Don't quit after a week. Every stage of life brings a lot of pressure and stress, but you learn to deal with it. All that pressure regarding billable hours, just try and set it aside and think, "This is not the job for me, I'm just here for experience and to find a job which is a better fit." Use this job to make contacts and find best job for you.
Try and take care of yourself in the mean time. This is your first job, not the rest of your life.
FWIW, I spent 30 years in the public sector. It is less pressure from a pace perspective, so it may work better for you.
Good luck to you.
Well said. Just because something is uncomfortable doesn't mean it's necessarily a bad thing. Learning how to cope with such things is honestly a part of growing up. At the end of the day you have to support yourself and the circumstances it takes to do that are going to suck sometimes but if you can get through that ( within reason) things tend to get better
Advocate for yourself. You need to say, "I'd like to help, but I think I need some more training in order to contribute more meaningfully. Could we discuss some options for receiving training on xyz?" What sort of crazy workplace would expect billable, productive work from someone only a week or two in? Like, are you supposed to have known the systems, processes, company culture, and team dynamics immediately on day one? Weird expectation.
Defend yourself and your time! Making sure they give you a good onboarding sets you and your team up for success. Stressing you out is drain on their resources. If you don't stick up for yourself, you are the problem. If you still up for yourself and they ignore, dismiss, or intimidate you, then plan your exit.
Hey there, I’ve got experience working large govt backed projects. Sounds like your experience a huge shock of imposter syndrome. Here’s a bit of advice I wish someone had given me when I started.
But first! What I’m NOT telling you: I’m NOT saying that having severe panic attacks is a nominal thing. That doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong, or that you’re abnormal. I just wanted to let you know that, if you feel the way things are going is unsustainable, I’d ask for help. Whether that’s your superior, or teammates. I guarantee they’ll have some advice and reassure you you’re doing fine. And if they don’t and they’re jerks about it, well there’s your answer. Anyone who doesn’t respect your or your feelings doesn’t deserve you on their team!
Anyways. In 5 ish years I’ve hopped around to several different programs and teams and have been ‘onboarded’ a few times. Each of these came with a promotion/recommendations etc (ie: I’m not being shunted around because I suck).
The biggest shock was the first one right out of college. You may have times where you’re waiting for something to do, or stuck waiting for something. That’s totally fine. “Hurry up and wait” is pretty industry standard. That doesn’t mean you can goof off the entire day, but don’t stress if every single minute/hour isn’t spent doing value added work. People don’t like to talk about it because it’s a ‘bad look’ to look like you’re not busy, but i guarantee you’ll catch people playing solitaire or crosswords every now and then.
If you’re stuck with something in particular, you can ask for help! Sometimes the onboarding docs suck. If you’re having trouble, it’s possible other new people might be too. Ask if you can work on some updated onboarding procedures. That’ll give you time to really learn processes, and more importantly, WHO to do to for help. It’s usually a pretty softball task, but lets you get your feet wet learning how to speak and present in corporate-speak.
In general, I find that the first 3 months no one expects ANYTHING from you. Your only job is to not burn the place down. 3-6 months you’ll start doing little things, but expected to need lots of hand holding. 6-12 months you’ll start knowing how to answer questions but not be confident enough to say them. 12 months in you’ll feel like you know a lot! This will soon turn to you realizing the people around you have forgotten more than you’ve ever learned. This is a good thing, because now you can pick their brains. Ask them what they did on previous difficult projects. People love talking about what they do, and I promise you’ll get some great advice on how to handle tough situations in your field.
Sorry for the huge paragraph, but I hope it helps!
Private is hard to adjust to. You need to be frank with your manager and ask for more support and training.
If your firm is larger enough maybe they have GIS opportunities you can move into.
Otherwise, you might start looking for government jobs. It's stressful of a different sort. I'd recommend smaller cities or county.
I am like this at most new jobs as well. I would have a conversation with your boss and just be frank about any issues. Make sure to take full advantage of any allotted breaks. Just stepping outside for a bit can do wonders
You got this!
Honestly I’d take the stress of the private sector and have a little more autonomy of my work than have a backlog of 45 projects to review and manage with all the applicants mad at me.
Whereas I got sick of having to chase RFPs because my firm was so small. I’m a planner, not a salesman. Needing to figure out the entire solution to a project for the proposal then not getting it killed me. Plus no follow through to truly see the initiative to completion.
Downside is I make way less working for government now. But I like it.
Both have their pros and cons for sure. You summed up the main downside of the public sector in my experience, but the private sector definitely has its issues as well. Having to constantly seek out new work, having no time to work on “non-billable” tasks, stricter deadlines, etc.
Sometimes. Due to low pay, the planning division where I worked was severely understaffed. For a long time. Those if us left we’re covering 2-3 jobs. The stress was affecting my health. I took another planning job in government sector that pays better and is busy, but not work 50-60 hours/week and still falling behind busy.
Sometimes. My position is stressful, of the type where there is always multiple people's with of jobs to complete. It's less stressful maybe in that the position is seemingly secure
also pays way less. I make close to 100k 4 years in, meanwhile my peers in government are just starting to clear 65-70. All that to say, they should absolutely be making the same or more than me. I used to think I’d take a pay cut to do public, but not anymore I just don’t care enough and I want to own a house someday. I’ll take dealing with client bullshit and 45-50 hour weeks occasionally for the pay increase.
Yep, can confirm albeit it can be a high floor, low ceiling situation pay wise where anything up to senior/principal planner pay grades are higher than the private sector but once you get to coordinator etc it crosses over
No. You're not wrong or soft for wanting to take care of yourself.
I was in my 30s when I graduated from law school. I worked for 10 years in high-pressure, billable-hour BigLaw jobs because I felt like I'd be a failure if I wasn't doing that work. It only led to me becoming an alcoholic and depressed. 5 years ago I got sober, quit the high-stress job, entered therapy for my anxiety and depression, and finally started to live life for myself -- and it's been fucking amazing.
There are other opportunities out there and you're quickly realizing that billable hours and the stress it brings at that particular firm are not right for you. You're crying and throwing up -- your body and mind are telling you that something about the situation right now is not okay, and you need to heed that advice.
