I’m still trying to figure out what happened at my new job…
I started a new job at a manufacturing company in May as an Accounts Payable Administrator. The salary was $65K, and I was recruited through an established staffing agency. During the interview process, I was told the role was primarily AP, although the owner later said it was “more than AP.”
I came in with years of accounting/admin experience and extensive experience with QBO, AP, reconciliations, vendors, etc. I wasn’t expecting to know a manufacturing company’s systems and processes on day one, but I was absolutely willing to learn.
The onboarding was…interesting.
On my first day, I didn’t even have a computer and had to watch training videos about harassment in the workplace on my personal phone. There was very little structured training. I was given tasks, but often without much explanation of how they wanted things done.
At one point, I was essentially told to use Google or ChatGPT to train myself.
That was pretty shocking to me. I’m all for using technology and figuring things out independently, but there is a difference between being self-directed and being expected to teach yourself the company’s specific accounting processes, policies and procedures.
I report to the owner and the controller. My direct working relationship with the Controller was pretty limited. There wasn’t much regular feedback or coaching.
Then came my 90-day review.
I had previously had a one-on-one with the owner in June, and at that time I was under the impression things were going well. I hadn’t been told I was failing, nor had I been given any indication that my job was in serious jeopardy.
Then the Controller called me into his office for my review.
He pointed out several things he felt I had done incorrectly. I explained that I had repeatedly asked questions because I hadn’t been properly trained on many of the processes.
His response was essentially: **“**Based on your interview, you should have been able to jump right in.”
That really stuck with me because an interview assesses your skill set and if you can do the job. It’s not a substitute for training.
My two-page performance review was basically **“**Needs Improvement” across the board, with punctuality being the exception.
Then I was told my probation was being extended another three months.
And this is where I’m struggling with the whole thing.
They presented me with a two-page document with only “Needs Improvement” and called it a performance review. It felt like a PIP without actually being presented as a formal PIP because there were absolutely no details, timelines or measurable outcomes. I wasn’t given a copy of the document I signed.
There had been very little ongoing feedback, very little structured training, I had literally been told to Google or use ChatGPT to train myself, and no indication before this meeting that I was suddenly performing so poorly.
Now I’m sitting here wondering:
Is this actually a performance issue on my part, or did the company hire someone into a poorly defined role, provide minimal training and support, and then decide that I should have somehow known everything?
I’m not opposed to constructive criticism. If I’m doing something wrong, tell me. Show me how you want it done. Give me an opportunity to correct it.
What bothers me is being told at the 90-day mark that I’m essentially failing when I had received very little feedback leading up to that point.
And extending my probation another three months means I’m now essentially back in probationary limbo after already being there for three months.
I’m honestly curious how other people would interpret this situation.
Does this sound like a legitimate performance-management process, or a company trying to build a paper trail because they don’t want to admit the onboarding/training was inadequate?