Quote Originally Posted by The Fury View Post
The reason I say that has to do with other people that described their first week. Aside from the inevitable mistakes and bad luck that usually happens when starting a new job, they seem to describe an opposite situation. They all said that it's OK to take your time and don't be afraid to ask questions. My experience has been more, "Pick up the pace! Wasn't that already explained to you? Didn't Rory (not really a name of anyone there,) already show you how to do that? Why are you so slow?" "What do you mean you've never seen one of those before? Aren't you in school for this?"

The takeaway from being told things like that from my second day onward is 1: I'm starting out with a below average skill level for a beginner. 2: I'm here to work, not to learn.

Predictably, I'm making mistakes in trying to go faster which slows everyone down even more and increases the workload for everyone.
ve4grm's advice is rather sound and he summed the issue up nicely - the only thing I'd do different is... at least at first I'd avoid making enemies of coworkers. So yes, definitely talk to the supervisor - but first ask for guidance. Acknowledge that you are not working fast enough or that you feel you slow others down, but ask for pointers. Guidance. Help.

If he's smart, he'll provide some. If not, follow ve4grm's advice.

When I started my current job (BTW, working for a German company, so I know the saying Thrawn4 mentions), it took me 2 years to get to position where I contributed. Two years. And now I train people to become productive as fast as possible - but we can shave months at best. The process just takes time for newbies. And when we get a guy with university degree in this field, PhD. or many years of practice - the "ideal match" - it still takes at least 4-6 months. At best.

So when you said "other people that described their first week" - I assume these were all from your work. All trained by the same guy as you?