What's the best response when I'm told to look it up on Google?

[Anonymous]

Started a new job and there's no formal training. If I ask for help, I'm either told they're too busy and to ask someone else. The "someone else" tells me they don't know or to look it up on Google. I did, but Google isn't for training purposes and i can't find what I need to know for my job. I have no support at all in my new job and don't know what to do.

Updates

8 mo

Today I asked for help from one woman, but she said "it's too early to look at that as it's complicated" .

[TheRealPepperPotts]

That's a lousy work environment with terrible management. Talk to whoever the boss is and name three specific things you need training on. There are probably more things you need, but if you say three, that is manageable enough for him to wrap his head around and address. Say something like,

"I want to give you my best effort, but without some orientation and training, I'm not able to do that as well as I would like. I am wanting to be more proficient in these three areas. Could you arrange for me to shadow someone who is willing to help me out and support your company's success? I would really appreciate it".

If he doesn't do anything, or says yes and then doesn't put anything together, write up a plan for running the operation more efficiently and why your measures will save the company time and money and turn it in to his boss. The worst that can happen is you'll need to find another job with a better company.

[TheRealPepperPotts]

The best is that you get hired to do your boss's job. :D

[Asker]

😂😂love your advice.

[XHopelessRomanticX]

“Google told me to ask you.”

[Asker]

😂😂😂😂love it!!

[HollyK21]

That’s ridiculous. Is there a higher up you can speak with, even just your boss? If so then I would take this to them and explain how lack of training is preventing you from doing your job efficiently.

[Asker]

My manager sat me next to a man and said if I needed help I can ask him , but when I asked him for help he told me he doesn't have time , and to ask someone else. But people either say they don't know or to Google it.

I asked one woman for help today, but she just said "it's too early too look at that as it's complicated"

What's the best way to mention it to my manager?

[HollyK21]

Honestly their unwillingness to help really speaks to the environment and lack of teamwork or help available. They probably act that way because they also didn’t get any help when they first started the job. It’s too bad but it looks like they aren’t going to be any help. Try asking your boss if there’s another way to learn about your duties without asking coworkers. If he mentions asking them again then tell him about the hardships and ask for suggestions on dealing with that. If you work for someplace corporate or that has HR, you can also speak with that department should your boss be no help. But there’s rest not much else to do. When I was struggling to learn a job and my coworkers were unhelpful, I started keeping a notebook and writing each new thing I picked up or learned, even in passing, even if it seemed unimportant. Before I knew it the book was full and I knew how to do my job without much “help” from others.

[Asker]

Thank you very much for your advice. It's very helpful. I'll try what you've suggested. ❤️

[HollyK21]

No problem! Good luck💛

[Kelley1]

If that happened to me, I would put the manager on the spot saying, "Since the people you ask to help don't know how and because I don't want a poor performance evaluation, please sign this statement stating you don't have time to provide me the training needed to do my job."

[HollyK21]

@Kelley1 that actually isn’t a bad approach, very direct. However I’m not sure if I’d write up a statement for him to sign, especially if she works for a corporation. The legalities of it all, signing a document that isn’t given from the job itself. Perhaps there’s another way to go about this though, because I do think even just suggesting that he doesn’t have time to provide training would light a fire under him.

[Kelley1]

@HollyK21 He probably wouldn't sign it but then he wouldn't just brush her off like he did before. I suspect instead of haphazardly asking her to ask someone he would firmly ask someone to show her how to do it.

[DishLady]

The best response... is to say thank you and look it up on google.

[Asker]

It's not on Google though

[paledreams]

"I'm feeling lucky" - is that still a button? ✅

[Kelley1]

Say, "Okay, I will Google it."

[Asker]

I can't find the answers Google though 😕

[Kelley1]

Then after the fact, say "I need more help because Googling didn't provide the answer."

[Asker]

Thank you