river divide. We have the the lovely Durbell Yerrigan River, the Swan River, and those that live north, and then those that live south, apparently they hate each other. ⁓ it's not that bad. Okay, sorry, let's get on with it. Okay, I got a job at an engineering company north of the river that had been operating for 35 years. And I genuinely felt lucky to have the opportunity. Even though the pay was minimal, I justified it by telling myself that I had limited experience and that it would eventually improve as I gained more skills. However, I was completely wrong. Because the pay was so low, I continued working my casual job while starting this role. Meaning I was working both jobs at the same time. It was exhausting, but the most draining part was not the workload, it was the environment I walked into. Brace yourselves, people. That's not what was written. That's me talking. That's my editorializing. Me editorializing on this. I'll stop now. Okay. During the interview I was taken into a conference room that appeared modern and professional. Once I started working there I quickly realized that the actual office environment was completely different. The workplace felt outdated and stuck in the nineteen nineties. There were papers and printouts everywhere, from A one to A three drawings covering desks and floors and an old fax machine a fax machine and an old fax machine collecting dust and General lack of cleanliness, no proper lunch area, and very little sense of a welcoming team environment. I'm actually trying very hard not to laugh so far at this horror story. As time went on, I noticed behaviors that became increasingly difficult to deal with. It was normalized for people to be spoken to aggressively. With raised voices and frequent yelling sorry. I need a moment. And frequent yelling occurring in the office. Days like this. I wish I had D with me. Cursing and negative conversations. It's it's funny 'cause I've worked in a place like it's right. All right. Sorry. Cursing and negative conversations about clients were also treated as normal workplace pain. The lack of proper training was another major issue. In a technical role, especially when someone is starting out. Guidance and support are extremely important. Instead, I was given a computer and essentially told to start doing the work. without a proper onboarding process or structured training. Yay. The boss's office was right behind me with the door open, meaning conversations could often be heard throughout the office. Just want to pause for a second, people, you can hear me laughing and and reading this out in a very non serious tone. I look, I'm not laughing at this person. I'm I'm It's not even the situation, it's just I've seen this. I know what it's like and the ridiculousness of it. I I can't help but laugh. I'm sorry. ⁓ and not to take and not to take away any of the seriousness from this particular scenario, just letting you know it is quite ridiculous. And I don't mean to laugh. It's it's just I'm sorry. All right, let's keep going. ⁓ okay, so the boss's door right behind me, ⁓ meaning conversations could often be heard throughout the office, including phone calls conducted on speaker, lovely, where people could hear raised voices and frustration. He also had glass panels. And it felt like he was looking over my shoulder at all times. I can't getting some PTSD from this one. Using headphones wasn't something that was allowed, which is pretty normal at this type of job. There was also no flexible hours which which most officers also do, and we had to start the work at nine AM till five thirty. Whoa. You would be told off told off. Like what are you, a Yorkshire Terrier? I mean You would be told off if you were five minutes late, but you were expected to stay back without getting paid. Nice. Even though it is six PM on a Friday, okay. Ridiculous. Staying overtime happens several days a week and it ranged from twenty minutes to two hours. Far out, wait that much. One of the most disappointing experiences was related to a document I needed for my visa. Ooh, here we go. I followed up repeatedly over a long period of time and was continuously given the impression that it would be provided. Only for it ultimately not to happen. As an international employee, this was extremely stressful because these documents can have a significant impact on important life decisions. Folks, as someone who's done the expat thing, I've lived and worked overseas previously, not having specific visa documents done on time and properly by your employer are the most stressful things when it's happening. It's horrible. Trust me, it makes you sick. ⁓ during my time there, I also noticed that many employees had only stayed for a short period, contributing to a very high staff turnover. I later learned that people within the industry were aware of the workplace issues, yet nothing seemed to change as I believe that most people just leave and move on to a different company. Staff that staff that was there. Staff there were were relatively nice. Some of them were willing to help me and support me in learning, but the boss didn't approve of that, as he needed everyone to make him money. Fuck me. And they themselves were caught up in this these huge projects that were way overdue, thanks to poor management of the company. Whoever this is, I I absolutely feel for you. I really do. I'm not finished yet, by the way. I am sharing this experience because I wish I had done more research before accepting the position. Excuse