Seeking Advice on Handling Excessive Workload and Lack of Guidance

Hello WSO Community,

I'm a first-year banker in the private banking/wealth management sector at a large German institution, recently graduated with a bachelor's degree. Remarkably, I was the first hire in my department without prior experience in the bank. Our department comprises two teams, one with 15 and the other with 20 members, each led by a team leader and overseen by a Vice President.

In my initial weeks, I was commended by my team leader for exceeding expectations and had a great rapport with my colleagues. However, as the VP and the other team leader (also the vice department leader) noticed my performance, they started assigning me tasks that are now overwhelming me. These are mostly administrative, in addition to my existing responsibilities.

There's a significant lack of guidance in our department, an issue I've raised but to no avail. I don't have a mentor or senior colleague to guide me through my tasks. The latest administrative task assigned to me was previously handled by someone who found it so stressful they couldn't sleep, leading to its reassignment to me. I lack a proper introduction to this task, and my team members are also inexperienced with it. I'm hesitant to express my inability to handle this task to the VP and team leaders, fearing negative repercussions.

I'm seeking advice on how to manage this situation. How do I cope with the excessive workload and lack of guidance? Is it wise to speak up about my struggles, and if so, how should I approach it without jeopardizing my position or future in the department?

Any insights or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.