Hi everyone, regular poster but NC, first time I've posted in Work.
I started a new job in July that I was very excited about. It's with a company X I worked at 6 years ago and had really enjoyed my time with. But back then they had pay freeze/no promotions so i left for a better offer. A recruiter got in touch this year at the same company X with a role that looked promising. My job at the time was under potential risk as a huge merger taking place so I decided to accept it.
The role discussed at interview with the line manager had a clear brief, is one I'm experienced in but a different area to what I normally do. They said there was a little bit of coaching they'd have to do to plug the gaps, so couldn't come in at the top rate of band. I accepted a tiny pay cut thinking it was a great opportunity to learn and progress in role, and better work life balance.
Anyway, it's now Oct and I'm the most miserable I've been. Not only is the role far more junior in practice, and completely different to what I was told - there isn't any actual work for me to do! For context I'm a senior manager normally, and I'm being used as a general dogsbody for people to do admin tasks I wouldn't even ask an intern to do. In fact, there isn't even much of that to do. I was told there was line management responsibility, and there is none atm. I have zero powers or influence, no budgets, and feel like a spare part in most meetings because I don't have any responsibilities. In some cases I'm sort of reporting into my peers.
I raised this issue with my boss with some suggestions on how to change my role to be more effective. He got defensive and a bit cross and said I just wasn't understanding the role and needed to figure it out. I took some time again to make sure I had tried everything - no luck. Even asked if there anything else on his plate I could take on. He's now said that this is the role and he can't help much if I don't want to do it. The rest of the team also have some struggles but no one as bad as mine. General consensus is that my role really is a cluster f*k and they can see why I'm struggling. No one knows how it even got signed off as headcount.
I realised I'm getting paid to do not very much. But it's killing my self esteem and morale. Because I have no work, no line management and no ownership. It's a big company so there are a lot of other vacancies and jobs I could do. But my boss would probably take that very personally, and given my short tenure I need his blessing to transfer out. Speaking to his boss would likewise go down like a lead balloon. I can't see there being any new work for me popping up because we've done planning for next year already - there isn't anything. Mostly I'm realised this role is not going to be do anything for progression or growth. The work life balance is very good though and I like my team.
What would you do in my place? I realise I can apply for other jobs but am worried how it looks to be applying after just a few months in role. Feeling like a huge failure atm because I'm 36, and have ended up in this situation and feeling trapped.