Is it my fault?

[sjiojj]

Without giving too much away...

I recently started a new job, it's entry level, quite poorly paid. The job description was about three pages long and I read this very carefully before starting.

After starting they told me I would be expected to do something that was not mentioned on the job description. This particular task is quite daunting for me, and I have to say if I knew about it before I probably wouldn't have taken the job.

I haven't had to do this task yet, but one manager has expressed concerns that I may not be able to do it. If I cant they will almost certainly sack me.

I feel like I'm such a disappointment because I can't do it, but is it totally me fault if it wasn't on the JD? Is it worth me raising this at all?

It kind of depends what it is and what the issue is. Could you do the task with training or support, is it something which normally goes with the role? Do you have a declared disability which prevents you undertaking it? Most jd will include a clause about other tasks as directed.

It really depends on what it actually is. Most job descriptions have a section saying anything else required for the job so it probably falls in that.

''After starting they told me I would be expected to do something that was not mentioned on the job description. ''

Wtf. How is that acceptable?
Tell them you weren't told you would need to do the task at any stage of recruitment, and that you will need full training and support.

Without knowing what the task is how can we possibly say if it's unreasonable. For example you have a job as a receptionist on the third floor, the job list general admin/reception tasks but doesn't mention that you need to take the post down to the ground floor for collection. Whilst not mentioned this seems entirely reasonable, if the job is as above but they are asking you to walk the owner's two large and aggressive pitbulls that would be unreasonable.

The JD says I would have to provide administrative support and assistance with this task, but the reality is I would be the sole person doing it with no help.

Depends if they class support as support to the business by doing it, if you see what I mean. As against support to another person while they do it.

Ok so it does mention the task in the jd and says you have to provide support or admin for it. I'm not sure I can really help without knowing more about what it is. Can you give it a go anyway and then maybe you'll be ok with it?

Why two threads?!

Have you queried about training / support to get to grips with this new task? Is it something you can be trained to do i.e. is it a reasonable expectation for your role. Say for example the difference between learning how to operate a database system to provide departments with bits of info etc etc or is it more like building the database from scratch?

Or it could be the ops job is receptionist in Gp surgery and they’ve decided that receptionists can be trained up to take blood (has happened in surgery’s I have worked in). If it’s something on the lines of this yanbu.

The JD says I would have to provide administrative support and assistance with this task, but the reality is I would be the sole person doing it with no help

So to be clear, you would not be supporting anyone in this task, but doing this task all by yourself with no training?

Yes @OliviaStabler

Is it taking minutes of meetings?

Either way, as you say, if you had known, you wouldn't have taken the job so not much different now to then, you just need to look for another job where this is not required. If future jobs are similar, you might want to ask the question about this specific task at interview to save the bad surprise at a later stage.

My first question, if I was your manager, is why you feel unable to carry out the task? Do you need training on the specific task to be able to do it well or is it an issue with you doing something out of your comfort zone where you are not confident.

How much of your job is it? Are they paying you for (low level job A) but expecting you to work at (mid level job B)? That's not good.

But as others have said it depends what it all is really.

Sorry op, none of us can say whether or not it's reasonable if we dont know what it is.

@arethereanyleftatall basically, they want me to do big presentations, alone, to people outside the company. The JD said I would be assisting and helping with admin support to prepare for this, not that I would be presenting by myself :(

I have terrible (and diagnosed) anxiety and the thought terrifies me. I assumed a job like this would fall on the heads of those with higher salaries and more experience as it's a huge responsibility.

That's not a small thing and it takes a lot of training and practice. Are the other tasks you have to do completely different from that?

@UpstartCrow Other tasks are quite different, the job has a lot of work involved but I'm ok with everything except presenting/public speaking.

Wow, that's a big thing, and utterly unfair to leave out of job description.

That's very unreasonable of them. I'm quite senior at work and I don't need to do presentations. I suppose I should but I'd have to get someone else to do it as I'm terrified of public speaking.

Entry level job? No way should you be doing that.

Have they said you have to do it? have you explained that it was not in the jd? Having said that the only way to get over your anxiety is to do it. The thought of doing presentations used me make me feel sick. However I have recently had to do two presentations for work and yes I was nervous about doing but I forced myself to do it. The key is practice, practice, practice. I did it a couple of times in front of colleagues and also by myself. Also get yourself familiar with the technology beforehand if you can do you know how it all works. I still nervous at the thought of it but feel much more confident now.

That’s a significant difference, and requires some specific skills. Tell them you aren't experienced in doing this.