in not wanting to work on something I have no experience in?

[Forgottencoffee]

Please be kind. My head is all over at the moment.

I started a new job last year working part time under the project manager, as the dogsbody really. I was told during the interview that it was an admin role and that there would be scope for progression and I would soon have projects of my own. A year later and I'm doing less than when I started and I'm constantly asking for work. It's making me quite miserable.

They hired someone new a few weeks ago and she has been delegated a project by the CEO that I could have done. She has been hired for something completely unrelated. I am worried that because the CEO thinks my manager is giving me work that he thinks I’m unable to take on the extra workload and so I’m being overlooked.

It vaguely came up in conversation with my manager about how I'm not utilised and she agreed and said that it was up to me to prove to the CEO that he can't do without me and deserve more responsibility. My problem is, I can’t prove to him that I deserve more responsibility because I don’t have any work to do that can prove it. I very much doubt he wants to know how many pieces of paper I can laminate in an hour.

Over the weekend my manager has had an epiphany and wants me to become the marketing and advertising lead for our company and sister companies. Here’s my other problem. I have ZERO experience in marketing, I don’t have the faintest idea of advertising and wouldn’t even know where to start with any of it. How the hell am I meant to organise anything with no direction, experience or qualification in the area. I have NO desire to branch out in this area and have never hinted that I would like to; I have a degree in psychology for goodness sake. I feel like I’m being set up to fail. At the same time I also don’t want to be that person who asks for more responsibility and when she’s given it say that I don’t want to do that particular project.

I plan on organising a meeting with my manager and CEO separately to discuss this. I’ll tell my manager about my concerns and depending on how that conversation goes, I’ll speak to the CEO regarding projects he is in control of. I know that there are other departments within the company that are drowning at the moment and could really do with the extra help but I’m unable to offer help without authorisation from my manager and she will not allow this unless it comes from the CEO.

I suppose I’m looking for some help/guidance. Is it unreasonable to not want to work on something I have no desire or experience in? Is it unreasonable to go to the CEO with my concerns? Should I just suck it up and get on with it?

I’ve never had to meet with senior leadership before so I have no idea what to expect or how to approach him with my issues. Someone please tell me what to say lighthearted

It’s impossible to say really (sorry!) without understanding your company and what is meant by the roles.

I think it’s odd to say “for goodness sake” in relation to your psychology degree and market. Firstly, you’ve clearly chosen to work outside of (for example) a clinical setting - so I don’t see why your manager should realise what you’re interested in. You’ve chosen admin and projects - that’s no more or less based on your degree than marketing! That said - secondly - there actually is a good link between psychology and marketing depending on your area of study. Thirdly, not specific to you, it’s absolutely normal to work in an area not related to your degree - so I don’t see an issue with their assumption.

It sounds to me like you have a great opportunity here - but you need to be more proactive. No more “vague” discussions. Now is the time to ask your manager exactly what they want from this role. If it’s developing the marketing strategy or managing contracts with advertising companies - OK, fair enough if it’s not for you. But if it’s project managing a marketing campaign - haven’t you said you want to manage projects?

It seems odd that you’d go from laminating to head of marketing, so I think you really need to speak more to your manager.

In my business you wouldn’t ever speak directly to the CEO separately to your line manager, so I can’t comment on speaking to the CEO. Other than to say if you should speak to them - be proactive, not vague.

Its also OK to decide this isn’t the company for you, and leave.
I left a company where I was under utilised, not only because I was bored, but I didn’t see it as a good fit for me in ethos... I could foresee fixing it temporarily with a new project, but then having the issue come up again and again.

Marketing is psychology based. Please don't mention to your bosses that you don't understand that.

You've been given the opportunity to prove yourself, and you're shuffling about putting non existent barriers in your way. Arrange a meeting with your manager to explain your concerns, but also go in with a plan. You don't need to do anything massive overnight, just have one idea that you can develop through to something meaningful. If not, then they're just going to see you as moany and incapable of working on your own initiative.