I lost my job

[superninjaadmin]

Wow!  Sorry to hear what happened - it's awful and unfair.  With everything you told us, I wouldn't be surprised if your boss wasn't telling you the whole truth about "why" this happened.  Don't let that bother you though, 'cuz that's their problem, not yours!  It's too bad when people like this don't appreciate the ASSET they have in an employee like you.  Well, just keep believing in yourself.  



I have to answer the questions you asked:  



Do admins really go to work every day and hide themselves?



NO!  I let my true colors shine through at work, and so far (six years into it) the future is bright, bright, bright!!  



Do I need to keep looking until I find my niche or do I need to change myself to fit in?



YES and NO!  Yes to keep looking...remember that your niche will find YOU if you keep your attitude on the right track.  But, NEVER NEVER change yourself to fit in!  You have to be you 100%.  



Are there creative industries where I'd be welcome? Or should I give up on being an admin and go and get trained to do something else?



Of course there are creative industries that welcome talented, creative, innovative, action-oriented, forward-thinking admins like you...I know, 'cuz I happen to work for one that appreciates me for who (and what) I am.  



Don't give up and keep believing in yourself.  Know that you will be OK.  One door shuts, but another (bigger and brighter) door opens.  It has happened to me, and it will happen for you, too.  



Take care............

[kohinoor]

Bethalize,



I am so sorry that it was with a german company that you made this bad experience. But I do assure you that not all german companies (and their managers) are like this.



It is true that status between managers and Admins is very different (even though those highly paid managers couldn't cope without us admins)and you will rarely find one of those managers to admit in public that his PA is really bright and the one who runs everything efficiently. But at least you do have some managers (like my boss) who tell you that they think you are doing a great job and who even accept criticism from you.



Maybe part of your difficulties are cultural (though I can't imagine that this is the real cause). Just one example: Even though I know that american people tend to use the first name even with people they don't know very well I am still surprised each time somebody uses my first name even if we are not really acquainted  (and without asking if it's all right or not). I just accept it and do not remark on it but there are many Germans who do not like behaviour like this and would think it very very rude.



But, as I already said, I agree with some of the others: I do not think this is the real cause.  The real cause probably is politics and your boss (ex boss) just is too weak as a personality. Let him go to hell and go out looking for a boss with a strong personality who will support a PA with a strong personality and you will see you then will be a dream team.



Good luck to you and the best wishes from the other end of the world.



KohiNoor

[nici]

I'm so sorry to hear that sad story, and as the others already said, I'm sure that the company did a big mistake to letting you go.

There is a thing that I like to say about Germany: As you know, I'm German too, and on this point I'm sorry too that you make bad experiences with my country. Yes, a lot of Germans don't understand the "American Way of Live", they seem to be very intolerant. But please believe me, there are also a lot of people here who are cosmopolitan and accept others as they are.

Wishing you all the best for your future, and I' think you are a great admin, simply because you don't hide yourself.

[bethalize]

I do hope that the involvement of a German parent company in my termination does not or has not made any of our German posters here feel uncomfortable.  Kohinoor, I appreciate your honesty when saying the status between admins and bosses is very different. I very much got the impression that the fact that I was "just a secretary" had a fair amount to do with it. If only I had known! If I had been from marketing for example I don't think they would have such a problem. It is possible that what we perceive as being bright and interested would be seen as being arrogant and demanding. I have to face the fact that I may well have acted inappropriately in a culture and an industry that I was new to and uninformed about. I shall know next time, but nobody warned me to be on my guard. (NB I don't think I want to work in a place where I have to act as though I am at school all the time). I think the fact that my background is in academia and creative industries and this was sales was also a factor. It is perhaps to do with the concept of "face" in a similar way to the Japanese, people cannot bear to lose face (whereas we would say that it is important to acknowledge weaknesses  so that you can control them and address them).

I have NO DOUBT however that my boss was leaned on heavily. I also have no doubt that one of the senior sales people was having lots of conversations about me with the people she was meeting. Pincer attack. No wonder she looked so guilty when I offered to get her a sandwich at lunch time!

Nevertheless, it is behind me now, and as I have already been offered another interview I think I would like to chalk the whole thing up to experience, a learning experience.

I will just add sales to the list of industries that I don't want to work in!

[goldenearring]

You are a winner, 'cross the board!

[countrigal]

Liz, I'm sorry to hear about the temporary downfall, but I'm glad to know that you've already gotten another interview lined up.



To answer the question regarding whether or not we admins hide ourselves...  I think that most people, if they really looked at themselves, would say that we do depending on the situation.  In my current position I had to hide some of my knowledge and skills and get creative in how I bring everyone around to my way (if possible).  How much I have to hide depends on my boss, the length of time in a position, etc.  I'm glad that in my current position I'm valued for my creativity, but when I started I hid some of that because it was seen as a threat to others.  I'm currently getting ready to start a new job and I'll do the same thing there.  Lay low, get a feel for the lay of the land, and then start showing all the creativity and go-get'edness that I have.  One thing my father told me is that life and every job is a game.  My goal is to play the game better than everyone else, which means sometimes feinting left or right before plowing ahead again.  Hey, part of playing the game includes being able to tell folks that they are wrong with them not realising that that is what you just had them admit.  Sometimes my creativity is shown in these more subtle ways of outmanuevering my co-workers or bosses.  So far this game-playing has worked since I have progressed quite rapidly in my field.  So, hiding our true colors isn't always a negative, though folks tend to think that it is.



Go get'em LIz!!!

[nici]

ll find a company who is knowing about your worth.

Sending positive vibes from Germany

 

[lioness70]

Hi Liz!  Look at it this way:  if you don't want to be a PA, this is a golden opportunity to reinvent yourself.  I was just where you are now, and I can tell you, I'm much happier where I am now.  I also relate to the laundry list of complaints being told to you way after the fact.  I hate when that happens!  If they had a problem, they should have told you ASAP.  But we all know some companies use that as an excuse to get rid of people who "just aren't working out"-the cowardly way.



As for the "bright, confident" admins stuff they claim to be looking for vs. admins who hide their real selves, I can honestly say this was one of my biggest problems with this profession.  That's what some of my bosses wanted-quiet, subservient admins, and I was and am neither of those!  It was also one of the problems I encountered in this last "job from hell."  Now I admitted that some of it was my fault, i.e. looking for a cash cow and believing that part-time meant just that in terms of job commitment.  Still, the company's other admins were indeed quiet and subservient, and when things started to happen (wearing sneakers, telling a company bigshot that I had my own work to finish and I wasn't staying overtime to do hers when I didn't work for her), trouble, and indeed, the end, loomed for me.  That was NOT what the company wanted from an admin, and I found out a little too late.



Seriously, do some soul-searching and if you find out this just isn't the job for you, there's no shame in it.  Maybe you will find a place that lets you be creative, confident, and an admin at the same time.  I'm going through the same painful self-discoveries as you.  Believe me, you'll be a better person once you come out of this phase, admin or not.



Finally, I echo what everyone else said:  this was a bad, bad fit and indeed, you're better off without them.



Best wishes, Lioness



 

[bethalize]

Lioness, I hear you. The thing is though that I thought a PA was exactly what I wanted to be. Where else can you use all your varied skills, be invaluable and have a large variety of work? I think that if I had only been my boss's PA things might have happened differently.

As far as I can see it my trouble is that I am considered too bright (if there is such a thing) for the jobs I am condsidered for and not experienced (five years of temping, one five-week full time job) enough or qualified for jobs with more responsibility. I'm not despairing yet of finding someone who wants a true Personal Assistant, but I am exploring other options like getting add-on qualifications.