To think about of jobs are about filling seats?

WellHereIgoagain · 2023-08-30T10:03:51+00:00

Or something similar? Just started a new job, less than a month in....and the lack of work has started already. We're a very small team of 4 and to top it off no one really speaks so you don't even have a bit of a laugh or fun to help get the day in. The role was sold to me as everyday is different, you don't get a minute etc which is what appealled to me as my last job was very quiet and you couldn't make up work (I know people try to say to do this like systems etc) but it's actually worse. I just want to be busy and earn my wage, I feel like a complete imposter. The person before me left after 10 months and they left their old notebook/diary and the things in it per day you could have done by 9.30. I hate to be so negative but it's getting me down. I do have a month review with my manager in the next few weeks and I'm going to have to say something I just don't know what. I've had two jobs like this before, my last and one a few years back and please if anyone says I'm living the dream, it's soul destroying.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 30/08/2023 11:27

Boredom can be a killer but stress and overworked and burnout will probably get you there faster and there are plenty of people who are doing theirs as well as 2 other peoples jobs - I know which one I prefer.
In jobs like these, I invent /create tasks or I go on a self improvement mission on company time, such as online learning.

Gingernaut · 30/08/2023 11:34

Make sure you're up to date with mandatory online training, ensure you're trained up in the systems they use.

Generally make yourself useful - "If you're busy, I can do XYZ"

Is this a situation where you're the newbie and the people you work with don't realise you're on their level and are meant to share their workloads?

Are they not sharing the work with you because you're new and they don't trust you?

passthesugar · 30/08/2023 11:36

A lot of jobs are slow to get started. In my current job, it took nearly a year for the work to start in earnest. A month is nothing. But if you really can't stand it, use the spare time to job hunt

saltinesandcoffeecups · 30/08/2023 17:15

Are you in the right type of job? Some roles are just not as busy as others.

It doesn’t bode well if your predecessor though didn’t have a lot to do. Have you spoken to your manager? Asked for more? Offered to help others?

I’m with you I would hate a job like that, but I can’t think of too many employers who think…. “Hmm… we have a couple of leftover desks…we better get someone hired to fill them!” 🙂

GarlicGrace · 30/08/2023 17:29

You might just be very efficient! At my first job after graduation, the work was moderately interesting but I'd always done it hours before closing. Asked for more work - no, that's your job. Brought in something to read - can't do that at your desk, you must sit there The manager was a weirdo, and I suppose there are quite a few of them!

The obvious first things to do are [a] ask your silent colleagues if there's something you can do for them, then [b] ask management for more work.

Hope it turns out okay, but clearly you should leave if nothing improves.

Gahhhhereheisagain · 30/08/2023 17:32

@GarlicGrace I had a manager like that too, absolutely no reading but you could scroll on river island or the sun as much as you wanted. Bizarre.

Peony654 · 30/08/2023 17:38

Gingernaut · 30/08/2023 11:34

Make sure you're up to date with mandatory online training, ensure you're trained up in the systems they use.

Generally make yourself useful - "If you're busy, I can do XYZ"

Is this a situation where you're the newbie and the people you work with don't realise you're on their level and are meant to share their workloads?

Are they not sharing the work with you because you're new and they don't trust you?

I agree with this, about being new. When I was new, even though I’d come from a similar job, my manager and colleagues really withheld work, and I got bored. I had to tell them I wanted to get going! I’d be more proactive in picking up more tasks

LlynTegid · 30/08/2023 17:41

I get where you are coming from OP, had a job like that many years ago. Use your next meeting with your manager to ask about things coming up, what you can be involved in, or something like that.

Merryoldgoat · 30/08/2023 17:44

I had a job like this. It sent me into a spiral of depression that was very hard to get out of.

What kind of job is it?

drunkpeacock · 30/08/2023 17:54

Whenever I read threads like this I do always think "how can I get this sort of job please?" However, my dsis had this type of job when she first started. What she did was actively look at how she could develop her role. So she'd offer to help people, ask to be shown how processes in the next pay grade worked, undertook qualifications, offered to take notes at meetings and booked relevant online training wherever possible. The result is that she's now a very well-paid manager in the same firm having been promoted very quickly.

