Negative thinking in new job when faced with new challenges

My review is now next Wed. I met with my boss 1:1 yesterday, and I totally forgot to mention and ask him about progress on the Content Manager role. He did not bring it up either.

And now I am concerned because he asked me to create a document outlining my process for coming up with content ideas so that I don't have to do this work forever, he said. BUT, if they're considering me for a Content Manager role, wouldn't that be a large part of my job? I am confused and paranoid - are they going to let me go and then let others do this work, after I've shown them how to do it???? What's the plan????? I am worried.

On the plus side, I told my boss I was reading up on content strategy and had some thoughts for him about it. I told him about a strategy I thought was a very good one for helping to boost leads and sales, and he loved what I had to say. So, that was very positive, but I am STILL concerned. Are they letting me go, or will they move me into a new role? Argh.

They probably just want to see the process you are using in order to: evaluate and assess your improvement in general, and maybe seeing your process will help them decide if you qualify for the new position?

That's what I would think.

I have an alternate perspective to consider. It sounds like the recent tasks you've been doing are content related, not client strategy which seems to be what you want to do.

Is it possible that your employer has heard your complaints about detailing different blog articles for a year out and decided to create a position that does that type of thing so client managers can focus on client branding strategy? I don't work in your field so it's possible that I'm interpreting certain job functions in a different way. It sounds like a content manager would come up with content for blog articles.

I thought I remember you mentioning you wanted to do what they hired you to do and most of what they asked was menial tasks that related to content. I know you said you don't have any real information on the role of content manager. I'm wondering though what reason you would have to follow the tasks you don't like into a new role that hasn't been fully developed. I would think you would be glad to see content related tasks leave the job you were hired to do, but that's just my outside limited perspective.

Good luck in your review next week. Hope it goes well.

This makes sense! I’m probably just being paranoid. I know they’re happier with me now.

Thanks for your perspective and for the well wishes!

Although I never complained to my company about doing blog articles.

I only wanted to do more than just menial tasks in support of my team and as such I’ve expressed a desire to take on more. I’m open to new suggestions though in terms of the work I do and the role I carry. I imagine that a content manager role would entail a lot more than just coming up with blog articles 24/7 and that the position would offer some variety.

I had complained on here mainly about having to do so many articles 24/7 and that’s the only task I had to focus on with no variation. If the role were varied I’d be interested. And I happen to excel at this particular task they gave me. I’ve read that job and career satisfaction is in fact derived from focusing on tasks you’re naturally good at. When it doesn’t come naturally it’s much harder and more stressful.

Maybe he does just want to see my process in order to assess my fit for the other job. Who knows.

Oh my goodness. A friend asked if I could do some freelance work and I said yes. Now that I’ve scheduled a call on Thursday with the prospective client, I really don’t want to do it. The freelance work would pay, I think, but I’m so disinterested in my field of practice that I don’t want to spend extra hours outside of work on it. Why the heck did I say yes?!?!?

Igghhh. I say yes not thinking all the time. I am learning to say let me think and get back to you

Same here. Can I back out maybe after the exploratory call?!?

Unless you signed a contract you could always back out. Plus things happen and circumstances change. If it’s something extremely necessary like you promise to drive them to a procedure, and then backed out it’s wrong. But promise to free lance isn’t life or death

Hmm.... well, I only said yes as a favor to my friend because the client is a friend of her father's. I would hate to disappoint my friend, though I never promised anyone anything. I speak with the client tomorrow.

Potentially, I could do just the audit portion and show them what's wrong with the website and what the site needs, then advise them to next hire someone to implement? I don't want to be doing this long-term after work hours or on weekends. That's what implementation would involve.

I just don't know! I am really in a quandary over it.

How much time would be involved in the audit you have in mind?

Maybe 5-7 hours depending on the size of the website.

For that amount if work I think the expectation is or certainly should be that you would be paid. If you were to do it for free you would be going far above and beyond imho.

I think your plan to refer out for implementation makes sense. You help out your friend without getting yourself involved in something big you don't want to take on.

I would though also wonder how close this client is to your friend. It isn't her, it isn't her friend, it isn't even her father. To me this sounds like a strictly business transaction, she might even see herself as helping you out, not vice versa, thinking perhaps you might like free lance work.

Thanks so much, Bill.

I thought about it and since it was stressing me out SO much, I decided to cancel. I just sent her a note now. As it is, we are being assigned several website audits at work, and this will send me over the edge, if I have to do yet another one outside of work. So, it's solved then!

Good decision, good self care!!

Thanks @Bill3! I feel like it was the right decision.

So, I had my sixth month review yesterday, and it was a let down. First of all, he didn't have anything to present to me in writing. Secondly, HR was not present as they had been in the first review. And the conversation lasted 20 minutes, not one hour as I expected.

How come it wasn't in writing? I didn't even ask. I did ask why HR wasn't present, and I of course forget the answer now.

I need to follow up with my boss tomorrow and ask him if I will see a written review. I am feeling paranoid again. While it was all positive verbally, nothing is in writing that I am doing better and AM meeting the expectations for my job, which is what he told me. They could still let me go based on my first written review. I need to see the second one in writing.

The absence of HR strikes me as a positive sign.

How often are written reviews typically done? It could be, for example, that they typically do them once a year, and so the company feels that one is not required now. Same question about the amount of time spent on the review.

What if you offer to write your own statement/review? With the idea that he signs it if he agrees.

I agree that not having HR there is good. The only time HR was present at my review was when they wanted to let me go. For positive things, they didn't need HR.

Congrats on getting a good review!

I’ve never had HR present at any reviews and evaluations in my life (and not just in my regular field of work, I worked in other fields). In my experience it’s not a typical practice. So I’d not worry about that.

Was this a formal review? I’d email and ask for a written copy of it. They supposed to write or type what they said. Was he just talking for 20 minutes with nothing to look at? I don’t think they’ll fire you based on the initial review as you clearly improved but you do need a copy.

Follow up with the email requesting a copy of eval. We always get second copy placed in the personnel file too. Let them explain why there’s no paper trail (they did not considered it a formal review or more like a casual reflection?)

OMG be GLAD HR wasn't there! HR in a review is NEVER good. They were there last time because they were a witness. No witness needed this time and for me, reviews are informal conversations where they relay information to me and I can ask questions or answer their questions. When HR and documents are involved, it's always bad.

Just be joyful!

Do they not do annual formal evaluations at your job and it’s documented writing and goes into your file for everyone, not just if you are in trouble? But that’s once a year typically. In between it might be just informal conversation

I, too, face the same thing when going for a new job. But I need to overcome.

A yearly formal review is done, but I don't bother to ask for a copy, I guess it goes in my file but every 3 months there is an informal "check-in" type of conversation, which I also don't want or get written stuff about.

This is all done remotely, me at my house, them wherever they are. The only time HR is sitting in on a meeting is if we're being written up or terminated. HR at meetings at my employer never means anything good.