Does anyone else have a job that bores them senseless??

[Sophiehoney]

I am way overqualified for my job and it's boring me to insanity.

The job market is so tough at the moment so I started applying for everything and finally landed a job as a receptionist.

It's a lovely environment, the people are nice, managers kind and friendly. But the work is so boring and 80% of the time I have nothing at all to do. I've tried asking for more responsibility but I'm given nothing. All I do is smile at people,ask them to please sign in, and open the doors with a button. I have two admin tasks to do which take me about 30 seconds and were way over explained.

When people rush by I try to look busy while envying them and their busyness.

A great job has come up elsewhere within the same place. I applied and had an interview which went well, but as I am work on reception, I know exactly who I am up against and there are loads of them, all strong candidates. I think I will cry my eyes out if I'm not successful. The thought of staying here and watching whoever else got this job come in each day while I'm sat on reception is already bringing tears to my eyes.

I know there's worse things than a boring job but I actually feel like I'm growing mould on my brain.

Does anyone else feel this way and how do you stay sane??

I had two replies to this thread and as I was replying to them, they both disappeared and now it says I have no replies?? 🤔

Weird about the replies 🤔.

I don't know what this is like, but I am kind of jealous . A stress free job! I'd love this. Can you read a book? (Not joking).

I wouldn't apply for stuff within the company as like you say, any rejection is going to be harder to take. But I'm sure you'll get something! Just keep looking and applying!

I don't know how me sitting there reading a book would go. It doesn't look good to the people coming in and out. I look busy whenever the bosses walk by but I'm often just playing Tetris or something. I hate it. I hate having skills I can't use and feeling useless while others pass me by all day going back and forth, doing actual work.
The internal job is perfect and I know that at least three other internal people have applied too. If I don't get it, I will regret applying as I've now put myself through this, but if hadn't applied I would always regret that too, seeing someone come and go and knowing I could have had that job if I'd applied, I'd beat myself up forever.
Urgh. I'm so glad I'm home now.
I know it sounds great, but honestly it's not. I feel utterly crap about it.

It’s easier to get a job once you are in one. Start looking around for something else, you can be busy doing that whilst you aren’t busy.

A boring job would drive me insane. I get agitated if I have a quiet week at work. I think one week is my limit. I’ve usually caught up on admin and had all the coffee catch-ups I need by day 3.

I do know people who love ‘boring’ jobs. My doorman has been a doorman for decades. He smiles and greets people, takes in parcels and sweeps the lobby. That’s his entire job. The rest of the time he watches videos on his phone. Seems content.

Yes me. Most of my work is boring as shit. And there is often nothing to do. It should be a good job but dreadful management stifles it.

I genuinely feel like my brain is atrophying. I can’t even focus properly anymore.

Sympathy OP.

Op I've worked lots of reception aks for stuff to do then say would you mind if I did x at times.

Give yourself a project.

Write a book ? Learn somerhng on line do courses ?
I've never been bored on reception I've enjoyed it and id say be very good at it.

I had a similar job once upon a time. The two ladies I worked with seemed to make a simple 5 minute task last all day. I don't know how they did it. I lasted 6 months.

I had one. Then I was made redundant and now I'm really missing my boring job because there's nothing to apply for ☹️ (but I'm in Cornwall)

I recommend giving yourself a project at home that'll fulfil you. And always keep learning. Do all the relevant CPD that's available. Make lists and organise things. Podcasts. Fix processes.

I want my boring mundane mind numbing job back 😭

A possible way of looking busy might be to apply for other jobs! Yes, I have had extremely boring jobs and it is awful, more tiring than being busy as your brain hurts with the boredom. You've done the right thing applying for the internal position. Keep applying for anything you think would be more interesting, whether internal or external. Use your hours of boredom to polish your CV, application material and interview examples, then you will be ready for any opportunities that arise. Be open minded about other roles, cast your new wide.

Mine is boring most of the time too, with the added stress of working in a big team and being overlooked. No tetris for me, there's always someone checking my screen.
I am job hunting, but it's disheartening (I am old too, which makes it worse).

Can you do some online training when you’re not busy? There’s loads of content out there. Some like Coursera or linked in learning are paid for, but a good investment. But there’s also loads of stuff for free. You could learn new technology.

Or find a project that would benefit the company. How’s their social media? IT security? Marketing? Could you put together a plan to improve their out reach?
Could you get involved in organising events either in house or client based.

I’ve just joined a new company and there’s so many systems and processes that need improvement. Get talking to the people who work there and see where you can contribute.

Sorry, just joining in moaning.

Sorry I see you’ve asked, but can you be more proactive in Hindi g what people need help with and showing how you can help. Sometimes people don’t hand over stuff as they think it will take too long to explain, so is there anything you can just show up and give them the solution?

If it's a fairly large or quite corporate setting, there's likely online courses you can do which will "prove" you want to develop. You could always do them (appreciate they may still be boring) for something to do while proving you're committed to the company and to developing the right soft skills they seem important.

Otherwise just keep looking for the right job for you. It'll come up.

I have a boring and very flexible job with good pay and perks.

This week I have done 2h of my hobby on flexitime, and 2.5h of exercise (training videos and breaks at work), and had one day off with compressed hours. I've also done a bit of house clearing and meal prep.

It can be as boring as it likes if I can live like that.

I would do anything for a chilled job. I would read books (kindle online), do all my life admin, take courses.

My job is a nightmare, massive deadlines, lurching from one catastrophe to another, challenging conversations etc etc. Im stressed most days.

I was a Social work manager for 24 years. Then I had some heath issues and I agreed i take medical retirement. Its so boring... I need a job... any job where it doesnt matter that I can't walk. Ill take yours!

That's partly why I retrained and now teach. Teenagers are never boring 😆

I worked as a cleaner for various multi-stores/supermarkets, in a DIY/builders place, and another where they made conservatories, windows, etc. Cleaning absolutely bored me into a coma. I hated it, and the huge amount of mess and puke, etc. I had to scrub.

I've done some jobs I loved, I was a bus driver and worked in retail, but cleaning was awful!

My job is boring. I work as an admin in finance, and I have worked here a long time. I can do the job upside down and backwards and whereas a task used to take me hours, I can knock it out in 10 mins now. I can get really bored, and sometimes I go home and realise that I haven't actually done anything productive all day.

However, there are benefits too. I really get on with my boss. I get to leave the office in the afternoon and 'work from home' which means walking the dogs. If I need to work from home for the day I can. If I urgently need to take an unscheduled day off, I can. If I'm late into work, my boss doesn't care. I get a decent pay (not great) but it's enough for me, and I never really get any stress.

They still haven't let me know. I'm actually going insane.....