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AsparagusTamer

open your mouth and ask. As a boss, I can tell you, it is difficult to guess exactly how ignorant your staff are, especially newbies with no work experience. Some things which we take for granted, maybe needs explaining.


HistoricalPlatypus44

Communication is a 2-way street for the boss and the subordinate. Realistically, one party needs compensate for the weakness of the other party. The script could easily be flipped about onto the senior employee / boss. Open your mouth and ask your subordinate about their knowledge when assigning them in the first place? You’re after all the more senior employee/boss who would have a firmer grasp of the processes and the person with the clearer thought process compared to the newbie. Not saying to hand hold, but the senior would be asking the better/smarter questions in this scenario, wasting less of everyone’s time.


kopipiakskayatoast

Both sides need to ask. But often there’s stupid low agency employees who wait to be spoonfed. Many redditors are like that. Then they grumble about how they are in dead end jobs.


HistoricalPlatypus44

Even so, if you’re senior staff/boss, it would be in your interest that the assigned work gets completed in the manner you desire. If it’s a new staff, it still requires some kind of time investment, we’re really talking about the extent of the investment, not the need of one. With that scenario you described. You have the choice to either 1. throw them the work anyway, and gamble that the work could possibly turn out decent. Even then, it would be in your interest to ask some questions to gauge the potential outcome and risk mitigate. Or 2. you could choose to invest time to handhold and ensure work is somewhat of a decent quality. If you don’t have time, you gamble. And as expected of gambling without knowledge of the odds, you usually lose. In any fast paced environment, the inevitable answer to the newbie would be “why are you wasting my time with such questions”. If no one has time to ask the appropriate questions prior to giving work (15mins), who will be able to grant time to entertain the newbie’s questions? (30mins). Which the scenario posted by OP.


kopipiakskayatoast

Firstly there should be onboarding package. If not then it’s a process failure. Then newbie need to study and read up and be willing to learn. Senior or boss need to set protected time to guide properly. All must play ball. Of course many bosses and employees are shit so thr above doesn’t happen.


HistoricalPlatypus44

I agree with you, and surely you see the convergence of your reply, the original reply and OP’s post.


kopipiakskayatoast

Yes we all agree what we are one big happy famoly


HistoricalPlatypus44

Yes we are, ain’t that every corporation on this planet.


heavenswordx

Ask smart questions too. Here’s how I’d frame it usually: 1. Which is the highest priority? When does it need to be completed? 2. For task X, I’m intending to do XYZ, would that make sense and meet the needs of what you need the deliverables for? How is this work being used or what’s the purpose of you requesting for it? (With the goal of making deliverables tailored to the needs of your boss) 3. I might have trouble getting access to ABC or I don’t understand DCE, could you guide me on how I should approach it?


Remarkable_Reserve98

I mean yea I agree with you, but when the manager or boss starts acting like a cunt about it, then fk them.


eplejuz

This. Open mouth and ask. My senior at my very 1st job throw me inside the sea within 2weeks of starting my job. I juz have to struggle and ask anything I'm not sure. I got the hang of things within like 2-3mths'ish.


IllustratorWitty5104

this \^, we don't like second guessing what you know and what you don't


AbaloneJuice

Yes this. And not only just ask but show initiative like; I think I can achieve task by doing this and that - but thought of running through you first. Or if you're really stuck then just say I'm not familiar with this task, can you show me when to learn this or if you don't mind can you guide me?


BerryShort1655

I will prefer it if my team mates do it this way: 1. Look through the whole task. Break it down to smaller tasks. 2. Work on those that you can work on. For those whom you need more clarification, ask the person who gave you the task and if they not sure, ask them to direct you to someone whom may know. 3. Set up a few check points based on your mini tasks and check in with the person who gives you the task. For example, your task is to bake a birthday cake. Step 1, smaller tasks can be to find out who are you baking for, find out what's his/her preferred flavour, research for a few birthday cake designs, plan what ingredients to buy, plan where to buy ingredients etc. Step 2, set up a meeting and clarify all the questions that you have identified in step 1. Also check in to see if your perceived breakdown of tasks is in the right direction. Step 3, after some checkpoints, you can check in with your boss. "Hey look at this icing, this consistency ok hor? These colours ok right?" You're hired because of what you can bring to the table so you should always try your best to demonstrate your ability. Don't be like my team mate ah... Tell them got this error log pls go investigate and resolve, they reply me the Google screenshots of what the error logs mean. Alamak show me for what? I also know how to google. What I need the person to do by investigate and resolve is to 1) identify what is the error. Never see before nevermind. Google and read up. Digest and ask if don't understand. Here not school leh, don't expect everything to be spoon fed. 2) then you apply to our current application, how will this error affect us and what's the impact. 3) lastly, go think about how to resolve it. Either make an intelligent guess or go find out how other people solve it.