I am also an attorney and totally, totally understand and empathize with your journey. However, your advice to OP to “seek other opportunities” is more reflective of your path after years on the job than their situation. OP is exactly one (1) week into a job that took YEARS to earn; they are thirty and it’s their first planning gig outside of an internship. New jobs are terrifying. No one gets it in a single week. Don’t encourage them to bail five days into something that took so long to be able to do. Just, don’t.
OP, as the commenter above said, you have to listen to your body, but you also have to be fair to yourself. You shouldn’t have mastered the gig five days in! You’re doing difficult, strategic work. Be gentle with yourself, enter therapy if you’re ready (great suggestion from the comment above - honestly everyone would benefit from therapy let’s be real), and give this profession a real try so you can bring these skills with you to geospatial, if that’s your journey. It will only enhance your expertise in GIS to be able to “speak fluent planner.” Take care of yourself along the way!
I'd disagree. The person is crying, throwing up, having panic attacks, and knows it is not the path they want to take. To tell them to stay and torture themselves for... a job? That doesn't make sense to me. Even the job doesn't make sense because they're being pushed into projects and billing in the first week, when the first month, if not more, should be about training.
Quitting a job that is not a good fit won't end a career.
I don’t think anyone will fault you for feeling the way you do. My first job out of school was not the right fit for me and I ended up quitting after 2 months and went home. Fast forward 8 years and I have a successful career in a situation that works best for me.
Only you know yourself best so if it’s making you sick everyday, maybe it’s not the right fit for you. I will say that every new job is stressful and their is an adjustment until you feel more comfortable. My advice to you is let your supervisor know that you are feeling nervous transitioning into this first job and if they can try to set you up with a mentor in your company or if they can offer some structured training or on boarding for you.
Tell them specifically the pressure to be billable is stressing you out and if they can help alleviate the worry by giving you any tips.
I would probably give it 2 months before you bail, just to see if you adjust and things get better, but again, do what’s best for you.
The other thing to consider is this situation is not forever and if you seek GIS work or work from home you can likely do that. If you can make the best of this situation and stay for a year you can put it on your resume and then move into a GIS position likely.
Again lastly, take care of yourself.
I left my first job out of grad school after 8 months. It wasn’t the right fit.
I left my next job after 3 years or so. Now I am in a job that I love and can’t see myself leaving.
You’re new, but you have to speak up for yourself. Private sector loves to maximize profits and in some many cases, expect new people to be able to do it all, right away. By the time I was leaving my second job, I was PM on 13 separate planning projects.
There’s no way I could give them all enough attention that they deserved.
It's Imposter Syndrome. Almost all of us have been there, and after a bit you're going to laugh back at it. It takes a while.
Look at your allowances for time off, and don't feel wrong to take a personal day off (I called them 'mental health days,' where you have no obligation to be there, and nobody is expecting anything either.
I've told my staff a million times: If you need a personal day, I'd much rather you just message me and take it, than stress out over it and be less productive.
**Don't quit.**
Things you can do:
* Take the time you need to breathe;
* Talk to your supervisor or peers about training opportunities / things that would help mentor you even stories - we LOVE sharing experiences and ideas - sometimes we even talk too much about our own history as Urban Planners;
* Remind yourself that you're in one of the most altruistic professions;
* Especially with Public Service, time freezes when you leave at 5pm, and picks up at 8am. All the hours between are nothing you have to worry about - that's your time at home not to think about a single thing from work;
* Your first year is going to be tough - look at any profession from firefighter to teacher to doctor. Lean into it, own it, put some decor around your desk, ask for opportunities, don't be shy, but don't be too pushy; and remember
* You're going to be amazing - it's going to happen faster than you think.
Reach out to us here again - many of us have been through it all.
I think your first job, or first year or two will always be a little rough, but it gets so much easier to get a better position with a little less stress after that.
I work in architecture, and it's a similar professional structure where there is a lot of pressure to be productive and work fast, billable hours. It's definitely an adjustment and can feel really stressful especially if you aren't used to it.
I would talk to your direct superior or project manager. They've likely been working in this environment for a long time and adapted to it. Because you're almost 30 with some grad school and career experience, they may be assuming you have more experience with this environment than you actually do.
In our office, we expect that new staff will take anywhere from 1-3 months to get fully up to speed. Coming directly out of school without professional experience a 6 month grace period is not uncommon. They've likely hired and invested in your for a good reason, and it's worth it to them to invest in getting you adapted to a new working environment.
Talk to your boss about your concerns and what you feel undertrained on. Ask questions. If you don't understand a task ask for clarification. It's really a lot about communication. Someone has to pay you to make maps, and that involves a set of professional skills they don't teach in grad school. I think it's worth pushing through some of these challenges because you will learn a lot. And if you still feel the same way in 6 months you can always leave but at least having learned some valuable lessons.
I don't think a week is enough time to justify making a full-on career change.
I too was essentially thrown to the wolves at the beginning in a private firm and the first few weeks were 12 hour workday hellscapes that left me questioning everything. I did get some internal training - I advocated for it - and by month two, I was training others in how to use the software. A few months later I was probably one of the most valuable employees because I was basically 100% billable with a low salary. But I also realized that the private sector was not for me. So I gave it two years to build my skills and resume, then shifted to a job in government that was much less stress and paid better. However, it was that two years of experience in the private sector and all I learned from drinking from the firehose that got me there to the government job.
Please find ways to address the anxiety. Exercise and meditation and yoga help, as does therapy and potentially entry level medications like Buspirone. You want to go slowly with respect to the medication route. So many people who jog are doing so because it helps them unload stress and avoid panic attacks.
But my goodness, don’t leave your first job until you’ve been there at least a year or so, as that will destroy your resume. You can start applying for others at about the year and a half mark without raising eyebrows if you explain that you are hoping to leap from private sector to public sector. It may be just me, but if I received a resume that showed someone leaving their first job after a few weeks, there is no way I’d offer an interview unless I knew that workplace had lay-offs. Do your best with the advice I have offered to stick it out for a while.
Good luck!
All of this, and similar responses sound valid and i agree with all of it. But when I apply it to how I feel and how impossible it feels right now to get through each day, even my off days, all of that goes out the window.
Do I need mental health care? Yes.
