Wwyd - new job turns out to be just photocopying!

[notyourphotocopier]

Wwyd - just started a new job. It’s not at all what I thought. I have a degree in my field, a postgraduate qualification and 8 years experience, the last 4 years at the top company in the country for my field. I had a lot of responsibilities and respect at my old job. I liked my old job but the commute was terrible, and so I missed out on a lot of time with my kids. I’ve been at my new job for a few weeks, and it’s 80% photocopying. The job title is the same as my old one, but the role itself is not even remotely similar. I’ve raised this with my manager, who seems pretty out of touch with the role and what it entails, and I’ve raised it with others who have the same job title who seem to just think that spending 80% of your time photocoping is normal for this type of role (it’s definitely not).

I do get to do the occasional interesting thing in theory, but I have so much photocopying / scanning which needs doing each day (and it has to be done that day) I don’t have time to get onto it so it just builds up. My manager says they are trying to recruit more people, but in the meantime I’m inundated with requests to do other things (again not stuff I would associate with my role, but marginally more interesting than photocopying) which I cannot foresee being able to do, due to the amount of photocopying! Wwyd?
I never used to mind staying late etc at my old job, but I was passionate about my work at old job. I cannot and will never be passionate about photocopying.
I’ve looked for other jobs but there’s not much around at the moment in my field without going back to the dreaded commute.

I would not have left my old job if I had known what this job would be.

Do you have a copy of your job description? Or was there one with the advert you applied to? This would be a good starting point for conversations with the management team

Yes I do but with hindsight it's a bit wishy-washy. Definitely not mention of photocopying or even admin though.

That gives you a starting point though. If it were me I would be asking for when they were going to be employing more staff and asking them to clarify your job role/description. If you don’t get reasonable answers or support with that then I’d be looking for a new job I’m afraid. You need to enjoy your job and if this is it for the foreseeable future you are going to end up miserable and dreading going in

Thanks. Yeah that's what I thought. I'll keep looking for something new.

When I was complaining about the photocopying someone said to me (in a very nasty tone) "it's your job". I wish I had said no it is not and I would never have taken the job if the company had been honest about the job role. I was just so shocked I couldn't speak.

I had something similar. I resigned. I lasted 6 months, which was probably 4 months too long.

In the meantime while I am looking for something new is it too passive aggressive to send a response to emails asking me to do XYZ something like "thank you for your email. I spend the majority of my time photocopying and therefore have limited capacity for other work. I will get to your request when I am able"

Yes, that is very passive aggressive and probably not advisable!

Dig out the job description and list the things you are actually doing. Dig out your old job description and list the things you actually did.

I did the same thing last year after doing a truly awful job where I spent most of my day photocopying, binding and generally running around like a loon doing low level admin tasks for a team as a Board level PA. Long story short, I ended up leaving as I felt as if I was talking to a brick wall.

What job are you doing where 80% of your time is photocopying?

I'd look for another role or sign up with a temp agency to get out if there. What notice period do you have?

That does not make sense, how weird OP

How much do you get paid? Why would they ask someone with your experience and education (and presumably paid way above admin job rate) to do this?

Is it in law? Can't think of another job that requires so many photocopies

This is weird! Are you well paid?

I'd find something else or ask your old job if it's still open

I love photocopying! Can I have your job?

I would just leave.

Do you work in a print shop

How much are you getting paid? The same as or similar to your old job? I’d do it. But then I’ve never been that interested in work.

Leave. It won't get better.

I took a job that turned out wrong last year, I knew in the first few weeks that it was not right.

It was hard going into 'the abyss' of unemployment after being in paid permanent work the last 10 years but not as hard as staying somewhere wrong.

It was a rocky road and I ended up temping for a bit before I got another perm role that I am loving and is just right for me.

Can you do temping to tide you over if you need to maintain your income?

If the job is reprographics assistant, that's the job. If it isn't, it's v strange situation!

I'm in a similar position I moved due to difficult commute after having kids but the work I get now is so basic compared to what I was doing previously, I was doing work for the next job level up in a specific specialism, now I'm doing general work similar to the next level down. It gets me down but there are no opportunities at present which wouldn't impact on my time with the kids and I just cant give that up. I have the same job title and get paid the same, technically the jobs a doddle but incredibly boring. I honestly dont know if I'll ever get back to the work I was doing but it's my decision to stay so I can have time with the kids, it's just the job i was doing doesn't have many openings though so if you can find somewhere else, run, run as fast as you can! 3 years down the line and it's really no better for me but I've made my peace with it.

I need to know what this job is!