Tangled123 · 30/08/2023 17:56

I always find jobs really quiet at the start but then they start picking up a few months in. I’m a year into my current job and am way busier now than when I started.

A lot depends on your colleagues though. Are they worried about bombarding you with too much at the start, or are they quiet too? If they’re busy, I’d give the job more time. They’ll pass stuff to you once you’ve proven yourself a bit.

spitefulandbadgrammar · 30/08/2023 18:16

drunkpeacock · 30/08/2023 17:54

Whenever I read threads like this I do always think "how can I get this sort of job please?" However, my dsis had this type of job when she first started. What she did was actively look at how she could develop her role. So she'd offer to help people, ask to be shown how processes in the next pay grade worked, undertook qualifications, offered to take notes at meetings and booked relevant online training wherever possible. The result is that she's now a very well-paid manager in the same firm having been promoted very quickly.

Same, I long for this sort of job. Used to have one; I quietly wrote a novel or read books through Kindle cloud. Bliss.

SoShallINever · 30/08/2023 18:18

I'm guessing you're not NHS?

Testina · 30/08/2023 18:23

SoShallINever · 30/08/2023 18:18

I'm guessing you're not NHS?

Really? Three people in my life who have had thumb twiddling jobs have been non clinical NHS 🤷🏻‍♀️
Plus, even the super busy NHS r pliers aren’t the only ones 🤣

@WellHereIgoagain it’s shit. I’d go straight to your manager, book a review in earlier if needed, and say you have capacity and what can you do about it.

Merryoldgoat · 30/08/2023 18:35

drunkpeacock · 30/08/2023 17:54

Whenever I read threads like this I do always think "how can I get this sort of job please?" However, my dsis had this type of job when she first started. What she did was actively look at how she could develop her role. So she'd offer to help people, ask to be shown how processes in the next pay grade worked, undertook qualifications, offered to take notes at meetings and booked relevant online training wherever possible. The result is that she's now a very well-paid manager in the same firm having been promoted very quickly.

Honestly - it’s soul destroying.

Nothing you do matters.
No one cares about your development or happiness.

The anxiety that you’re getting it wrong, or that someone will decide you’re superfluous to requirements (which you ARE) and will be let go.

I lasted 6 months, applied for something else and I’m there 8 years later.

I’ve got a job now where I’m always busy (not overworked) and it’s so much better.

I’m listened to and I’m valued - that alone is a massive improvement.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 30/08/2023 22:17

Merryoldgoat · 30/08/2023 18:35

Honestly - it’s soul destroying.

Nothing you do matters.
No one cares about your development or happiness.

The anxiety that you’re getting it wrong, or that someone will decide you’re superfluous to requirements (which you ARE) and will be let go.

I lasted 6 months, applied for something else and I’m there 8 years later.

I’ve got a job now where I’m always busy (not overworked) and it’s so much better.

I’m listened to and I’m valued - that alone is a massive improvement.

Show quote history

Honestly, I think it depends on the person. There are people who cannot wait to give up work at the drop of a hat - be it, a windfall, retirement ect. But there are those who will work past retirement and lottery wins.
I am one of the first lot , who never get bored because I value a lot of headspace, down time because I'm a daydreaming introvert who will always find exotic ways to have fun alone and quiet.
The world is built for busy and bored easily people, so these 👆 kinds of jobs are a godsend for people like me.

Original poster

WellHereIgoagain · 30/08/2023 22:24

Well we have an update.... I've got a meeting with my manager at the start of next week. Going to say I need more to do but I do know what you mean @Merryoldgoat it feels like no one cares at all!
I'm not NHS, it's private sector. I did once work in a local authority and it was busy 80% of the time but the grass is always greener eh!

OP posts:

Merryoldgoat · 30/08/2023 22:28

@Doingtheboxerbeat

Oh I can do nothing better than most - but on my terms. It’s not like it would be ok to rock up, finish my day’s work in 2 hours and read or go home but get my salary. If it was no problem!