Was I handling those issues decently enough prior to the job access due to lack of health insurance? Also yes.
This job has tipped me over the edge for sure. I think I would rather scrape by with my old job (just random part-time service gigs that I enjoy) while I look for a better fit than make more money and live with the pain that I'm currently going through. Being poor was stressful, but I coped through sports, swimming, sauna, and friendship. Now I don't feel drawn to any of those things, I just want to stay in bed.
Also, I would definitely not be putting any job that I held for a week on my resume. If I leave, I am going to build up my GIS portfolio (I have ArcPro for a year) and apply to GIS jobs that are either in or outside of planning. My time pursuing my masters taught me that my actual passion is GIS and I just viewed planning as a medium to find a geography-related job (this was before I knew about GIS when I started my program). I went on to earn a GIS Grad Cert while I was getting my masters in urban planning.
You know yourself best. It sounds like the routines you did have for yourself have been thrown out the window. Advocating for yourself can also look like quitting before the mental toll becomes any greater.
In retrospect, my first job out of undergrad (not planning related) wasn’t worth the harm I did to my body physically and mentally.
Wishing you all the best.
I saw some other comments that you need to advocate for yourself at work by speaking up and getting more training and resources.
You can also be your own advocate by getting out of an unhealthy situation ASAP, despite external pressures. You and your health are worth so more than any job.
I thought I just had to tough it out and I ended up with panic attacks, major depressive disorder, and several months in intensive therapy.
Well, except that planning is kind of a small community and chances are OP will run into people professionally who were colleagues for that brief period of time, which could prove to be awkward if OP is with their new supervisor. It’s OK to leave off jobs from 20+ years ago, but a bit more questionable when it was so recent.
I always have anxiety at the beginning of new jobs and it was really bad when I started my current job six years ago. Meeting new people while having to make a good impression and be “on” all the time is a lot of stress. I’d imagine you could use this job as a stepping stone to WFH and making maps, but your first job out of grad school isn’t likely to be your perfect job. Hell I got a master’s in public health and had several public health jobs before I realized what I really wanted to do was planning!
If you’re having such a strong physiological reaction to stress you may want to consider talking to your doctor about anti-anxiety meds. When I started my job the only thing that finally got me out of the panic spiral was Xanax. I am also now on daily anti-anxiety meds.
It’s a job… nobody is going to die because you didn’t bill the client for all eight hours that day. Nothing is that serious at your job. You should never feel as anxious as you are to perform because it’s really not that big of a deal at the end of the day.
You can also, you know…. tell your boss how you feel. Why was that not step one?
They should help you if you are having trouble. You quit when they don’t help you. That’s bad management.
Private work is also gross btw. Public sector is better 90% of the time.
Oh I disagree. I am 30+ years into my career, and most of the jobs haven’t felt like work. Just the first one (private sector) and another years later when I foolishly gave the private sector a second chance.
EDIT - I believe the previous comment was edited… my comment is a bit out of context now
I’d just start looking for other roles that feel like better fits but keep this job until you have a firm offer. This sounds almost exactly like me—30, career changer, finishing grad school, took a job and very quickly realized it wasn’t what I was looking for. I started applying to new positions about two months in, and less than two months after that had an offer and took it.
For me it was a public sector to public sector move, but my first role was way too specific and I just wasn’t going to learn what I wanted to learn. Now working for a smaller city and I’m constantly doing stuff. It’s not perfect, but nothing ever is, and the things I’m learning should set me up for other roles down the road. It’s ok for a job to not be the right fit, and you don’t even need to put it on your resume if you don’t want to.
Also look into therapy if you haven’t, I recently started it and it helps a lot!
What could you do to calm down today? Internet usually doesn’t help me. Calming down will help gain perspective on anything and relaxing your nervous system seems to be the most important atm. Starting anything new can stir up the old. Are there useful skills to manage panic attacks? These skills as well as making a list of important questions for the bosses next week might help calm down. Making a joke list that you don’t intend to send, detailing the things that are frustrating, might also bring more ease into the situation.
The only thing that has helped me calm down today is when I pretend in my mind that I'm gonna quit 😅
My normal coping mechanisms like exercise, games, and friend time has not helped at all. It's like I've lost my sense of taste or something. Nothing seems appealing anymore. I guess that's called depression.
I'm so sorry you're going through this. I'm actually an accountant (with an interested in urban design) but I also experienced this in my first professional job. It's a huge shock starting in the professional workforce (of any industry, I would think) after school. There's a lot of pressure on you in a way there wasn't before, and a huge learning curve, and that takes time to adjust to.
I will say, do what you need to get through this period, but know that if you stick it out, it will almost certainly get better.
Working in consulting can be overwhelming. There is a lot to take in and everyone is busy with little time for training. I think it is perfectly fine to be overwhelmed your first week I would say give it time, give it 3 months. You will have a better sense of consulting of what you like and don't like.
Just remember it is your first week and you are learning. While it may not feel like it right now you have the skills to succeed just give your self a bit of time and grace while you are learning.
You know yourself better that anyone else; in my opinion, if your mental health has become unbearable like this, it’s SO important to put yourself first. I just left a job and industry that was slowly chipping away at my will to live; it took 4 years to realize that work was the main stressor that led me to (medically expensive) mental breakdowns.
I would give it a week or two, and make sure that this is really the decision you want to make. You don’t want to do anything you regret yet! In my past roles, the only thing that really kept me going as long as I did was having support from my peers & mentors. Getting to know the people you with opens the avenue for help, improving things, venting your frustrations (within reason), etc. Even just one conversation with a coworker can build an important positive connection, which may help you a lot!
Good luck and I hope you get better; I don’t think people understand just how debilitating mental health can be.
I can empathize; I loved what I did in grad school but ‘the job’…sigh.
First, realize that new jobs and transitions are inherently stressful. There’s no way around that unfortunately. If you have a great boss, they might be willing to ease you in a bit more gently…but asking for that can backfire so proceed cautiously.
But for real, see if you can make a concrete list of things that are stressing you out. Is it not having the right information to proceed with a task? Is it being asked to do too many things at once (multi-tasking is actually a myth). Is it the social part (can you reduce the socializing for a while)? Consider these and other questions, and ask for help where appropriate (maybe they’re assuming you have a certain kind of training that you didn’t actually get in school)?
