Am I being too sensitive about feedback from my supervisor?

Career Opportunities & Internships
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Help: I am concerned I’m not going to pass my three month probation period?

I am so perturbed, I’m very down on myself at the moment. My probation period ends 7/26 and I felt like I was doing fine until yesterday when my boss approached me about how I did a presentation with students. She said I was okay but I need to stand up and show authority in front of the classroom. Last time I sat in the back because the coordinator was presenting for me but this time I ran it on the computer in the front by myself (she joined virtually). But she wanted me to stand up when she came in the class after, I sat while she and the other coordinator talked to get feedback from students. I hate getting corrections, this happened at my previous job often and I really hoped it would not take place again. I’ve been getting good feedback here, last week she said she’d be taking a step back to pretty much test me as this is my last month on probation. Considering the position is meant for two people, the second person hired alongside me quit after two weeks to take care of family. I feel like she should expect that I need more guidance, I kinda feel like I’ve been handed to the wolves. Her other feedback was that she would expect I take more initiative & not doubt myself/going to her for reassurance. Today, we did a conference call with corporate and twice she made me feel like I wasn’t doing my job. One to ask that I follow up with education about a grad, another time to let corporate know that I would be updating the chart to add more grads (there were a few missing). I really try to be punctual but things slip.

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Why not take the supervisor at her word and act on her suggestions? Seems to me that she is trying to give you good advice. So yes, I think you’re being too sensitive. She’s trying to help you. Believe what she says and be proactive.

P.S. That you hate getting “corrections” doesn’t bode well for your future career as an employee. Watch that you don’t unwittingly convey this to employers.

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That’s what she was giving you.

Also, it’s not expected that you be perfect on every task right out of the gate.

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Does it sound like I have a good chance of not passing my probation period?

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Corrections implies that you were doing something wrong, which means that you weren’t perfect.

Critiques are a form of guidance, of showing you where something could be better.

Both imply that you aren’t perfect (which you aren’t, and never ever will be, b/c you are human), but one can feel like a negative judgement or criticism, and the other can feel more positive and helpful. YOU have to CHOOSE to see the feedback you are getting as guidance or critiques and choose NOT to see them as a bad thing. Every one of the examples you give seem reasonable and constructive, designed to help you develop your skills.

Giving detailed, constructive, feedback takes work. Your supervisor is investing time and effort in giving you that feedback- something you do when you want someone to succeed. If you can take her feedback and act on it, you will demonstrate that her investment in you is worthwhile: you are getting better and stronger in your role.

Nobody expects a newbie, somebody on probation to be perfect on Day 1. They DO expect that person to take the critiques they get and act on them.

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At the moment does it sound like they won’t keep me tho? And isn’t it odd that I got corrections/feedback at my previous job I held down for 2 years?

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None of us know how strong you are in your role and none of us can have any idea of what your supervisor is thinking.

It would be odd if you DIDN’T get feedback! Do you expect that you shouldn’t? That your work was so perfect that there was no way in which you couldn’t do it better? As above, nobody is perfect & everybody can benefit from critiques & feedback- and best management practice says that everybody should get / give constructive feedback on a regular basis.

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Yet here you are doubting yourself and needing reassurance! Sounds like your supervisor is on to something. I agree with others - welcome the feedback and just do your best. Good luck!

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There is simply nothing that happened that indicates you won’t be kept.

Honestly you seem to have a confidence issue. You also admit to not liking being corrected. You will receive feedback at your job, or any other job. I’ve been at my current job for 20 years, I still get feedback. It’s ok.

As stated above, you don’t have to be perfect, no one is. You will receive feedback and as stated above that is someone trying to help you. Learn from it and follow it.

I believe you could possibly benefit from some counseling to discuss how things like this make you feel. You’re not alone in the way you feel but if every little thing makes you worry and question yourself or your work situation then you should try to work on that. This seems like a pattern since it also happened at your last job.

It will be ok. You have got this.

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Your supervisor is telling you how to succeed st your job. Use this!! If you need to get clarity on how to do what they are asking, do it! Make sure you acknowledge what they’ve said and incorporate those comments to work out a plan, such as “Could I share my agenda and materials with you before this meeting and then take the lead?” At the end of a meeting, summarize action steps, ask if there’s anything else, and then do them. Get their support in making the changes. It sounds like your supervisor wants to help you.

Lots of supervisors are uncomfortable giving feedback but they may not be happy with the work. Most aren’t great at delivering feedback. When you have a chance to make this a joint effort, take it!

There’s a great book on this called “Thank you for the Feedback”. Get a copy! It explains how different people hear feedback in different ways, how to ask for it and how to act on it.

