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What are some challenges you face while working at your job ?
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Cosmina’s Answer
Hey Wen,
This is a great question. There can be many different answers depending on the person. The most challenging part of my job is the learning curve that comes with tech data. My company is a virtualization and cloud company, and learning the different products with no technical background is the hardest part. Also, I agree with Jason on burnout, and you need to make sure that you are making time for yourself while not overworking. I struggle with this sometimes, but I know I need to hold myself accountable. Lastly, the most challenging part for me in tech sales is picking up the phone and calling people. I sometimes sike myself out with the fear of rejection or that the customer will say no. I know I have to get over this fear, though, so pushing myself out of my comfort zone is good.
This is a great question. There can be many different answers depending on the person. The most challenging part of my job is the learning curve that comes with tech data. My company is a virtualization and cloud company, and learning the different products with no technical background is the hardest part. Also, I agree with Jason on burnout, and you need to make sure that you are making time for yourself while not overworking. I struggle with this sometimes, but I know I need to hold myself accountable. Lastly, the most challenging part for me in tech sales is picking up the phone and calling people. I sometimes sike myself out with the fear of rejection or that the customer will say no. I know I have to get over this fear, though, so pushing myself out of my comfort zone is good.
Updated
Jason’s Answer
Burnout. Managing your work-life balance is a very difficult thing to do, regardless of what position you are in.
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Francisco’s Answer
Hi Wen,
I am an Industrial Engineer and some of my main challenges include dealing constantly changing priorities and managing upwards (managing your manager, leadership or higher-ups expectations or needs)
I am an Industrial Engineer and some of my main challenges include dealing constantly changing priorities and managing upwards (managing your manager, leadership or higher-ups expectations or needs)
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
Hi Wen.
There are a variety of challenges in the job that I do. I am an Instructional Designer. That means that I write training that others use to their jobs - leader-led, web-based, and video-based. Challenges can be a good thing. They can make you want to do more and be better at what you do. I am not sure if you are asking about those, but I will give you some general ones that I have had during my career.
Not enough time - My job is time bound. My clients want the perfect training, but they don't always want to give you the amount of time that you need to do it. Creating a written training is much faster than creating video content. And neither one of them are easy if I do not know what I need to teach.
Not enough information - My clients come to me wanting training on XYZ and somehow they expect me to know what to do. I am a professional designer. It means that the only thing that I know really well is how to create training. I need resources to tell me what needs to be trained and why. That means that I have to work with subject matter experts to get a clear picture of what is needed.
Working with difficult people - Difficult is defined by each person. Frankly in my personal work, the biggest challenge is with people who change their minds. They are constantly doubting what they put forward to me, wanting to change it. Some changes are small. I can change a few words easily. When you change the scope of the training, it is adding time and potentially causing you to start over entirely. It makes you wonder how they can be a subject matter expert if they keep changing their minds. The other type of difficult person is the one who doesn't communicate with you. I am sometimes chasing people for information that I need and then blamed when I cannot get the information that I need. I am fine getting blamed for something that I did or didn't do. It's a bit harder when I have done my part and I still get blamed. The challenge in my work is that any client working with me also has a day job. So working with me is actually work that they do not normally do and on top of the work that they are already doing.
Making time for myself - It can be easy, especially when you love your job, to do it too much. This can be your fault or your company's. In the past, I have often been given too much work because I am good at what I do. I had to learn to push back. I had to learn to say no, explain it, and stick to convictions by meaning it. This has felt weird in the past. As a person of color from a society that respects authority, I often just worked 80 hours a week rather than say no. It was not sustainable and it's not fair to your company. You should only work an 8-hour day, and not answer emails after hours. I take vacations and I do not answer work calls while I am gone. If you are working at a job where seeking work - life balance is not encouraged, you are at the wrong job. There are other jobs. Your mental and physical health are more important than any job. As a person who has changed jobs many times, I can attest to that. I have been at a my current job for 8 years(almost double all my previous jobs). While I am not sure it is my forever home, it suits both my work life expectations and my personal life expectations very well.
Wen, I would offer that you have to find a career you love (even when its hard) and a place where people value who you are and what you contribute. You don't always get it right the first time.
Good luck.
Gloria
There are a variety of challenges in the job that I do. I am an Instructional Designer. That means that I write training that others use to their jobs - leader-led, web-based, and video-based. Challenges can be a good thing. They can make you want to do more and be better at what you do. I am not sure if you are asking about those, but I will give you some general ones that I have had during my career.
Not enough time - My job is time bound. My clients want the perfect training, but they don't always want to give you the amount of time that you need to do it. Creating a written training is much faster than creating video content. And neither one of them are easy if I do not know what I need to teach.
Not enough information - My clients come to me wanting training on XYZ and somehow they expect me to know what to do. I am a professional designer. It means that the only thing that I know really well is how to create training. I need resources to tell me what needs to be trained and why. That means that I have to work with subject matter experts to get a clear picture of what is needed.
Working with difficult people - Difficult is defined by each person. Frankly in my personal work, the biggest challenge is with people who change their minds. They are constantly doubting what they put forward to me, wanting to change it. Some changes are small. I can change a few words easily. When you change the scope of the training, it is adding time and potentially causing you to start over entirely. It makes you wonder how they can be a subject matter expert if they keep changing their minds. The other type of difficult person is the one who doesn't communicate with you. I am sometimes chasing people for information that I need and then blamed when I cannot get the information that I need. I am fine getting blamed for something that I did or didn't do. It's a bit harder when I have done my part and I still get blamed. The challenge in my work is that any client working with me also has a day job. So working with me is actually work that they do not normally do and on top of the work that they are already doing.
Making time for myself - It can be easy, especially when you love your job, to do it too much. This can be your fault or your company's. In the past, I have often been given too much work because I am good at what I do. I had to learn to push back. I had to learn to say no, explain it, and stick to convictions by meaning it. This has felt weird in the past. As a person of color from a society that respects authority, I often just worked 80 hours a week rather than say no. It was not sustainable and it's not fair to your company. You should only work an 8-hour day, and not answer emails after hours. I take vacations and I do not answer work calls while I am gone. If you are working at a job where seeking work - life balance is not encouraged, you are at the wrong job. There are other jobs. Your mental and physical health are more important than any job. As a person who has changed jobs many times, I can attest to that. I have been at a my current job for 8 years(almost double all my previous jobs). While I am not sure it is my forever home, it suits both my work life expectations and my personal life expectations very well.
Wen, I would offer that you have to find a career you love (even when its hard) and a place where people value who you are and what you contribute. You don't always get it right the first time.
Good luck.
Gloria