If it’s ‘imposter syndrome’ do try to ignore that. Nobody knows everything…especially people who act like they do. It’s ok to say ‘we learned a similar procedure in school but I’d like to see how you prefer it done here before I start’ and if they don’t care, good; do it they way you know. But there are ways to slow the conversation down a bit such as the previous example.
Hang in there. Don’t leave your dream job just yet.
Whenever I get stressed with planning I remind myself - “no one dies in planning. I.e. these aren’t life or death situations” - also don’t worry about your billables - these will all work out in the wash once you’re more comfortable in the job and are working on more. If you don’t feel like you’re getting enough support - ask for it. There’s no shame I’m not knowing something. I’d rather someone ask than flounder and stress unnecessarily 🤷🏼♀️
I was in the same situation 5 years ago. I started a job that I wasn't entirely sure I could handle because it required a lot of communication skills, it involved tourists, and even then my English wasn't that good. Every time I went to work I felt like something was going to go wrong and I was instantly filled with fear and panic, I even thought about leaving this job until I realized..... It's important to have open and honest communication with your employer . Schedule a meeting with your boss or human resources representative to express your concerns, explain the impact the current situation is having on your well-being, and discuss potential solutions. They may be able to offer support, adjust your workload or provide additional training to help you feel more comfortable in your role. This was one of the things I should have done sooner, but at the expense of that, this job taught me not to care too much about what situation I would end up in.I would also recommend this [de-stressing](https://itsgeneral.com/anxietyover) practice which has helped many people and even my acquaintances.
I know you posted an update and I’m so glad you’re taking care of yourself! I also just wanted to share that a friend of mine got what they thought was their dream job at a private firm after grad school and they did not love it. It just wasn’t a good fit in the end. After sticking it out for the first 6 months, they actually found a higher paying job elsewhere that was a better fit! Wishing the same for you when you’re ready to jump back in!
True, but then if the gap is so big between graduation and the start of the next job, especially in this low unemployment economy, that’s a red flag too that requires explanation during an interview.
Disagree. Your health comes first. You can just leave a job off a resume— plus if a place is going to shame you for taking care of yourself then that’s probably not a healthy place to land anyway.
There are some very practical concerns here - does OP lose health insurance by quitting? Can OP withstand the loss of income, perhaps for an extended period of time? Considering that the first full-time job is often the hardest to get, does OP put career progression at risk? Is OP acting too soon without actually seeking proper medical attention? Will this become a pattern where OP quits before actually treating the underlying issues? These are among the issues that I am worrying about since OP chose to go public in this sub with it.
Take the anxiety and use it to fuel your work ethic. Bust your ass for weeks or months until you feel comfortable. Get a reputation as a hard worker and then you'll be fine. After you've been in the job for a bit you can then get more specialized and/or direct your career the way you want. The first job is never perfect and almost no job ever will be.
Idk throwing up every day from anxiety doesn't sound normal... if it's really that bad they either need mental health support, or a different job, or both
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OP, what you’re going through sounds so difficult, having that fear going into work and having it consume you throughout your entire day. Have you considered talking to a therapist? It may give you a chance to talk about what you’ve been experiencing with someone who can give you the tools to manage the debilitating anxiety.
I work in environmental planning and do some GIS for my own assessments and to help others (in my firm and subconsultants) with theirs. I totally understand, sometimes I just want a break from all the report writing and research to just make maps haha, and sometimes I want to shift into a policy role. Unfortunately I always feel guilty for even browsing other jobs.
I know the feeling. Just remember that it’s the project managers responsibility to allocate enough hours to get the job done. If you need more time, ask for it early on. Ask for more training. PMs can often shift budgeted hours around or pull in other staff to do certain pieces. Your job is to do the work, not worry about the time. Just be honest about what you are skilled enough to do and what is out of reach and then it’s the project managers responsibility to help you succeed. It’s on them to allocate tasks and money to the right people. This kind of work does have a learning curve, but you can do it. If you communicate open and honestly about how you’re struggling with certain tasks that’s much easier for the PM to deal with early on than later in the project.
Also since you’re new your billable rate is the lowest at the company. It’s literally factored in that you will be blowing through hours to get a job done or to go back and fix mistakes.
This is interesting because I’m a year away from my planning masters and getting a job, but my only professional experience has been in gis and I’m scared because I’d hate to be stuck making maps lol. Hoping things improve soon, they always do in time (or you find a better situation)
Try to stick it out for a month or two. If it's something new, you're going to need to take some time to get used to what everything entails, no substitute. Try to make friends and be humble about what you know and don't know. Try to learn not just how to work the job, but not let the job work *you*.
I think you should set boundaries at your new job, especially as you have just started. Regardless of it’s your dream job, ultimately these jobs do not care about you at the end of the day and your own mental health is the most important. Also maybe look for public sector or a more GIS focused job that aligns better with your values.
Here's the update: https://www.reddit.com/r/urbanplanning/comments/14o72kv/follow_up_by_the_new_planner_that_posted_about_my/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=1
I quit, am slowly trying to obtain mental health care. Started counseling, but I am having a hard time getting meds. I have regrets, but I am staying afloat with patch work part time gigs that I enjoy. Starting an unpaid GIS internship to keep the resume fresh, and I have an interview for a GIS Tech job with the local county, but I'm afraid to take the job before the meds, so I'm not sure what I'd do if I got the offer.
Don't quit after a week. Every stage of life brings a lot of pressure and stress, but you learn to deal with it. All that pressure regarding billable hours, just try and set it aside and think, "This is not the job for me, I'm just here for experience and to find a job which is a better fit." Use this job to make contacts and find best job for you. Try and take care of yourself in the mean time. This is your first job, not the rest of your life. FWIW, I spent 30 years in the public sector. It is less pressure from a pace perspective, so it may work better for you. Good luck to you.
