Let me share something that has been on my mind lately. It’s about a friend of mine, and honestly, her situation made me think about how many people might be living the same quiet frustration.
Imagine being placed in a role at work that you have absolutely no formal training for. You have not studied for it. You have no background in it. You were simply told one day that this is your new role. Just like that. No training. No support. No guidance.
You might expect that at least some form of on-the-job training would be offered. Maybe a mentor. Maybe even a proper handover from someone who knew the ropes. But no. Nothing.
What would you do? My friend chose to push through. She took it upon herself to research, to read, to study late at night after work, just trying to get a handle on what she was expected to do during the day. She even went so far as to source short courses that could help her. She presented them to her employer, hoping they would invest in her development so she could actually meet their expectations. But what was the response?
The company said they could not take on the commitment at this time.
So she continued. Day after day. Trying. Failing. Trying again. But how long can a person continue like that? To be set up to fail, then blamed when they cannot deliver?
She told me recently that she will soon hand in her resignation.
And honestly, I do not blame her.
Is she wrong for walking away? I do not think so. She was placed in a role she was not prepared for, given no tools to succeed, and then expected to perform as if she had been trained from the start. That is not just unfair. It is negligent.
In my view, the fault lies squarely with her employer.
Employers often forget that people are not machines. You cannot simply plug someone into a role and expect instant results, especially without offering the proper training or support. When a company refuses to invest in its people, it should not be surprised when its people stop investing their energy back into the company.
As for possible outcomes? For her, resigning might be the best thing. She will finally be able to breathe again. She can hopefully move into a role where she is either properly trained or valued for the skills she brings. Maybe she will even find an employer that understands development is part of growth, not an optional expense.
For her employer, the outcome could go two ways. They might brush it off. Replace her with another person and repeat the cycle. But eventually, they will hit a wall. Turnover will rise. Morale will drop. Reputation will suffer. Or, if they are wise, they will learn. They will realise that failing to support employees costs more in the long run than investing in proper training from the start.
I suppose what strikes me the most is how normalised this situation has become. So many people are stuck in roles they were never trained for, fighting silent battles their employers will never acknowledge, just because they need the paycheck.
I do not think we talk about that enough.
If you choose to walk away, like my friend plans to, then know that leaving is not giving up. Sometimes, it is the bravest thing you can do.
— HumanityECW
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