Learning Curve

This job started slow, but is now shifting into warp speed.

The first two days seemed to drag. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do and no one really told me. (Not that I really COULD do anything with no training.)

My supervisor appears to be pretty hands-off, which I knew would appreciate later, but I could have used some guidance at first because I felt like a waste of space, browsing the Internet all day, trying to find things to do to stay busy.

There's nothing more frustrating than the feeling of wanting to dive in and do something -- but having to hold back because of not knowing enough yet to really do anything. It also didn't help that I had to drive 2.5 hours to Columbus and stay several days about four times in those first three weeks for some variation of training/meeting/conference.

But looking back, it was good to have that down time to get acclimated, run through Benefit Bank practice scenerios and continue researching all the programs and agencies in Toledo -- because there are a TON.

The learning curve is steep.

I'm someone whose mind has wondered and eyes glazed over at words like Medicare and subsidies. Now I'm diving into the specifics of food stamps, health care plans and federal income guidelines and trying to keep it all straight. I'm also learning a new software program as well as how to teach a day-long class on it (as if I'm some kind of expert having learned it myself just weeks earlier). Then there's the vast network of city agencies and what they do. Add to that an insane array of spreadsheets and organizational processes and a wobbly grasp on the system of using them, makes me not sure where to start.

And that's all aside from getting lost around a new city and the usual stresses of the first day of work in a new setting -- learning names and job descriptions, where you can park and the way to the bathroom.

Whew. My head hurts.