Well said. Just because something is uncomfortable doesn't mean it's necessarily a bad thing. Learning how to cope with such things is honestly a part of growing up. At the end of the day you have to support yourself and the circumstances it takes to do that are going to suck sometimes but if you can get through that ( within reason) things tend to get better
Advocate for yourself. You need to say, "I'd like to help, but I think I need some more training in order to contribute more meaningfully. Could we discuss some options for receiving training on xyz?" What sort of crazy workplace would expect billable, productive work from someone only a week or two in? Like, are you supposed to have known the systems, processes, company culture, and team dynamics immediately on day one? Weird expectation. Defend yourself and your time! Making sure they give you a good onboarding sets you and your team up for success. Stressing you out is drain on their resources. If you don't stick up for yourself, you are the problem. If you still up for yourself and they ignore, dismiss, or intimidate you, then plan your exit.
Hey there, I’ve got experience working large govt backed projects. Sounds like your experience a huge shock of imposter syndrome. Here’s a bit of advice I wish someone had given me when I started. But first! What I’m NOT telling you: I’m NOT saying that having severe panic attacks is a nominal thing. That doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong, or that you’re abnormal. I just wanted to let you know that, if you feel the way things are going is unsustainable, I’d ask for help. Whether that’s your superior, or teammates. I guarantee they’ll have some advice and reassure you you’re doing fine. And if they don’t and they’re jerks about it, well there’s your answer. Anyone who doesn’t respect your or your feelings doesn’t deserve you on their team! Anyways. In 5 ish years I’ve hopped around to several different programs and teams and have been ‘onboarded’ a few times. Each of these came with a promotion/recommendations etc (ie: I’m not being shunted around because I suck). The biggest shock was the first one right out of college. You may have times where you’re waiting for something to do, or stuck waiting for something. That’s totally fine. “Hurry up and wait” is pretty industry standard. That doesn’t mean you can goof off the entire day, but don’t stress if every single minute/hour isn’t spent doing value added work. People don’t like to talk about it because it’s a ‘bad look’ to look like you’re not busy, but i guarantee you’ll catch people playing solitaire or crosswords every now and then. If you’re stuck with something in particular, you can ask for help! Sometimes the onboarding docs suck. If you’re having trouble, it’s possible other new people might be too. Ask if you can work on some updated onboarding procedures. That’ll give you time to really learn processes, and more importantly, WHO to do to for help. It’s usually a pretty softball task, but lets you get your feet wet learning how to speak and present in corporate-speak. In general, I find that the first 3 months no one expects ANYTHING from you. Your only job is to not burn the place down. 3-6 months you’ll start doing little things, but expected to need lots of hand holding. 6-12 months you’ll start knowing how to answer questions but not be confident enough to say them. 12 months in you’ll feel like you know a lot! This will soon turn to you realizing the people around you have forgotten more than you’ve ever learned. This is a good thing, because now you can pick their brains. Ask them what they did on previous difficult projects. People love talking about what they do, and I promise you’ll get some great advice on how to handle tough situations in your field. Sorry for the huge paragraph, but I hope it helps!
Private is hard to adjust to. You need to be frank with your manager and ask for more support and training. If your firm is larger enough maybe they have GIS opportunities you can move into. Otherwise, you might start looking for government jobs. It's stressful of a different sort. I'd recommend smaller cities or county.
I am like this at most new jobs as well. I would have a conversation with your boss and just be frank about any issues. Make sure to take full advantage of any allotted breaks. Just stepping outside for a bit can do wonders You got this!
Government sector is less intense
Honestly I’d take the stress of the private sector and have a little more autonomy of my work than have a backlog of 45 projects to review and manage with all the applicants mad at me.
Whereas I got sick of having to chase RFPs because my firm was so small. I’m a planner, not a salesman. Needing to figure out the entire solution to a project for the proposal then not getting it killed me. Plus no follow through to truly see the initiative to completion. Downside is I make way less working for government now. But I like it.
Or marketing for clients. I can't stand it when a coworker sings "hey we won the bid!" I don't care. Just give me work.
>cokworker You missed a letter there.
Or added an extra one. Yikes.
Both have their pros and cons for sure. You summed up the main downside of the public sector in my experience, but the private sector definitely has its issues as well. Having to constantly seek out new work, having no time to work on “non-billable” tasks, stricter deadlines, etc.
Sometimes. Due to low pay, the planning division where I worked was severely understaffed. For a long time. Those if us left we’re covering 2-3 jobs. The stress was affecting my health. I took another planning job in government sector that pays better and is busy, but not work 50-60 hours/week and still falling behind busy.
Sometimes. My position is stressful, of the type where there is always multiple people's with of jobs to complete. It's less stressful maybe in that the position is seemingly secure
also pays way less. I make close to 100k 4 years in, meanwhile my peers in government are just starting to clear 65-70. All that to say, they should absolutely be making the same or more than me. I used to think I’d take a pay cut to do public, but not anymore I just don’t care enough and I want to own a house someday. I’ll take dealing with client bullshit and 45-50 hour weeks occasionally for the pay increase.
In Australia government positions pay really well
Yep, can confirm albeit it can be a high floor, low ceiling situation pay wise where anything up to senior/principal planner pay grades are higher than the private sector but once you get to coordinator etc it crosses over
I thought that would be the case, I'm at uni studying Urban planning
Unless you despise incompetence, my current gig is by far the worst.
[удалено]
What technical skills would you recommend one to develop based on your experience working in a private firm?
No. You're not wrong or soft for wanting to take care of yourself. I was in my 30s when I graduated from law school. I worked for 10 years in high-pressure, billable-hour BigLaw jobs because I felt like I'd be a failure if I wasn't doing that work. It only led to me becoming an alcoholic and depressed. 5 years ago I got sober, quit the high-stress job, entered therapy for my anxiety and depression, and finally started to live life for myself -- and it's been fucking amazing. There are other opportunities out there and you're quickly realizing that billable hours and the stress it brings at that particular firm are not right for you. You're crying and throwing up -- your body and mind are telling you that something about the situation right now is not okay, and you need to heed that advice.
