I just did a major career shift from a field that I am highly skilled in to starting from scratch in a totally different industry. The decision for the change was due to finances. I make a lot more at this new job. I started a couple months ago and from day 1 I’ve really struggled socially.
The role is client facing with a closely knit department. I picked up on the clique dynamic my very first day. The department lead is particularly close with two of my colleagues, often bringing coffee, getting lunch together, and spending time together on the weekends. Those 2 had pulled me aside my first week and said they were expecting me to “turn out like them”, pointing out that the other two people in the department weren’t as skilled as them, and therefore, not part of the clique.
The department hadn’t had a new hire in over a year before I got there. I’m a quick learner and take pride in doing things right the first time. The team picked up on this and felt confident that I could perform basic tasks without help to fast track my training. As I was left to work independently more and more, a colleague and the department lead (both desks near mine) would whisper about me. I pretended not to hear but I picked up bits. It wasn’t anything terrible, but it put me on edge. They started doing this every day before lunch. Then right before I would go to lunch, they would tell me they “have some things to talk about” when I get back. It messed with my head so bad. I would stress throughout my lunch. But every single time they did this, there was NEVER a follow up meeting like they said. In fact, there was no mention of it at all until they would pull the same thing the next day.
They’ve moved on from that tactic. But for the past month, I’ve been completely ignored by almost everyone in the department. My questions arent getting answered so I’m often left confused with things I wasn’t trained on. Being the person that I am, this has been detrimental to my being. I’m a hard worker. All I want to be is a good employee. I know I have that capability, but it’s almost like this department doesn’t want that. The best way to put it is like being hazed. I feel like these obstacles and the way I’m being treated is all a test to see I’m “clique” material.
Presently, I only get looks and responses if I am having an emergency with a client. Mostly, I’m left to fail over and over again with no way back up, no one to teach me how to do it right. I’m so lonely at work.
I’m not sure what to do. Do I push through and hope they let me on their good side? Do I quit and try to find another new field? Do I ask to transfer departments? I’m lost.