me. Employers often ask candidates for references, but candidates should also consider speaking with current or former employees before accepting a role. A workplace can look completely different during an interview compared to what employees experience day to day. Yes. Thank you. That's me editorializing. I also wish there was a way to warn potential employees as they are vulnerable and people often take any graduate job because they believe that they are not in a position to choose. Wow. At least that is what I thought at the time. And furthermore, being visa dependent and needing that experience as soon as possible doesn't help. I tried leaving a Google review, but unfortunately it was too aggressive. And Google still doesn't let me leave it, even when I've corrected it. So that's the main part. ⁓ the industry and job role. Ooh, drafts person. I don't know any drafts people or anyone in that industry. But that's interesting. Okay, and the last lastly. We ask we ask this in every anonymous confession, by the way. He says, looking back, what did you learn or what advice do you have for listeners? Okay, and they've said, All right. One week into the job, I contacted a previous employee to hear their thoughts and was told to run ASAP. My attitude at the time was it can't be that bad. It's in quotes, it can't be that bad. But over time I realized just how bad it really was. Looking back, I wish I had contacted previous employees before accepting the role. Employers ask candidates for references, but candidates should also feel comfortable asking to speak with current or former employees to understand the work culture and I also wish I had asked for a tour of the office and trusted my gut feeling instead of rushing into the first available opportunity. Wow, okay, so I'm gonna close that I'm gonna close that now. Stop sharing. Wow. I I've got so many things and I'm not gonna take too much time because these are meant to be shorter episodes as well. But I think there's a fair bit to go on with here. ⁓ the first things that that really kind of I guess stick out to me is that a this person, you, and I'm speaking to you, hopefully you're listening today. This person was a ⁓ a graduate entry level in their industry. They'd studied internationally, which is not cheap by the way in Australia. And I I do have the utmost respect for any international students coming over here and undertaking a study and then getting their first job and getting paid absolute peanuts to pay off that debt or actually no, not even debt, because you pay out front if you're international and it's a lot of money. ⁓ So they're they're kind of tied to this job in a way because A, they had if their employer was also taking care or supposedly taking care of visa documents, then that their visa and their status is linked to their job, which means they are virtually trapped in that job. If they resign, they may give up whatever visa status they may be applying for or currently have. So for example, a lot of companies in Australia and in other countries. will sponsor an employee who's from another country, so an expat. They'll sponsor them by paying for their part their permanent residency or their their work residency or whatever visa they may have attached to that job. So their residency in that country is dependent on employment with that employer. So if they choose to quit or if they get fired for whatever reason then that means that they're virtually in trouble in in danger of being ⁓ go going back home, essentially. For some people that that might not be an option. For some people it is. But again, if you've studied in Australia, you want to work in Australia, you kind of you're already halfway to making a life for yourself in this country. And believe me on believe me, this country needs more skilled migrants, trust me. ⁓ that's one thing. So, you know You can't really leave because of the visa, but you can't lead as well because you want to get that experience. You want to have a few years as a drafts person at this company under your belt, so to speak. So you can then go to a better company. But again, that isn't an option either because your visa is tied to this. So you may be there for the long run. other other things, going back to the boss. All right. The the boss left his door open or her didn't say he or she did it. Didn't specify gender. I think they said he. Alright. So the boss left their door open. they had their calls on speakerphone, which is just a big no no. ⁓ not just for the I guess the the well being of your staff not having to hear your calls and your frustration. Or your client's frustration on the other end. But particularly if there is sensitive information being, you know, communicated on a call, just shut your door. Take the call on a headset. Or that's probably not allowed at this company because this this particular person couldn't even wear headphones. Take it on a headset or take it on on the actual handset itself. ⁓ I don't understand why it had to be on a speaker. I don't know what you're trying to. This particular boss, I don't know what you're trying to do to your employees. You're obviously exacerbating an already toxic workplace environment. ⁓ okay. The other thing as well, the fact that you were taken into an interview in this nice, bright, shiny corporate conference room and then and and that was the that was before the job. Here's what it here's what here's what this place is gonna look like. So they're already falsely advertising the environment of the office