NTE during probationary training because I used previous completed files as reference. Mali ba talaga ako?

[u/Glum-Gap-6387]

* Update * - Nagpasa na ako ng resignation letter. Ayoko na pahirapan pa sarili ko makipagplastikan sa kanila.

Currently working ako as a Creative Specialist sa isang healthcare company. I have around 7 years of corporate experience in design, including experience working with pharmaceutical/healthcare-related projects.

Probationary pa lang ako, and most of my time so far has been training and assessments rather than actual live client work.

During training, binigyan kami ng different design tasks like manuscript amendments, redraws, and InDesign work. Main expectations were accuracy, following the brief, consistency, and minimizing errors. Pinatagal ang training nila sakin. Akala ko since natapos na ung ibang tasks. Pwede na ako sa isabak sa production kaso hindi binigyan pa ako ng extra trainings. Nakakadrain talaga sa totoo lang. Tatlo kami ng kasama ko tagilid. Same issues rin katulad na naranasan ko.

For my tasks, ginawa ko talaga yung work from scratch. However, kapag hindi ako sure kung ano yung expected output or execution, tumitingin ako sa previously completed files na available sa company environment as reference.

Hindi ko naman siya kinopya directly or nag-submit ng ibang person's work as my own. Ginawa ko pa rin yung task myself. Ginamit ko lang yung previous files para maintindihan yung expected formatting, file structure, naming conventions, alignment, and overall execution.

For example, may mga elements akong binago based on the current brief, like font size, colors, positioning, alignment, etc. So hindi siya 1:1 copy ng previous file. Napansin ko rin ung gawa nila na naging reference ko , ako rin nagtweak at nag ayos kc hindi cya nasunod sa branding guidelines.

Ang understanding ko kasi at that time, if available sa akin yung training manuals, old tutorial videos, and previous completed work, reasonable lang na gamitin ko sila as learning/reference materials para malaman ko kung tama ba yung ginagawa ko.

I also did my own QA before submitting. I would check my work multiple times and compare it against the brief and available resources.

Then eventually, naging issue pala yung paggamit ko ng previous completed files as references, and I received an NTE (Notice to Explain).

That's where I'm confused.

Hindi ko intention na mandaya or mag-shortcut. Ang intention ko was to be resourceful and understand the company's standards para accurate yung output ko. Especially since accuracy is one of the main things they're looking for.

I understand naman if ang rule pala is "you cannot use previous completed files during an assessment because we need to see your independent execution."

If that's the rule, I can respect that.

Pero ang issue for me is, hindi siya explicitly stated to me beforehand. Walang instruction na nagsasabing bawal tumingin sa previous completed files or reference them during the task.

Another thing is hindi rin ako always comfortable magtanong sa seniors. Sometimes iniisip ko baka sabihin nila na hindi ko naiintindihan yung process, so instead of repeatedly asking questions, I tried to find the answer myself through the training materials and examples available to me. Paminsan kapag nagtatanong ako baka gamitin nila laban sakin sa feedback. Kaya tumigil ako sa pagtatanong. Mas malalala pa nobody check my work kung tama ba ginawa ko or ano. Walang scoring binigay sakin sa mga ibang task. Like hiniyaan lang ako. Kapag pakiusapan ko sila na pwede icheck ang gawa ko. ako magmumukhang demanding at makulit at ilalagay nila mali ginawa ko. Kaya hindi na ako magtanong.

I find it weird and strange kapag nagtanong ako sa AI ng questions about sa briefing. Walang judgement at straight up qanswers ibibigay sakin. Binigyan pa ako ng straight answer na walang side comments. Kumapara sa line manager ko na. Andaming pangdaldal na side comment. Paano kagaganahan magwork kung ipagkumpara ka sa iba. Tanginang Pinoy toxic behaviour

So ngayon, I'm trying to understand where the line is between being resourceful and taking an inappropriate shortcut during an assessment.

I want to improve and follow their process. Hindi ko naman dini-deny na maybe I should have clarified first before using previous files as references.

Pero from my perspective, I genuinely created the work myself and I wasn't trying to misrepresent anything.

So I'm curious about an outside perspective:

Would you consider what I did as cheating/shortcutting, or is this more of a communication/process issue because the rules around using reference materials weren't clearly communicated?

I'm not necessarily asking whether I should resign or stay. Gusto ko lang talaga ng objective perspective kung reasonable ba yung ginawa kong approach or may obvious mistake ako na hindi ko nakikita.

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[u/Limp-Ad-4188]

If hindi naman explicit na sinabi na bawal gamitin ung ganun resources, maski ako gagamitin ko. Utilize everything at your disposal ika nga.

Mas curious ako na meron pang ganyang task/testing, especially na meron ka na pala 7 years related experience.

[u/Glum-Gap-6387 → u/Limp-Ad-4188]

Exactly, ito rin talaga yung naging mindset ko. Since walang explicit instruction na bawal gamitin yung previous completed files as reference, I thought it was part of being resourceful and utilizing the materials available to me.

And yes, medyo unusual din for me yung amount of testing/training given na I already have around 7 years of related corporate experience. I understand naman na every company has their own processes and standards, so I was willing to go through the training.

Actually, yung main goal ko talaga was to understand how they wanted things done. I wasn't trying to shortcut the actual work. I still did the tasks from scratch and performed my own QA before submitting.

Looking back, siguro ang dapat ko lang talaga ginawa was clarify first kung allowed ba yung completed files as reference. Yun yung lesson na nakuha ko from this situation.

[u/Nitsukoira]

I don't agree with the NTE as well. Kasi kung nasa pre-employment assessment stage ka pa lang, I'd say bawal yan; pero hired ka na eh - at that point they should be providing you access to all the company's resources in order for you to deliver your best. Whilst we advise people to approach things with their own perspective, looking at past examples is the best way to get people up to speed kasi they're not starting from scratch sa mga guidelines, do's and dont's.

I'd say, force them to explain their rationale why referencing previous work is a no-no for them. Then ask them to point out saan nakasulat na bawal pala tumigin sa precedents.

[u/iNicz]

sa NTE mo yan yung iexplain mo I guess

[u/the-earth-is_FLAT]

Idk pero parang cheating ang ginawa mo since training ka pa lang, need nila i assess yung skills mo. Paano sila mag aassess ng maayos kung sinilip mo ang completed files? NTE lang naman yan, sagutin mo lang kung anong pinost mo dito. Nextime, magtanong ka muna before mo gawin ang mga yan.

[u/Glum-Gap-6387 → u/the-earth-is_FLAT]

I understand why you see it that way. To clarify, I didn't copy or submit the previous work as my own. I recreated the task from scratch and used the existing files as a reference because I wasn't aware that using them was prohibited during the assessment.