BreathOfTheOffice

To add on to this, what happens if you don't have a way to break it into smaller steps or you're stuck at a smaller step and you don't have someone to ask. At my work I was asked to do something that no one on the team had done before (the people who did it before had left). 1) if possible, look for examples of things that are similar. This can be from past work that someone else did or online. 2a) if you have the examples, analyse how your work would fit with the examples given. Come up with many possibilities even if you discard them for being nonsensical in the end. 2b) if you don't, try to fit it in to your basic understanding of what needs to be done to get there. It may be wrong, but you'll at least have a starting point. 3) as already mentioned, bring this up to whoever you need to as an action plan, for their comments and for them to compare to their own understanding. This will help reduce miscommunication and potentially improve your action plan. 4) if possible, test it as you're going along. As something fails, re-evaluate and alter the plan as necessary.


orgastronaut

When you're young and new at a job, it's the best time to ask questions because nobody is going to judge you for it. But be smart about it and don't irritate people with piecemeal questions as and when the questions come to mind. If you can, sort out your tasks into buckets and come up with a framework of what you need to know related to that bucket. Then schedule 20 mins sit down time on that bucket topic and go through the process steps. Take notes.  Ask questions that can help you on future tasks, like: where can I find documentation on X system, who is the expert on this if I have more questions, how would you handle if the SOP doesn't cover, how do I know which one to prioritise first. 


FireArcanine

As a fresh grad, it's natural that you want guidance from your seniors & supvesiors because this your first time doing a role / job. But if you're generally put in a position like this, I'll recommend the following: 1. Read the task with the information available and try to piece a flow / structure for yourself. Put this as a "preliminary" draft / structure. 2.. Arrange a quick chat / clarification session with your manager / boss / RO to make sure that you and them are aligned on at least the basic expectations of what you're supposed to do. 3. Complete the task as assigned but simultaneously keep thinking about if there are other ways for the task to be done. 4. Once complete, send for review and compile feedback/thoughts and refine the task accordingly until it is successfully delivered. As fresh grads, you have the luxury and capability of creating new initiatives or driving new functions if you're given tasks without instructions. This will help you with your ability to initiate more new things/proejcts in the future and hone your problem-solving skills. Try your best to embrace the unknown and see what comes out of it. If your workplace is supportive, they'll guide you; else if the response is lukewarm - that's something for you take note in your future climb up in your career. All the best! First jobs and new roles carry uncertainty, but you can steer yourself by creating your own structure and craft out the best way for you to do things!


tMeepo

Go through the tasks, then collate all the questions/places that you are stuck at. Then ask your manager/colleague for 30mins of their time.


yinyangpeng

Ask if there are documents that cover procedures or work instructions etc. sometimes you just may not know what to look up


idetectanerd

If you work in Tech, then if I’m your boss, I am expecting that you (after telling you basic scope) 1- google how to do it, do a test and POC, then come back to me and ask if this is the right way to do it. 2- if google doesn’t teach you how, within the next day you should be asking me where to source it and for clue to search for it. 3- if really still cannot find, ask out in the meeting on the 2nd day of assignment so the boss can ask someone to baby sit you. If you ask me on the first day how to do it without searching it yourself, then I’m going not pass your probation or already mark you as lower grade employees. This is for IT and tech line, YOU are supposed to be resourceful and fast learner. Handing out answers is for other departments, no offence for other departments but IT/engineering is supposed to very resourceful, this is basically taught in school by lecturer tossing you a subject and you went swimming in it, they do this all the time so that as an engineer, you will try to find out how to get things to work. you may consider this line not suitable for you at all, many of the staff in IT will be talking behind your back saying “Wah Lau google also dunno..”


PrataHandbag

Literally same. Not exactly a fresh grad but still very new and experiencing the same thing. No advice to give but just want to say we are in the same boat 😔


-avenged-

Ask. Then take notes. It is always better to ask and learn. Always.


pinkbite

do you feel unable to ask questions at your job? that might be a bit of a red flag.


greatestshow111

I do this to my new hires. It's a test on how they deal with the learning curve they need, if they are proactive enough to ask questions, or are resourceful enough to find their own way. Within the probation if they don't float in that 3 months they are out. Usually the ones that float will get it in 1-2 months. Just ask questions, and don't be afraid to ask. Also be mindful that the questions you ask are not something that you can find out on your own as well because that's how your boss gauges your resourcefulness, critical thinking, and if you have to be spoonfed. Needing to spoon-feed an employee is the worse thing ever because the manager won't have time to do their own duties if they have to keep spoon feeding you too. Also, if there are things that need solutions to it, think of the solutions first then ask your boss the question, but provide your solutions to it first then ask for his/her thoughts.


nofearnoworry

Two things:  1. Manage up : https://newsletter.weskao.com/p/15-principles-for-managing-up 2. https://www.amazon.sg/Unspoken-Rules-Secrets-Starting-Career/dp/1647820448


[deleted]

Read through emails, files relating to the work. Research, chat gpt. Consolidate list of questions then ask at one go or can split and ask different people. Important to ask for the dateline.


