Starting a fresh position usually brings a mix of nerves and excitement. You walk through the doors ready to learn the ropes and make a great first impression. Unfortunately, the person assigned to guide you might not share that same enthusiasm. Instead of a warm welcome, you are sometimes met with indifference or outright hostility. This initial interaction can immediately dampen your spirits and make you question your decision to join the team.
Tra Rags perfectly captures this awkward dynamic in his recent comedy skit. He portrays an older employee who has absolutely zero interest in helping the new guy settle in.
In the clip, the mentor is casually eating while the new hire stands there waiting for direction. He is completely dismissive, making it clear that training is a burden he does not want. If this happened to you, how would you handle the situation?
Us here, after watching just the first 8 seconds of the video, would have went back to the boss and said is there someone else available to train us. Or perhaps maybe we should have waited to after he finished eating to speak with him.
However, standing up for yourself on day one is terrifying. You do not want to be labeled as “difficult” before you even clock in for your first full shift. Therefore, many new employees simply endure the disrespect in silence.
If you find yourself in this boat, try to remain professional. Additionally, document your questions and ask them when the mentor seems less distracted. If the behavior stops you from doing your job, you may need to speak to management.
Dealing with a rude trainer is a test of patience, but do not let it ruin your opportunity.
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