I have no idea what im doing!

[SharronNeedles]

So I've got a new job and I'm a bit stuck.
My previous job was very high pressure and fast paced and just horrid, but at least I knew what I was doing.
I've got a new job with a small company which came with a significant payrise and I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. I've been here 4 weeks now.
I make lots of cups of tea, read the news a bit, do some googling and generally kill time until 5pm. I've asked for stuff to do and they keep telling me that they don't want to overwhelm me so will give me a new task each quarter.
I'm so bored!! I can complete all my current assigned jobs within half a hour which leave me the rest of the week to fill. I can't really help other colleagues as their roles are specialised. I've done some independent training and sat through some webinars but basically I have no idea what to do.... I'm a bit worried that there is something I'm meant to be doing that I don't know about. AIBU to just ride this out? Should I just mention that I'm bored? Or enjoy the peace while it lasts?

Sorry no help OP but funny!

I’d mention that you feel a bit lost, and could they possibly point you in the right direction to feeling useful again... I hate killing time

I have been there!! It’s just the worst feeling at work. In my case I left after 4 months because nothing changed. Do you have one to ones do you know? I’m any case I’d suggest sitting down with your boss and asking for a list of your key duties. If you have an operational role that works in conjunction with colleagues, ask to sit down individually with each one and find out what their needs are and what you can do for them. Engage with them. Ask for their input. I did all of these things and it fell on deaf ears, but now as a COO I would love it if I had someone stepping up and asking me these things. Make the role your own. Eventually it will happen. The first few months are nearly always tough/treading water. You have to be proactive because it sounds like they won’t be without your say so. They’ll be impressed! I would be!

If you mention this to them they will either reduce your hours or find you more work to do. It's up to you if you risk it.

We have regular 1-2-1s and I keep getting told I'm doing great! I know my duties will pick up eventually.
I've asked my boss a number of times if there is anything they want me to do and they keep saying "just keep doing what you're doing". I know my role has a higher turn over in the company than the specialised roles and when I've looked on Glassdoor it seems the ex employees left as they were bored.
I hate killing time but I have never been this un-stressed in my life!

they don't want to overwhelm me so will give me a new task each quarter.

^^

Per quarter? As in, quarter of a year?

Yup...a new task every quarter.
The tasks are quite simple but do require regular reviewing and testing by me.
So I do task A which takes about half an hour. I'm spending extra time doing this and padding it out with additional research etc. It then needs regular testing (once a week but runs in the background) and regular reviewing (twice a day: 10 mins each time).
At the moment I'm making each task last as long as possible.
It's just such a drastic change of pace

If you're just wasting time would they mind you doing something constructive for yourself in that time? Like a course in something you're interested in, or that would help the business? Only problem is it would need to be something you can drop if you do suddenly become busy!

I've actually looked into that! I've found a few courses I'm interested in which are related to my role so I may suggest this to my boss

Sounds like you've gone from one extreme to another.
Some jobs are like this. Be careful what you ask for

Can we swap jobs please?

More seriously, is it the kind of job where you could invent some projects for yourself? Like researching a sector your business doesn't but could operate in, or reorganising the whatchamacallit or something?