So recently, our staff has been strong tight, so to help make up for that a handful of employees are scheduled to cover for reception when she goes on her morning (15 min), afternoon (15 min) and lunch (1 hr) break. I didn’t realize before but I’ve gained a slight social anxiety since being out of school, not getting out much, and only dealing with paperwork and computers at my job (very minimal person-to-person interaction). 

I did reception training for about an 2 hours total over the span of 4 days. It seemed easy and straight forward. However, that’s not how my first day went. 

(Note: I was already have a bad day the day before and that carried into my first day on reception.) 

It was the day after Labor Day weekend and everyone had someone to call. I wasn’t super familiar with the systems we used because I didn’t get hands on training as I mentioned before, I just watched and listened to what they had to say. Anyways, I had many calls asking for information I didn’t know and I didn’t know who to ask, people being frustrated with my lack of timely assistance, people I couldn’t understand because of how they spoke, not knowing who to transfer people to, the list just goes on. (This was only durning the 15 min AM break) To say the least I was underprepared for this position. 

I spoke with some friends/family about it and they suggested I give it some more time since it was just a fast-paced day after a holiday weekend on my first day; just like anything else it takes time to gain experience and build confidence with doing something new. So I’m currently halfway though my second week. My heart races when that phone rings or when someone walks into the building, and I feel like there’s a pit in my chest just waiting for the phone to ring. 

I am being put on a new prescription for anxiety and depression, to help regulate those emotions. I’m am unsure if I should continue to struggle through covering for reception and help out the company or if I should ask to be taken off the schedule since it’s been really stressful to the point I feel nervous and occasionally causing myself a stomachache and headache.