HOW TO SURVIVE BEING AT THE BOTTOM

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HOW TO SURVIVE BEING AT THE BOTTOM

This post is relevant to everyone, but most importantly any student who has to go through placement or an internship as part of their training, any apprentice, anyone in a job where there is hierarchy (healthcare, business, media, etc), anyone who is starting a new job, anyone who needs to be trained to do anything. 


Being bottom of the pecking order in this context literally means what it says – being the last person that anyone thinks about, being that person who is always forgotten about (people make plans and forget to tell you, people go to lunch together but you find out when they’re all back, etc), being that extra person at work that everyone could do with not being there i.e. being “in the way”, being that person that a senior asks to do menial jobs just to keep them occupied for a while (I’ve known a waitress to be asked to dry a floor that they have just mopped with paper towels….), being that person that gets people’s eyes rolling or gets that long OOOKKKKAAAYYY when they’ve been delegated to someone.


I’m sure you get what I mean. 


I’ve had my share of being at the bottom. Particular areas in my life experience that spring to mind are:


•         Being a healthcare assistant in private healthcare
•         Being a medical student on placement
•         Being a research student in a working laboratory for my Masters

At first you just accept it – that everyone has to start at the bottom, right? Right. But it doesn’t mean it should be an experience that lowers one’s self esteem. It also doesn’t mean that there is nothing that can be done about it. 

My ideas for how to get through it are as follows: 

•         Take initiative
◦       Do things that you haven’t been asked to do, turn up early, take the time to learn the processes so that no one keeps having to explain things to you again and again

•      Show that you’re not a dumb idiot
◦       If you know something then speak up!
◦       Do that extra reading, that extra learning
◦       Every teacher likes a keen person – it strokes their ego a little bit. Now I’m not saying to be that ratchet person that always sucks up to the teacher (I’ve seen a few in my time) or fake interest. This is completely the wrong way of going about it because firstly its obvious that you’re faking and second, you can’t keep it up for very long. If you’re honestly interested in what you’re doing, even for a short period of time and even when you don’t know much about the subject, then the person that is teaching you is only too obliging to teach you more stuff

•          Stand up for yourself
◦       There is a fine line between being inconsiderate and being a bully
◦       If you feel that you're being bullied then take the necessary steps to escalate the problem

•         Make your own opportunities
◦       Your experience is only as good as what you make it i.e. you get out what you put in
◦       For medical/ nursing students on placement 
▪       Get an audit done during your spare placement time. If you know what field you want to specialise it, it looks very good on the CV that you have done something “extra
▪       Go to A&E to practice skills. This is true especially for students in the upper years. Final exams come round very quickly so getting that extra bit of practice on real patients with real signs is beneficial
◦       For research students
▪       Get interested in what you’re researching
▪       Ask questions and go to relevant talks
▪       I’ve found that in research environments, like many environments, everyone sucks up to the boss. If like me you are not one of those people that can suck up, then good old interest is enough. Researchers are PASSIONATE about what they do. They have spent a good few years of their lives dedicated to whatever it is that they love – so if you can share that for a little bit then it will work in your favour
◦       For anyone in the work environment
▪       Don’t let the boss see you doing nothing! Especially in healthcare (speaking from experience!). If someone higher up the pecking order sees you doing nothing, then they’ll think of something menial and demeaning for you to do – so look busy (or go to the toilet for a few minutes!). When I used to work on the ward, I would walk to different wards just to make myself scarce for a few minutes, or I’d pretend to read the hospital policies while I sat down for a few minutes...

•         Get up, dress up and show up
◦       Make it obvious that you can’t be broken
◦       Regardless of how bad a supervisor makes you feel, show them that you are made of strong stuff. Sooner or later, they’ll realise that

•        Have back up
◦       Friends, family, husbands, wives, etc
◦       Have that one person or (persons) who is always there to take the brunt of your day. I have a few special persons that understand my predicament and they are so incredibly good at making me see that the world still turns regardless of a crap situation. I am currently going through what could possibly be described as the hardest period of my life (being a research student) but I'm confident that I can get past it.

•      Learn from your mistakes
◦       There is nothing more annoying (I think) than having someone who always messes up or always makes the same mistakes. Yes at the start of anything new you will make mistakes, you are human, but after a few mistakes, come on now, you need to be better.

•   Remember that you are not alone 
◦       There will be someone going through the same situation as you. I have found a nice Fellow in my research environment who went through what I'm going through and she has given me tips on how she survived in this environment. Already things are better! So talk to people on your level - same staff grade, same job, same year, etc and also (nice) people at higher levels who are willing to share with you how they coped 

Don’t get me wrong, its not all horrible in the big wide world. Nice people do come along and take time out of their busy schedules to look after you and make sure that you’re okay. 

If you’re reading this and you have someone “beneath” you – I implore you to make them feel less bad. I’m sure you’ve experienced it before so if we can break the cycle for future generations, that’ll be great thanks! 

If you’re that person at the bottom – chin up! Remember THEY CAN’T BREAK YOU! I hope some of what I’ve said is helpful. 


Anyone else who has tips on how to survive this, comment down below – lets help each other! 

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