What to do when new job is a mistake?

[PrincessDando]

I took a new role recently, left a permanent job after 5 years and it's just turned out to be a massive massive mistake.

There is not enough work for both me and my boss, and I'm kind of assisting / supporting her when I thought I'd be having my own client load as is normal in my line of work. She won't even circulate my number to clients so they are still all going through her and she's allocating me bits and pieces.. I've asked and there are no plans to change this approach. So I'm bored and also very lonely with little to do, feel directionless and purposeless.

I'm going to leave but my question is am I better to stick it there until I can find something else or just quit. I feel like just quitting but I don't know if that'll look really bad to prospective employers. Could manage financially for a bit.

Just don't know whether to stick it in a job where everything feels wrong or just cut my losses any advice please.

Is there anyone else in the organisation who you can talk to? HR?

I stayed in a job for hardly any time once, because it was shit, and in interviews people barely commented on it or I just said 'it's not for me ' and that was accepted. It happens.

I stayed in a job for only six months once. I think if you have a stable cv then people don't really care if you have one short lived job.

I know the situation your in, your manager either is power crazy or is feeling threatened.

Either way, it’s not going to change.

Mention it in your exit interview, although it’ll probably not change anything at the company.

“Bad managers ruin a company”

She definitely has no intention of passing any work my way! her 'handover' call before going on leave today was about 10 mins long and she's not handed anything over apart from one minor request to check something mid week with someone.
I work from home so I literally have a week of nothing save one meeting to say hello to a senior person in my own department. Not sure whether to mention any of what I'm feeling or just do poker face.

Ah it's such a shame I was so excited about this job, but it's not to be!

I've had a manager like that OP. Was constantly running around the office, saving the universe [flipping from jazz-hands to uber stressed], mobile phone in each hand. Never wanted to relinquish any control, so made certain all we got was platitudes and misinformation.

I'd get out while you can. It never improves.

It seems very strange for a company to take you on, pay you really well, without needing you to actually do the job.

It sounds like your boss isn't doing her job properly ??

I would talk to someone more senior than her and try to thrash it out.

Deliphant I know! next week I am literally sat at home four days with nothing to do at £150/day! Sounds great for a bit but the lack of purpose is getting to me now.

I have a 'welcome' chat with the director next week (2 levels above her), not quite sure how to play it. I'm sure to be asked how I'm finding it and i may just say I'm a little bored and it was not how I expected it to be... if anyone has any guidance on how to play it with the director I'd appreciate it.

You need to be totally honest. It's not what you expected and you haven't enough to do. Don't bend the truth to protect your manager, you aren't doing yourself or anyone who does your role in future a favour.

I would never look unfavourably on someone who told me they wanted mor work to do!

It depends whether the director actually really wants to know how you are funding it or is just being polite

I might just tell her I'm getting a bit bored and see what she says