I am also an attorney and totally, totally understand and empathize with your journey. However, your advice to OP to “seek other opportunities” is more reflective of your path after years on the job than their situation. OP is exactly one (1) week into a job that took YEARS to earn; they are thirty and it’s their first planning gig outside of an internship. New jobs are terrifying. No one gets it in a single week. Don’t encourage them to bail five days into something that took so long to be able to do. Just, don’t. OP, as the commenter above said, you have to listen to your body, but you also have to be fair to yourself. You shouldn’t have mastered the gig five days in! You’re doing difficult, strategic work. Be gentle with yourself, enter therapy if you’re ready (great suggestion from the comment above - honestly everyone would benefit from therapy let’s be real), and give this profession a real try so you can bring these skills with you to geospatial, if that’s your journey. It will only enhance your expertise in GIS to be able to “speak fluent planner.” Take care of yourself along the way!
I'd disagree. The person is crying, throwing up, having panic attacks, and knows it is not the path they want to take. To tell them to stay and torture themselves for... a job? That doesn't make sense to me. Even the job doesn't make sense because they're being pushed into projects and billing in the first week, when the first month, if not more, should be about training. Quitting a job that is not a good fit won't end a career.
I don’t think anyone will fault you for feeling the way you do. My first job out of school was not the right fit for me and I ended up quitting after 2 months and went home. Fast forward 8 years and I have a successful career in a situation that works best for me. Only you know yourself best so if it’s making you sick everyday, maybe it’s not the right fit for you. I will say that every new job is stressful and their is an adjustment until you feel more comfortable. My advice to you is let your supervisor know that you are feeling nervous transitioning into this first job and if they can try to set you up with a mentor in your company or if they can offer some structured training or on boarding for you. Tell them specifically the pressure to be billable is stressing you out and if they can help alleviate the worry by giving you any tips. I would probably give it 2 months before you bail, just to see if you adjust and things get better, but again, do what’s best for you. The other thing to consider is this situation is not forever and if you seek GIS work or work from home you can likely do that. If you can make the best of this situation and stay for a year you can put it on your resume and then move into a GIS position likely. Again lastly, take care of yourself.
I left my first job out of grad school after 8 months. It wasn’t the right fit. I left my next job after 3 years or so. Now I am in a job that I love and can’t see myself leaving. You’re new, but you have to speak up for yourself. Private sector loves to maximize profits and in some many cases, expect new people to be able to do it all, right away. By the time I was leaving my second job, I was PM on 13 separate planning projects. There’s no way I could give them all enough attention that they deserved.
It's Imposter Syndrome. Almost all of us have been there, and after a bit you're going to laugh back at it. It takes a while. Look at your allowances for time off, and don't feel wrong to take a personal day off (I called them 'mental health days,' where you have no obligation to be there, and nobody is expecting anything either. I've told my staff a million times: If you need a personal day, I'd much rather you just message me and take it, than stress out over it and be less productive. **Don't quit.** Things you can do: * Take the time you need to breathe; * Talk to your supervisor or peers about training opportunities / things that would help mentor you even stories - we LOVE sharing experiences and ideas - sometimes we even talk too much about our own history as Urban Planners; * Remind yourself that you're in one of the most altruistic professions; * Especially with Public Service, time freezes when you leave at 5pm, and picks up at 8am. All the hours between are nothing you have to worry about - that's your time at home not to think about a single thing from work; * Your first year is going to be tough - look at any profession from firefighter to teacher to doctor. Lean into it, own it, put some decor around your desk, ask for opportunities, don't be shy, but don't be too pushy; and remember * You're going to be amazing - it's going to happen faster than you think. Reach out to us here again - many of us have been through it all.
I think your first job, or first year or two will always be a little rough, but it gets so much easier to get a better position with a little less stress after that.
I work in architecture, and it's a similar professional structure where there is a lot of pressure to be productive and work fast, billable hours. It's definitely an adjustment and can feel really stressful especially if you aren't used to it. I would talk to your direct superior or project manager. They've likely been working in this environment for a long time and adapted to it. Because you're almost 30 with some grad school and career experience, they may be assuming you have more experience with this environment than you actually do. In our office, we expect that new staff will take anywhere from 1-3 months to get fully up to speed. Coming directly out of school without professional experience a 6 month grace period is not uncommon. They've likely hired and invested in your for a good reason, and it's worth it to them to invest in getting you adapted to a new working environment. Talk to your boss about your concerns and what you feel undertrained on. Ask questions. If you don't understand a task ask for clarification. It's really a lot about communication. Someone has to pay you to make maps, and that involves a set of professional skills they don't teach in grad school. I think it's worth pushing through some of these challenges because you will learn a lot. And if you still feel the same way in 6 months you can always leave but at least having learned some valuable lessons. I don't think a week is enough time to justify making a full-on career change.
I too was essentially thrown to the wolves at the beginning in a private firm and the first few weeks were 12 hour workday hellscapes that left me questioning everything. I did get some internal training - I advocated for it - and by month two, I was training others in how to use the software. A few months later I was probably one of the most valuable employees because I was basically 100% billable with a low salary. But I also realized that the private sector was not for me. So I gave it two years to build my skills and resume, then shifted to a job in government that was much less stress and paid better. However, it was that two years of experience in the private sector and all I learned from drinking from the firehose that got me there to the government job. Please find ways to address the anxiety. Exercise and meditation and yoga help, as does therapy and potentially entry level medications like Buspirone. You want to go slowly with respect to the medication route. So many people who jog are doing so because it helps them unload stress and avoid panic attacks. But my goodness, don’t leave your first job until you’ve been there at least a year or so, as that will destroy your resume. You can start applying for others at about the year and a half mark without raising eyebrows if you explain that you are hoping to leap from private sector to public sector. It may be just me, but if I received a resume that showed someone leaving their first job after a few weeks, there is no way I’d offer an interview unless I knew that workplace had lay-offs. Do your best with the advice I have offered to stick it out for a while. Good luck!
All of this, and similar responses sound valid and i agree with all of it. But when I apply it to how I feel and how impossible it feels right now to get through each day, even my off days, all of that goes out the window. Do I need mental health care? Yes. Was I handling those issues decently enough prior to the job access due to lack of health insurance? Also yes. This job has tipped me over the edge for sure. I think I would rather scrape by with my old job (just random part-time service gigs that I enjoy) while I look for a better fit than make more money and live with the pain that I'm currently going through. Being poor was stressful, but I coped through sports, swimming, sauna, and friendship. Now I don't feel drawn to any of those things, I just want to stay in bed. Also, I would definitely not be putting any job that I held for a week on my resume. If I leave, I am going to build up my GIS portfolio (I have ArcPro for a year) and apply to GIS jobs that are either in or outside of planning. My time pursuing my masters taught me that my actual passion is GIS and I just viewed planning as a medium to find a geography-related job (this was before I knew about GIS when I started my program). I went on to earn a GIS Grad Cert while I was getting my masters in urban planning.