I suppose wfh may have changed things somewhat in these instances but who knows.

It feels like an imposition having to turn up and do nothing but not so something of my choosing.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 31/08/2023 00:11

Merryoldgoat · 30/08/2023 22:28

@Doingtheboxerbeat

Oh I can do nothing better than most - but on my terms. It’s not like it would be ok to rock up, finish my day’s work in 2 hours and read or go home but get my salary. If it was no problem!

I suppose wfh may have changed things somewhat in these instances but who knows.

It feels like an imposition having to turn up and do nothing but not so something of my choosing.

I see what you mean, as I haven't had a WFH job ever and I have always thought that I would probably feel pressured to work even harder if I was WFH - possibly longer than my hours even 🤔.

Original poster

WellHereIgoagain · 31/08/2023 09:02

@Merryoldgoat can I ask what soul destroying job you used to do and what you're doing now 8 years later? I'm awaiting my boss coming in, it's just us today and I'm reading the news 😁

OP posts:

Thepeopleversuswork · 31/08/2023 09:14

I would also hate this. I find boredom and underwork far, far more stressful than overwork. It does make you feel as if you have absolutely no purpose in life.

I do agree that a month is fairly early in a job so I would give it a bit longer but I would also start looking around.

Merryoldgoat · 31/08/2023 10:45

@WellHereIgoagain

I’m an accountant and I worked at the Local Authority as a finance analyst.

I used zero skills and was literally done in 2 hours max every day. I think I replaced someone who was good at seeming busy.

The projects I was supporting made NO progress and when I asked how I could move things along (nicely and helpfully) I was told ‘that’s not a finance job’.

I had no phone or computer login when I started and was told my expectations were too high.

Every month I had a one to one and explained how under used I was and was happy to assist anyone even with mundane reconciliations (I love balance sheet recs) and was told she’d ‘get me more involved’.

She went on leave and I spent two weeks studying for an exam. Literally did no work other than an hour each morning.

On the last day of her leave I had to deal with a school business manager who was paid more than me and clearly knew less about running anything. So I googled ‘school finance jobs near me’ and found my current job. The closing date was the next day noon so I did my application there and then at work, interviewed the following week and was offered the next day at £20k more that I’d been earning which is a lot for me and handed my notice in. The relief was absolutely unbelievable.

I’m now a finance manager in an independent school. I have a team, I’m busy every day, I’m listened to, sought out for advice and have a great set of colleagues. Hence being there 8 years.

Good luck today!

Merryoldgoat · 31/08/2023 10:49

@Thepeopleversuswork

I do agree that a month is fairly early in a job so I would give it a bit longer but I would also start looking around.

I generally agree with this but in some jobs you should pretty much ready to go. In most transactional finance roles and finance manager type roles (my area) aside from learning systems and ‘quirks’ the jobs are the same at the core.

Obviously I don’t know what OP does but in my line you can often tell within a week what it will be like longer term.

Hufflemuff · 31/08/2023 11:18

I'd get another work from home job and do that work at your current job - double your salary for not double the work haha!

CoteDOpale · 31/08/2023 11:30

My job is like this at the moment. I’ve been very open with my manager about it (essentially to cover myself so no-one thinks I’m ‘skiving’ when I don’t do anything).

He says he can see some projects coming ‘soon’ that I can be involved in and to hang tight.

In the mean time I’ve done these:

The few tasks that actually need doing, obviously.
Office admin, clear out your emails, files, bookmarks, calendar, whatever else to stay organised.
Planned and booked my holiday dates for the next year so they’re in the team calendar.
Joined an ‘extracurricular’ (my company has employee resource networks for different groups/causes - I picked one I’m passionate about and have done a lot of work for them. It’s fun, and one reason I don’t want to leave the company.)
Online learning, both company resources and others (but still related to my role/work). It’s development that will benefit both me and the business so no-one can really argue. One offers a qualification and my company have agreed to pay for the exam.

Manager is supportive of all of the above. Just find bits where you can, but if the work doesn’t come you might need to look for something a bit busier.