To ask for tips on surviving a boring job?

[whereiscaroline]

I can't leave my current job: I work in a niche area and there are no other local employers. I need to be local due to DC with SEN.

BUT I don't have enough work. I've tried asking for more work and it's actually become apparent that the two people more senior to me in our team also don't have enough work. So they either don't have anything to give me or they give me made up and pointless tasks to do.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that some days I have completed my tasks for the day by 9.30. I then have to stay there til 5.30! It's making me hate work - I actually love my job when it's busy but like this it's hell.

What can I do at my desk to pass the day?! News sites etc are out - I don't want to be caught browsing the internet.

Please help before I go INSANE.

Podcasts and audiobooks

Could you do free online training courses (futurelearn etc) that are a bit related to your area of work or to general office or employment skills? Maybe put it on your appraisal or cpd plan? Or would they fund any training? Is it the sort of work where you can seek out more business, advertise or tout?

I'll have a look at future learn. I've emailed myself some free short story PDFs I found online and have been reading those as they look like documents.

Have a go at writing a book. You can type away looking busy, sell the book and make millions (maybe)

I used to spend all day on mumsnet! I made it pretty obvious I was bored - I had done all the work I was asked to and sorted out files and archived documents and emails etc. Sympathies being under employed is crap

I had a job like this once. And yes mumsnet

Someone else posted about this recently. I think they were told to do a degree from work.

I did much of my PhD write-up and corrections when working in admin, particularly when school holidays were on. It did mean when I HAD to work I was at least 'there' because I was already switched on.

Language courses? MFL although you might be limited to reading and comprehension.

Touch typing course?

Google's Digital Garage is a cool online course to look into. Lots to learn about digital marketing, websites and the like. Very useful in lots of professions, as everyone needs to be online these days.

If anyone has a link to the other thread then I'd be very grateful, couldn't find anything through search. Will have a look at some of these today, thanks.

@ErinWinspear thanks, I can't wait to start earning $35090 a month!

Reported you, you naughty little spammer.

I like the idea of writing a book. Or get Google play books up and read them on your screen.

I had a job like this once. I really hate to be a total downer but I lasted about four months, it really ended up eating away at my confidence and self esteem - so I think you've got the right idea by keeping busy!

I second posters who have suggested courses! In useful and fun things. Could you also look at doing some sort of volunteering? The employer I worked for in this situation allowed fourteen days off paid in full if you were doing charity work.

I used Mumsnet and news pages. I also used to apply for other jobs. My post was a short-term contract though.

I agree training is probably the most professional option for filling your time - either related to this job, or your plans for the future. Maybe fill up some time doing some of the self-awareness type tests (Myers Briggs and the like). They might not be scientifically solid, but they might be useful in helping you work out your priorities for job satisfaction, maybe? Once you know what you'd like in a job, you can perhaps try and find ways to shape this one a bit to be better.

Alternatively, do your colleagues in another department have work you could help with, under the guise of professional development if need be?

Lastly, Amazon let you read your kindle books in a browser, if that's of any help...

This used to be me. It was awful but for my own reasons I had to stay too.

Podcasts and doing A LOT for the PTA whilst at work helped.

I managed to get a parallel move and now it's the complete opposite and non stop. Doing my head in for other reasons now.

I am in a similar situation in that I'm probably 60% busy. I've asked for reduced hours but been refused! Madness.

I've arranged to work from home a few days a week. I can get my house in order and do other stuff without people looking over my shoulder.

I'm in a boring job too. I use Mumsnet a lot.
You could also try Coursera there are lots of free on-line courses to keep you busy.

Exactly the same here. My sympathies, it's soul destroying, isn't it? I'm on Mumsnet all day long.

Those of you on MN all day, are you being discreet or have you made it known that you're underworked?

I too have this. Its all or nothing in my job. I have 2 half an hour periods a day when I'm really busy then not a lot in between. I have asked for extra work and I have taken on stuff myself. It added up to about 10 mins extra a day. *sigh.

It is soul destroying. I have been doing a lot of online courses and open learn with the OU. I have also spent that time job hunting.

paid to be bored,? crazy. awful. and quite stressful.

Earn extra money as a proof reader