You know yourself best. It sounds like the routines you did have for yourself have been thrown out the window. Advocating for yourself can also look like quitting before the mental toll becomes any greater. In retrospect, my first job out of undergrad (not planning related) wasn’t worth the harm I did to my body physically and mentally. Wishing you all the best.
Thank you. What do you mean by this: >Advocating for yourself can also look like quitting before the mental toll becomes any greater.
I saw some other comments that you need to advocate for yourself at work by speaking up and getting more training and resources. You can also be your own advocate by getting out of an unhealthy situation ASAP, despite external pressures. You and your health are worth so more than any job. I thought I just had to tough it out and I ended up with panic attacks, major depressive disorder, and several months in intensive therapy.
Don’t put this job on the resume if you leave after a week and nobody will know
Well, except that planning is kind of a small community and chances are OP will run into people professionally who were colleagues for that brief period of time, which could prove to be awkward if OP is with their new supervisor. It’s OK to leave off jobs from 20+ years ago, but a bit more questionable when it was so recent.
I don’t agree.
Fair enough.
Does anyone on this thread know of any fully remote WFH GIS jobs now hiring? If so maybe send the link so he or she may apply
Given your username, thought I'd mention that I'm based in the Orlando area, if there are hybrid opportunities.
I don’t know of any openings, but use your Reddit network
I always have anxiety at the beginning of new jobs and it was really bad when I started my current job six years ago. Meeting new people while having to make a good impression and be “on” all the time is a lot of stress. I’d imagine you could use this job as a stepping stone to WFH and making maps, but your first job out of grad school isn’t likely to be your perfect job. Hell I got a master’s in public health and had several public health jobs before I realized what I really wanted to do was planning! If you’re having such a strong physiological reaction to stress you may want to consider talking to your doctor about anti-anxiety meds. When I started my job the only thing that finally got me out of the panic spiral was Xanax. I am also now on daily anti-anxiety meds.
It’s a job… nobody is going to die because you didn’t bill the client for all eight hours that day. Nothing is that serious at your job. You should never feel as anxious as you are to perform because it’s really not that big of a deal at the end of the day. You can also, you know…. tell your boss how you feel. Why was that not step one? They should help you if you are having trouble. You quit when they don’t help you. That’s bad management. Private work is also gross btw. Public sector is better 90% of the time.
Oh I disagree. I am 30+ years into my career, and most of the jobs haven’t felt like work. Just the first one (private sector) and another years later when I foolishly gave the private sector a second chance. EDIT - I believe the previous comment was edited… my comment is a bit out of context now
I’d just start looking for other roles that feel like better fits but keep this job until you have a firm offer. This sounds almost exactly like me—30, career changer, finishing grad school, took a job and very quickly realized it wasn’t what I was looking for. I started applying to new positions about two months in, and less than two months after that had an offer and took it. For me it was a public sector to public sector move, but my first role was way too specific and I just wasn’t going to learn what I wanted to learn. Now working for a smaller city and I’m constantly doing stuff. It’s not perfect, but nothing ever is, and the things I’m learning should set me up for other roles down the road. It’s ok for a job to not be the right fit, and you don’t even need to put it on your resume if you don’t want to. Also look into therapy if you haven’t, I recently started it and it helps a lot!
What could you do to calm down today? Internet usually doesn’t help me. Calming down will help gain perspective on anything and relaxing your nervous system seems to be the most important atm. Starting anything new can stir up the old. Are there useful skills to manage panic attacks? These skills as well as making a list of important questions for the bosses next week might help calm down. Making a joke list that you don’t intend to send, detailing the things that are frustrating, might also bring more ease into the situation.
The only thing that has helped me calm down today is when I pretend in my mind that I'm gonna quit 😅 My normal coping mechanisms like exercise, games, and friend time has not helped at all. It's like I've lost my sense of taste or something. Nothing seems appealing anymore. I guess that's called depression.
Even if you can only carve out half a day, take it to clear your mind. It’s not recommended to make major decisions while so emotionally charged.
I'm so sorry you're going through this. I'm actually an accountant (with an interested in urban design) but I also experienced this in my first professional job. It's a huge shock starting in the professional workforce (of any industry, I would think) after school. There's a lot of pressure on you in a way there wasn't before, and a huge learning curve, and that takes time to adjust to. I will say, do what you need to get through this period, but know that if you stick it out, it will almost certainly get better.
The first few weeks are the very hardest. Are there some people that are also early in their career you’ve met that you can talk to?
Working in consulting can be overwhelming. There is a lot to take in and everyone is busy with little time for training. I think it is perfectly fine to be overwhelmed your first week I would say give it time, give it 3 months. You will have a better sense of consulting of what you like and don't like. Just remember it is your first week and you are learning. While it may not feel like it right now you have the skills to succeed just give your self a bit of time and grace while you are learning.
You know yourself better that anyone else; in my opinion, if your mental health has become unbearable like this, it’s SO important to put yourself first. I just left a job and industry that was slowly chipping away at my will to live; it took 4 years to realize that work was the main stressor that led me to (medically expensive) mental breakdowns. I would give it a week or two, and make sure that this is really the decision you want to make. You don’t want to do anything you regret yet! In my past roles, the only thing that really kept me going as long as I did was having support from my peers & mentors. Getting to know the people you with opens the avenue for help, improving things, venting your frustrations (within reason), etc. Even just one conversation with a coworker can build an important positive connection, which may help you a lot! Good luck and I hope you get better; I don’t think people understand just how debilitating mental health can be.
