Stressed out!

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

I left my last job as a production editor 3 years ago to become a freelance proofreader. Although I like to proofread and I get to work from home, the downside is that the work isn't always steady and I don't have benefits.

About a month ago, I got a call from an agency who saw my resume on monster. She had a full-time proofreading job about 10 minutes from my apartment! I got the job, but it's temp to hire, meaning I have to work for the company for 600 hours (maybe less) before they hire me permanently. The people are really nice and I like the atmosphere, plus it's a 10 minute drive and I really don't want to go back to commuting into Manhattan everyday.

Last week I missed something and got a "talking to." I admit I was proofing a little too fast and now I'm super careful. Ever since then I've been stressed out because it's shit like that that will keep them from hiring me permanently. Last night the guy I work with found a mistake that I had made and that just ruined my night. (Turns out that the correction that needed to be made wasn't clear so anyone could have missed it). On Monday, the supervisor questioned something I did. It turned out I was right but these things are seriously stressing me out.

I look at it this way-- I was hired to proofread and it's my job to find mistakes. Why would they want to hire a proofreader who can't do her job? Up to this point, I thought I was a good proofreader. I've never had anyone call me up to tell me otherwise. Could I have missed things in past jobs? Sure, but I always got repeat work. I never stressed out about it. But I'm just a temp and I really want them to hire me permanently.

The stress is really getting to me. I feel like I'm going to be scrutinized because of that one mistake I made and every mistake is going to be magnified. Last night I blew through a red light because I had so much on my mind! If I could just get through the next 500 hours of work and they hire me I could just relax. UGH!!! :wallbash:

[RAAMONE]

damn! i was trying to find a mistake in your post...but looks perfect

[Furtherman]

You've been doing it long enough that if you were not any good at it, I think you would have quit long ago.

So I'd say take a deep breath, and maybe go at your next assignment a little different, maybe under a different atmosphere... I'm not really sure what that would be like for you, but I guess just take the next couple weeks slow and you'll find your rhythm.

[JPMNICK]

i would not worry. i think they are just trying to show you how carefully they like things done. you will settle into a groove and it will be fine.

and managers and management tend to have a very short term memory. i have reviews once per year and ALL the stuff in my reviews is always shit it did in the last 2-3 months. no one remembers projects from 11 months ago. by the time your hours are up, this will be a distant memory

[A.J.]

Tell them that you have dyslexia and ADD and tell them that you'd sue them for violation of the Americans with Disabilites Act.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

i was trying to find a mistake in your post.

I see what you did there. You're clever and funny.


Tell them that you have dyslexia and ADD and tell them that you'd sue them for violation of the Americans with Disabilites Act.

I would really like a helper monkey.


Thanks for all the input-- I wouldn't be stressing so much about it if I was already hired. I've never had a temp job before. The fact that it's a 10 minute drive is really the main selling point of the job. If this job was, say, 40 minutes away I probably wouldn't care as much. And I could do without coming home and smelling like printer's ink.

[Gwen]

P,

Ditto to the previous comments that I'm sure when it comes time for the hiring they'll have forgotten this. Beside the fact that everyone makes mistakes. The best thing you can do is take the criticism on it, but not let it get to you. Otherwise you're likely to make more mistakes because you're stressing yourself out when it isn't necessary.

I vote you go home, have a glass of beer or wine, relax with the kitties and recharge this weekend. You'll be ready to go on Monday and you can start fresh. Don't give up, I'm sure you'll get the job. :smile:

[Tenbatsuzen]

Tell them that you have dyslexia and ADD and tell them that you'd sue them for violation of the Americans with Disabilites Act.

Ironically, I'm sitting on that one in case my spot gets blown up at my job.

[Gvac]

Relax, Alice. You know you're damn good at what you do. Stressing will only worsen your performance.

Sit back, light up a fatty, and tell all of those pesky pricks to fuck off!

[Yerdaddy]

Don't sweat it. Put as much effort as you can into the job and don't worry about it. It's like playing a sport where performance at the level you need only comes when you're "in the zone" and you can't get in the zone when you're worried about your performance. You'll do fine.

[FUNKMAN]

masturbate alot :tongue:

just do the best you can and the rest seems pretty much out of your control. hope you get hired!

Good Luck!

[sailor]

if you have the time/energy for it, you might want to keep doing some of the freelance work. then the job won't be such a be-all end-all and it might help you relax a bit.

what type of stuff are you proof-reading?

[mdr55]

Do some meditation or yoga. or buy a Wii and get a shooting game or something and shoot those fuckers.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

what type of stuff are you proof-reading?

Lots and lots of prospectuses and annual reports-- mostly Fidelity, Dreyfus, Morgan Stanley. I'll occasionally get to proof other things. Last week I proofed an STD pamphlet for Planned Parenthood (fun fun fun!) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Christmas catalog. It's not difficult work. I'm mostly making sure things are printing right and files converted correctly.

When I'm working from home I proofread mostly law and business books.

I'm much more relaxed about things now. I think I was just keyed up due to the situation with my douche-nozzle neighbor.

[TeeBone]

Learn to play the guitar.
Don't learn other people's songs----but learn to play the guitar. It is the best way to translate something negative and stressful into something nice you can enjoy.

[A.J.]

I'm much more relaxed about things now. I think I was just keyed up due to the situation with my douche-nozzle neighbor.

Him again. In the words of Springfield mafioso Fat Tony, "Perhaps it is time to meet and greet this individual."

[furie]

look at it this way,
if you don't get to stay, you haven't really lost anything because it was a temp job, like the other ones you've been doing for a while.
no big deal.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

I feel vindicated tonight!

On Friday I caught an error in a Fidelity prospectus. Fidelity is the company's biggest client and today one CSR high fived me and another one offered to buy me dinner. Apparently I saved their collective asses.

It feels good to be the hero. :clap:

[PapaBear]

WOO HOO!!!

Way to go, girl!:clap:

[A.J.]

I feel vindicated tonight!

On Friday I caught an error in a Fidelity prospectus. Fidelity is the company's biggest client and today one CSR high fived me and another one offered to buy me dinner. Apparently I saved their collective asses.

It feels good to be the hero. :clap:


Tonight, I'm going to drink one of my beers in your honor!! :drunk:

[JPMNICK]

I feel vindicated tonight!

On Friday I caught an error in a Fidelity prospectus. Fidelity is the company's biggest client and today one CSR high fived me and another one offered to buy me dinner. Apparently I saved their collective asses.

It feels good to be the hero. :clap:

thats awesome congrats!