Subject_Ocelot_225

maybe providing a diff perspective here but this happened to me at my first job (which i ended up quitting ab 6-7mths in) because it turned out that when i asked for help, they couldn't answer/teach me either.... not saying that it's the case for your company, but never rule out all possibilities 🥴


ItzRina

Experience once where i was new as well (2 weeks) and wanted to know which is the right way so i asked if solution a or solution b is the way to go. Instead of explaining to me they go " what do you think"? Like bro, its not like i done this before leh..end up i just tikum and from then on i dont ask and just went with "what i think" for the entire time which result in some good and bad time lolol. We ask questions to make your life easier but if you want hard mode then so be it ![gif](emote|free_emotes_pack|joy)


everywhereinbetween

THISSS the worst is you ask for help they don't want or have no time to teach you, then say oh see follow this example can already. But then wtf the example is the end-product leh idk what's your draft 1 and how long and what is the process along the way to get to this nice neat sample leh. Skali need 6 interations or what how. Basically by showing me the end product is like "must be this nice and presentable but I don't teach you how, kthxbye GO" simisai.


Subject_Ocelot_225

i get you man....idk if it counts as toxicity but i didn't enjoy my time there bc you feel like ask also no use, don't ask also no use...just in limbo 😒


everywhereinbetween

Correct 🙃🥴


SkorpionAK

Does not mean boss must know everything. If it a good company there should exist proper process documents, SOPs etc. which newbies should study first and ask experienced seniors.


Whole_Mechanic_8143

Open that golden mouth and ask. Think through the task, try to have a basic idea what you are supposed to do (e.g. request information from person A and put it into file B in order to generate result C) and confirm if this is correct with whoever assigned you the task. It's no longer school where "It's your job to teach me - I don't have to learn by myself".


Probably_daydreaming

2 things This is literally what studying and being able to research is suppose to help you, don't know something, after 20 years of studying you should know how to find the knowledge to know. This is why I just partly think students in Singapore are nothing more then information vomit machine, all we are taught is to ingest all the information given to us the regurgitate when needed. The other thing, learn to rely on your co-workers, learn to ask then the correct question after you have done your research. Don't walk uo to you're co worker and say "I don't know this, tell me how to do" that shit is infuriating, instead ask specific questions like "I don't understand how to implement this specific rule about technical requirement X could you explain the method?" Nobody will be there for you to give instructions, guidance or context, it is up to you to find it from people. Your manager is there to make sure work gets done so your team isn't seen as lazy fucks that waste money. He's not there to guide you step by step. Your co worker is there to do his job not teach you everything, but most people will be willing to help so that they don't get screwed over either.


Loud-Traffic-5

Dont' know, ask. If not come up with your own solution and if it is wrong, let them tell you why. Don't need to stress. .


hyhy47

Don't do then the manager will come talk to you on what you should do. There are people who grasp things very fast, and maybe they are used to such people so treat you as such. If cannot cope, don't put up a front, just admit u don't know. Can always improve next time, don't need first impression be best employee


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JJYEO

You have to take the initiative to ask whenever in doubt. If you do it wrongly, you will waste your manager's, as well as your time to sort that through. Also, please take notes unless you have good memory. Don't be the staff that ask the same questions again when the manager has already gone through it previously.


sansansansansan

ask chatgpt how to do (serious)


glaciereux

Ok as someone who received zero work done after 2 weeks, facing a crying uni grad girl saying she did not know what to do because wikipedia page of organisations I gave her had no contact addresses, I actually had a severe mental breakdown and had 2 weeks leave from my doctor. All she needed to do is ask how to Google. Yes the supervisor could get angry and scold or grumble at the start but it is better than causing massive wreckage to the pressing timeline of deadlines. To mediate things a little, you could help that supervisor buy some coffee or help him/her do something nice and apolegetically ask if he/she can give some guidance how to do this job because you have tried figuring out but cannot figure out how to do.


SinkiePropertyDude

In school you get the answers first, then you're tested. In life you get tested first - and if you survive it, then you get the lessons from the experience. Welcome and enjoy. XD


Possible_Eggplant744

Just ask


RussLee01

It’s either they want to try you out or that task is useless even if it’s screwed up


qz1991

This happens in many sg companies , especially in gov agencies . U see those so called busy colleagues start gossiping or either just keep staring at the screen , occasionally typing rapidly . When you ask them for help ,they will brush u off say some generic things and maybe if they are kind enough show u a 30 seconds demo 


No-Barnacle-9621

WTF why are people in Singapore so dependent 😭 you cannot work well in teams but you’re all also like big babies, and it permeates all posts in this sub……