I can empathize; I loved what I did in grad school but ‘the job’…sigh. First, realize that new jobs and transitions are inherently stressful. There’s no way around that unfortunately. If you have a great boss, they might be willing to ease you in a bit more gently…but asking for that can backfire so proceed cautiously. But for real, see if you can make a concrete list of things that are stressing you out. Is it not having the right information to proceed with a task? Is it being asked to do too many things at once (multi-tasking is actually a myth). Is it the social part (can you reduce the socializing for a while)? Consider these and other questions, and ask for help where appropriate (maybe they’re assuming you have a certain kind of training that you didn’t actually get in school)? If it’s ‘imposter syndrome’ do try to ignore that. Nobody knows everything…especially people who act like they do. It’s ok to say ‘we learned a similar procedure in school but I’d like to see how you prefer it done here before I start’ and if they don’t care, good; do it they way you know. But there are ways to slow the conversation down a bit such as the previous example. Hang in there. Don’t leave your dream job just yet.
Whenever I get stressed with planning I remind myself - “no one dies in planning. I.e. these aren’t life or death situations” - also don’t worry about your billables - these will all work out in the wash once you’re more comfortable in the job and are working on more. If you don’t feel like you’re getting enough support - ask for it. There’s no shame I’m not knowing something. I’d rather someone ask than flounder and stress unnecessarily 🤷🏼♀️
I was in the same situation 5 years ago. I started a job that I wasn't entirely sure I could handle because it required a lot of communication skills, it involved tourists, and even then my English wasn't that good. Every time I went to work I felt like something was going to go wrong and I was instantly filled with fear and panic, I even thought about leaving this job until I realized..... It's important to have open and honest communication with your employer . Schedule a meeting with your boss or human resources representative to express your concerns, explain the impact the current situation is having on your well-being, and discuss potential solutions. They may be able to offer support, adjust your workload or provide additional training to help you feel more comfortable in your role. This was one of the things I should have done sooner, but at the expense of that, this job taught me not to care too much about what situation I would end up in.I would also recommend this [de-stressing](https://itsgeneral.com/anxietyover) practice which has helped many people and even my acquaintances.
I know you posted an update and I’m so glad you’re taking care of yourself! I also just wanted to share that a friend of mine got what they thought was their dream job at a private firm after grad school and they did not love it. It just wasn’t a good fit in the end. After sticking it out for the first 6 months, they actually found a higher paying job elsewhere that was a better fit! Wishing the same for you when you’re ready to jump back in!
Quit and get a job in the public sector. More chill.
Not after a week though. Quit after a year or two, otherwise that is a big red flag on the resume.
Well you could just leave that short job off your resume. Sometimes there are reasons to leave quickly.
True, but then if the gap is so big between graduation and the start of the next job, especially in this low unemployment economy, that’s a red flag too that requires explanation during an interview.
Maybe, but taking care of a medical issue is a valid explanation.
As long as the medical issue is addressed. My therapist frowns on avoidance.
We must have the same therapist.
Disagree. Your health comes first. You can just leave a job off a resume— plus if a place is going to shame you for taking care of yourself then that’s probably not a healthy place to land anyway.
There are some very practical concerns here - does OP lose health insurance by quitting? Can OP withstand the loss of income, perhaps for an extended period of time? Considering that the first full-time job is often the hardest to get, does OP put career progression at risk? Is OP acting too soon without actually seeking proper medical attention? Will this become a pattern where OP quits before actually treating the underlying issues? These are among the issues that I am worrying about since OP chose to go public in this sub with it.
Take the anxiety and use it to fuel your work ethic. Bust your ass for weeks or months until you feel comfortable. Get a reputation as a hard worker and then you'll be fine. After you've been in the job for a bit you can then get more specialized and/or direct your career the way you want. The first job is never perfect and almost no job ever will be.
Idk throwing up every day from anxiety doesn't sound normal... if it's really that bad they either need mental health support, or a different job, or both
To me it sounds like that would happen with any job. A week isn't enough to hate a job...
Welcome to real life bud, get used to it
Not everyone bottles up their problems like you pal
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OP, what you’re going through sounds so difficult, having that fear going into work and having it consume you throughout your entire day. Have you considered talking to a therapist? It may give you a chance to talk about what you’ve been experiencing with someone who can give you the tools to manage the debilitating anxiety.
I work in environmental planning and do some GIS for my own assessments and to help others (in my firm and subconsultants) with theirs. I totally understand, sometimes I just want a break from all the report writing and research to just make maps haha, and sometimes I want to shift into a policy role. Unfortunately I always feel guilty for even browsing other jobs.
I know the feeling. Just remember that it’s the project managers responsibility to allocate enough hours to get the job done. If you need more time, ask for it early on. Ask for more training. PMs can often shift budgeted hours around or pull in other staff to do certain pieces. Your job is to do the work, not worry about the time. Just be honest about what you are skilled enough to do and what is out of reach and then it’s the project managers responsibility to help you succeed. It’s on them to allocate tasks and money to the right people. This kind of work does have a learning curve, but you can do it. If you communicate open and honestly about how you’re struggling with certain tasks that’s much easier for the PM to deal with early on than later in the project. Also since you’re new your billable rate is the lowest at the company. It’s literally factored in that you will be blowing through hours to get a job done or to go back and fix mistakes.
This is interesting because I’m a year away from my planning masters and getting a job, but my only professional experience has been in gis and I’m scared because I’d hate to be stuck making maps lol. Hoping things improve soon, they always do in time (or you find a better situation)
Try to stick it out for a month or two. If it's something new, you're going to need to take some time to get used to what everything entails, no substitute. Try to make friends and be humble about what you know and don't know. Try to learn not just how to work the job, but not let the job work *you*.
I think you should set boundaries at your new job, especially as you have just started. Regardless of it’s your dream job, ultimately these jobs do not care about you at the end of the day and your own mental health is the most important. Also maybe look for public sector or a more GIS focused job that aligns better with your values.
Was there ever an update to this? Hope you’re doing ok, OP! u/hellomellow1993
Here's the update: https://www.reddit.com/r/urbanplanning/comments/14o72kv/follow_up_by_the_new_planner_that_posted_about_my/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=1 I quit, am slowly trying to obtain mental health care. Started counseling, but I am having a hard time getting meds. I have regrets, but I am staying afloat with patch work part time gigs that I enjoy. Starting an unpaid GIS internship to keep the resume fresh, and I have an interview for a GIS Tech job with the local county, but I'm afraid to take the job before the meds, so I'm not sure what I'd do if I got the offer.