So I started a new role in higher education as a culinary sous chef.

8 Comments

1. Liz MilneDecember 15,2025 at 2:24PM UTC

   Be the person that pivots the culture to a positive non-toxic environment. Ask the hard questions, offer to make changes that will benefit everyone, and keep a calm and civil demeanour so people feel they can rely on your even temper and constant good attitude. What's the saying? Be the change you want to see?

2. AnonymousDecember 16,2025 at 5:24AM UTC

   YES to this response!!

   And never engage in office gossip.

3. AnonymousDecember 15,2025 at 3:19PM UTC

   Hit the pause button for a hot minute and choose to extricate yourself from this negative talk. The people sharing gnarly feedback: their experience isn't necessarily YOUR experience.

   You're on day two! Don't descend into other peoples' chaos. Pls tell us you're not thinking about jumping ship already because of what you're hearing through the grapevine. You simply haven't been there long enough to form your OWN opinion.

4. Megan LeasherDecember 15,2025 at 4:02PM UTC

   I'm aligned here! Don't go down their drama roads. Just enjoy your new job and build your own experience.

5. AnonymousDecember 15,2025 at 8:35PM UTC

   Don't let others form your opinion of your job.

   I fell into that trap when I started my current job. If I had stayed in that mentality, I wouldn't be where I am today. My previous supervisor told me story after story of how our manager was a hard/ssa and difficult to work for.

   The complete opposite is true. I have never worked for a better manager. If I had let him form my opinion, I would have mised out on a great friendship and mentorship.

6. Alexis GladstoneDecember 16,2025 at 1:31PM UTC

   You're only on day 2 and sounds like you're doing the right thing in observing. You need to form your own opinion as to whether the environment is right for you. Also, if they are long-term employees they may be reacting to things that happened in the past that they still carry with them.

   Do your best to remove yourself from the negative talk conversations so it doesn't start to influence you. Everyone responds differently to various cultures and leadership styles, and while those who are complaining may have legitimate complaints, for them, you may end up loving it and thriving.

   Give yourself the gift of time.

7. AnonymousDecember 16,2025 at 3:18PM UTC

   I worked in higher education previously, and it is the second most political environment I have ever worked in. It is second to working for local government offices. Tread carefully; don’t share personal information at this time. You need to be able to do your job possibly well, but you don’t need to be a genius at it. What you do absolutely have to have is likability in order to succeed in that environment and if people generally like you, I don’t think you’re going to have anything to worry about. Furthermore, if you get to interact with the students, it can be fun (well, most of them); that youthful energy is just so much fun to see, especially when you get to know some of them and watch them grow.

   So take heart, there are a lot of politics happening there that you’re just not aware of yet. You’ll get there by observation, you are doing the right thing here. Just make sure that you are building a layer of protection in that you are making some allies.

8. Colleen HansonDecember 16,2025 at 3:20PM UTC

   I went through this once. Just days into a new job that I was excited about I started hearing "chatter" about financial issues. My training was pretty much non-existent, so I was really left hanging in what was a completely new industry for me. After about a month I started looking elsewhere for a new position as the "chatter" was getting louder and more frequent. I became nervous when much of what I had been hired to do was literally being hidden from me (accounting processes). I was able to secure a new position within about a month, so I gave my notice. The owner SCREAMED at me about the time he had invested in my training (NONE) and how I was leaving them hanging (even though I gave 2 weeks notice). They went bankrupt 3 months after I left.

   My point is, sometimes listening, taking in what you are hearing, watching and doing your own research can be very insightful!