and suddenly you're in this place where there is paper everywhere. There is a dusty fax machine in the corner. you can't even wear headphones to escape the noise of what I'm assuming is a very noisy and chaotic environment already. it's just there's so many things that scream to me toxic workplace. And this goes back to last week's ⁓ mainline rejected or selected episode with Deanny and I where we talked about the toxic workplace. It's just, it's so, there are so many things at this workplace. Like the fact that you're doing unpaid overtime. So wage theft is right there.Anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours. If you're expected, I mean it said this. Okay, I'm going back to this bit here. And I'm gonna I'm gonna bring it back up and share that. It says here, right? ⁓ I'm trying to highlight the bit. There was also no flexible there were also no flexible work hours, which most officers do, and we had to start the work at nine AM till five thirty. We had to start now I I I don't know this person. They haven't given us details and we don't want details because this is all anonymous by the way. But do you mean you had to start work at nine? Because if I my employer told me you have to start at nine, I would I would have some words to say about that. I actually the days I can, I actually get into the office at seven thirty even early if I'm able to. ⁓ particularly now in in Western Australia where I am, we have daylight saving over east in the eastern states now in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, Canberra and and Hobart. They all have daylight saving. So I'm now three hours behind those cities and I'm th effectively three hours behind many of my colleagues. Getting in the office at 7 30 in the summer for me is great because it means that ⁓ my employee my colleagues have already got a three hour head start on me. It's ten thirty there. But I also I also deal with a lot of students and customers in my current job who are three hours ahead of me. And getting into the office at seven thirty when when I'm able to is a no brainer. And it also it's great for me in the summer, means I get to leave the office at three thirty. And I get to enjoy, go to the beach at four o'clock and and have that lifestyle, which I am very thankful for, by the way, but I love my employer. So but this particular person, if you you have to get in at nine, that kind of suss because it means you leave late. I'm of the opinion that if if your job enables it, let your people get in as early as they want so they can leave early as long as they get their job done. I don't care. I don't care. As long as they got their job done. Anyway, I'm gonna stop sharing that now. Okay, so there's a lot of things that stick out for me, anonymous, and I I'm so sorry that you had to deal with this. I really do genuinely hope two things. I really hope you're still in WA and this this hasn't soured your your experience living here. And I genuinely hope you've made it to a better workplace than this and you're making a career for yourself. here in here in Western Australia. Or at least stay in Australia. I mean, come on, don't let this give you a bad one bad experience giving you impression of what corporate life in Australia is like, 'cause it really isn't. Right. Okay. So that look, folks, there's a lot to to unpack there and I I probably haven't unpacked everything. You I I again I don't have Deanny here to to bounce off, but that's okay. ⁓ I hope you've enjoyed our first episode of Anonymous Confessions. We do we are making this a a permanent fixture now every second week. So you don't have to wait for us. You don't have to wait to hear our lovely voices once a fortnight now. You can hear them every week right here on Rejected or Selected Anonymous Confessions and the week after on our rejected or selected episodes. Folks, if you have an anonymous confession from your workplace or past workplace, ⁓ even ⁓ even, you know, where you studied, if you have an anonymous confession about something toxic or ⁓ you know, a job search that has just gone on for ages and the horrible stuff you're dealing with in terms of hiring managers and recruiters or a really bad candidate experience, or let's flip it, if you've got a really positive experience in a workplace and it's something that you genuinely want to share because it was so good, share it with us. The anonymous confessions form. You can find it in the show notes for this and every episode from now on. ⁓ we want to hear it. It is anonymous. It is completely you know, there is anon anonymity. I can't say that word that properly this time of day, but it is completely anonymous. There is no information that will be tied back to you or your employer. And even if your anonymous confession may have enough in there for us To see where all the breadcrumbs leave, we will leave information out because we don't want ⁓ anything to be tied ⁓ to anyone particular or any workplace in particular. Yes, I do love naming and shaming, but whether when and where it is appropriate. And we haven't got media insurance yet. So we just wanted to let you all know. So, okay, that's anonymous confessions. Thank you everybody for joining in. Please spread the word about our podcast because we want to reach as many listeners as possible, especially when we talk about the things that matter to them in their workplace and in professional life in Australia in general. We will see you all next week with another episode of Rejected All Selected. Bye for now.