I understand that now, you are worried about the probationary period but your real concern should be continuing to improve a do a great job and you’ll need feedback to do that. Make it clear to your supervisor that you want their guidance and feedback to do that-- you can engage on this together. I agree that if you continue to really bristle at corrections, you consider talking to someone about it… Good luck!

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Yeah but getting it often after 2 yrs is a bit of a red flag

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Assume that there will be feedback/critiques for your entire working life- even if you end up being the Big Boss or Owner.

This is a new job. You are on trial. Your boss is giving you info on how to shine in that job. Treat the feedback as a gift, and take it on board.

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Most corporations have performance evaluations; you will receive feedback at every one them. It is required of most supervisors. If you are a type A personality, you need to accept these criticisms with grace and a cooperative attitude. As a supervisor and later owner I would not get rid of someone because of feedback to improve; I would if the employee was unwilling to work on improving.

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Yes it is a red flag. It should be a red flag for you that nothing you’ve done has improved or changed AND you’re unwilling to accept any advice from anyone.
You’ve received several responses here, after your initial post, and you’re still stuck in not accepting the advice by still asking why you didn’t get reviewed at the other job after two years.

Don’t you think it’s a red flag that the rest of the people responding here are saying exactly the same thing? Those of us responding to your post have worked in long-term jobs and are all saying that you need to be willing to be reviewed and to receive the constructive criticism that you’re not willing to accept.
You’re still in denial about needing to improve. Why did you leave the other job?
You can’t see yourself and how you perform your job, but others can see you.

The constructive criticism is there for you, and your supervisor is doing her job in telling you, “let’s improve in this area”.

Instead of you taking it as “she’s helping me become a better employee”, you’re taking it as a threat: “No one ever told me anything in two years.”

Plus, I don’t think you understand that everyone has goals.
In a good company (with good pay and good benefits) every year you have a review. At both my company and my husband’s company these reviews are required.
Before the review, you have a plan for yearly goals. These are goals, that you would like to work on, to make yourself a better employee for the company. They are written out and submitted to your personnel file. At the yearly review time, your supervisor reviews your goals and notes completion of those goals with written examples of how those goals were completed. At my husband’s corporation, those goals are used to base your raise and your bonuses.

In my job, we worked daily with patients. You bet I wanted an annual review because I never wanted to be sued by a patient! I needed that information.

You’re future does not bode well if you are unwilling to accept constructive criticism. You’re not perfect. Deal with the fact that you are not perfect and that no one is, but that they’re trying to help you to become a better employee for their company.
Otherwise, why should they have you work there and invest in you, if you’re unwilling to comply with what they need? They can find someone who can take suggestions about improving.

Some jobs have supervisors that are abusive. Your supervisor isn’t abusive. The examples that you noted, are very common and show that you have a fair supervisor.

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Yeah she’s approachable that isn’t my concern. You’re aware of what it is and I will address what you said about my last job. My concern wasn’t that my last job didn’t give constructive feedback, it’s cause it happened often. It always felt like it wasn’t enough and when I improved on something, there was always something else that needed to be worked on. I just figured it wasn’t a good fit and now I’m worried I’m
In the same boat here potentially so may just consider looking elsewhere.

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Agree with all the others. I have worked for quite a few companies when they get overloaded and need help. I am 58 years old and still get critiqued on my performance! I’m a sensitive person, and I’ve had to work hard to take it positively and as a way to improve.

And yes, there’s always something to improve on. That’s life.

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How did you take it in school when a teacher would critique your work? Were things always perfect? Did you need to make adjustments?

You seem very sensitive to feedback. Yes, if you change one thing other items might still need improvement. It’s better to work on things a little at a time. They probably won’t tell you everything that could be done differently at once. Or perhaps new tasks will come up that require new techniques.

It should be a red flag to you that this normal feedback is causing you such an issue. Moving to another job won’t necessarily fix that. Some people don’t take feedback that they see as negative well. I think that probably describes you. You can work on that if it is an issue. Again, I would encourage you to talk to someone about your feelings regarding feedback and how it affects you.

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Is that ever correct. I’ve held fairly senior positions at a relatively young age. In my late 20s, I received a “360 degree” review from my seniors, my same-level management, and my direct reports. It was completely eye-opening to me to see how others viewed me. I’m by no means perfect, but those reviews, and even the ones that I get today, are invaluable in adjusting my own management style.

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Closing thread. Post any comments to OP’s updated thread (read it first) If you quit your job like I did, would you expect someone from management to check in with you?