Have you thought of writing short stories for "Kindle".

Apparently you get 70% of all profits and no set up or ongoing fees.

This for starters.....

Once upon a time there was a man (let's call him Rich) who was very insecure and felt downtrodden and unloved.

He went to work in a great big building in a big city.

He felt like he was being Ostrich eyesed and was so lonely.

This is his story spoken by himself.......

I recently started a new job at a big media company in London - a big household name. This is after years of working for organisations that could barely be described as medium sized - I did 7 years in a public sector organisation in an office with just two other people (although everyone knew each other in the building and there were lots of social events) and then my last 2 years have been spent at a startup with around 40 people although working alongside a finance team of just two others.

The new place is huge - 5 floors of open plan offices and I am based in the finance department all on one floor - there is as many people in this finance department as there was in my last company. It's a reputable place and many, many people seem to have long and happy careers there. It was supposed to be a hugely positive change in direction for me and having been made redundant from my dream job a couple of years ago I went in with high hopes (it was supposed to be the escape from my rut and worries of job security that comes with a startup).

However, having been there for 10 weeks now and approaching the end of my probation period I feel like I am really struggling to settle in. I don't think I have had one positive thing to say about the place since starting (from my own point of view).

The role itself is something I think I will be fine with, I initially struggled at first but seem to be getting the hang of it now. My team and supervisor are all based out in America and they have hired me in London to provide finance support to the EMEA Sales team (which is based in the same building as me but on a different floor) as the time difference between here and America wasn't working for them or their clients.

I've never worked in a large company before and am definitely going through some adjustment around that. In addition to this, it's quite a "cold" place on a personal level. It's not uncommon for colleagues with whom you may be working directly behind a few feet away to not have even spoken to each other. Some people don't even say good morning to their immediate team when they arrive and leave in the evening without saying a word anyone else as they put their coat on and walk out.

My biggest problem is the isolation. I literally have nothing to do even on a work level with anyone else based in the office so there is zero contact whatsoever. When I started back in July I was placed on a spare desk with the credit control team who had their own team dynamic and kept themselves largely to themselves - they would go to lunch together as a team, etc. I wasn't introduced to anyone else in the department or even shown around the building and the various teams are mostly tight knit and friends amongst themselves. Last week it got 10 times worse as there was a desk move and I was dumped on a bank of 6 spare desks by myself. I have literally gone the entire week without speaking to another human being and it has really gotten to me. I'm thinking negatively and my anxiety is through the roof - I dread going in and feel like everyday is my first day.

I haven't bought any of this up with my supervisor as she is based in America and so our contact is mostly limited to work related issues, she comes across as very professional and she trained me relatively well given the challenges of doing it over the phone and sharing screens or talking over IM. I also don't want to come across as moaning about where I'm sitting as it sounds like something a child would do especially as it sounds like her office in America is made up of those cubicles that you see in American movies.

I thought I would give it some time as I am fairly shy (probably minor social anxiety) and so always take some time to settle and make new friends when I start a new job but after almost 3 months it just doesn't feel like it is going to happen here. I know that companies have different cultures but having come from a startup environment where almost everyone was friendly & outgoing and there was so many out of office activities to a place where I am effectively the office loner is pretty depressing.

As I say, it's been a few weeks now and I'm in a bad way mentally about the company and working environment. I'm not really sure what to do. I don't want this to sound like I'm moaning but what was supposed to be a great move for me feels like anything but.

Follow this for the next chapter....

Leaving after three months is your big problem.  Being honest as you can is probably the best strategy in this case.  Don't sound self pitying don't blame other people.

Explain that the job hasn't turned out the way you were led to believe but don't criticise.  If all else fails just say you made a mistake  and you'd rather put it right sooner rather than later.  Don't say anything about being lonely (you perform better in a team than on your own) or social anxt, these things are more common than you think, its just that most people are better at covering them up, often with drink or drugs.

I've worked in lots of companies and seen how people change depending on the people they work with, you just need the right environment and you'll be fine.

Good luck


There is no point in changing job just to get out so make sure that the new job is a better fit.

Maybe say you don't think the culture of your current role suites you and having researched the new company you think it will be better suited to you.

It's going to be a major sticking point though so you are going to have to do some very creative blagging.

Let us know how you get on.

We've ALL been in jobs where we hated it/ didn't fit in with the culture so don't be too hard on yourself

I didn't get the other job I applied for.

Had my three month probation meeting (conference call with boss in the US) today and it's been extended by a further three months.

Am in a major state of anxiety this evening, during the call she kept asking 'what else have you done' and part of my remit is to have regular calls with some of the sales teams based in other countries to ask about the status of the balances for some of the accounts and I said that I had called the team in France earlier this week but I haven't done it yet - I knew I'd made a mistake as soon as I said it as I meant the Frankfurt team - but I bumbled my way through and am now panicking that my boss will check up on me and ask the team in France if I did have a call with them. As soon as the meeting was over I quickly emailed the France team and asked if we could have a quick call but they haven't gotten back to me yet.