I don't know what to do

pinkshoes

Get a book and study a GCSE. Make notes on A4, and it'll look like you are working, when infact you're beefing up your CV!

tizhimi

TODAY IS WEDNESDAY. I expect you to be following my schedule. Or else.

Wednesday.... paint my finger nails. One nail an hour... except the last few which were rushed. Lunch time drinks - half way through the week - YEY!

Kimie

Have you thought about using your time to look for another job?

honeypop

I was in a job just like this, long periods of weeks and sometimes months with very little to do, I had already done all the little jobs as suggested in here and so I decided I needed something to keep me busy that would also improve my chances of getting other roles when the chance arose. So whenever I had nothing to do (which was 95% of the time!) I used online training for things like excel, powerpoint etc, Microsoft have good training in their help sections on the programs, and some other really helpful bits as well, so I became expert at all the programs. No certificates to show for it I know, but no job I've ever been to has wanted one, they just want you to have excellent knowledge of the packages.

Could you do this? There must be something you can expand your knowledge/training on or learn from scratch.

Katie-Kat-Kins

learning to touch type is a great idea, I'd love to be able to as more and more jobs require good use of the computer and the beauty is that the courses all work with you just sitting in front of the computer. You can probably find a free online one, but you could justify this as being useful for your job.

Dreaming_Angel

KatP wrote: »

Seriously get a grip of yourself, your employers are arranging the training for you, there is work once you have done the training so it is just a case of waiting for the training. You aren't really facing redundancy any more than anyone else.

You will look back on this time fondly when you are rushed off your feet!

If there really is nothing you can do to usefully help in the office while you are quiet (are you sure you can't tidy the stationary cupboard/do some filing/organise the tea room/sort out a filing cabinet full of junk??? There is always loads of stuff like that in our office) then find some things to fill your time that help you look like you are being useful.

- Be the first to do the tea run
- Make sure your work space is tidy and neat and organised, re-label stuff and organise folders/trade journals etc Do the same for others
my desk is spotless, we don't have folders, stuff to label, its a paperless type office

- volunteer for everything. Are you on the social committee, charity committee, staff representative etc If you don't have this sort of thing start it up with the approval of HR. Organise a charity coffee morning etc for your colleagues.
the office already has union reps, don't have social committees, its not that sort of based.

- See if you can be the first aider or fire marshall. they already have a specific job profiled one, because of nature of equipment, I did my online assessment though that I found on the intranet

- Find relevent information and articles on-line, print them off and file them for future use. I have access to all the guidances relevant to my job and team. read them several times and have them electronically and the actual manual. read loads of times

- Read MSE, do a full SoA/budget, compare your utilities etc online, you'll look busy even if it isn't work related. Done already, I own a consumer site myself as a hobby so pretty clued up here. thats why I know it would be stupid to leave

- update your cv, draft a covering letter and send it round some agencies looking for a better job. done it sent to loads and loads - being proactive is not normally a problem for me, cv on line as well on several job recruitment type sites, some send me daily emails which I read.

- Make calls to "useful contacts" to build relationships, see if you can arrange "getting to know you" meetings. not that sort of environment unfortunately

- Organise your email inbox, documents saved on the computer etc. done, its immaculate lol,

- read the news online restricted internet but yes I do this a fair bit when allowed

- volunteer to help with or start up a staff newsletter, or a staff reward scheme (employee of the month type thing). we have an electronic one sent around by a pa, I help a bit when they have something I can do which is not often

- Learn all your computer systems to the best of your ability, help others when they have difficulty, become the office expert on the computer/photocopier/printer etc. those people are always useful. Am already, showed someone how to scan to email today, took 10 mins but at least I helped


There is loads you can do, think positive, you are in work and getting paid, having nothing to do is better than having something awful to do, or having so much you can't cope. Use this time to integrate yourself in the workplace and get to know your colleagues.

I know what you're getting at and in some ways you are spot on, but and typically there is a but, there isn't loads I can do. The staff are lovely and friendly and I've fitted in well, being invited to social events, and I've spent a lot of time in staffroom talking to people not neccessary about this but making sure I offer my help.

I do understand and appreciate what you are saying.
I found out this afternoon that the training has not been booked, I have to pass a medical first which has only just been arranged as they "forgot" despite me asking again and again for a date then I have to wait another 3 months until a place is free to do the training. I just am not happy about the whole situation I'm in, and am disgusted at how it is being dealt with.
Doing a course online is something I am looking into and will speak to my line manager to make sure its ok.

I guess its difficult to explain why there is nothing and why I can't help others without revealing who I work for and the nature of the business so I do understand this would be easy to not understand why I am so upset.

belfastgirl23

Ok everyone else has been really nice and supportive so I'm going to go for a tougher approach.

You are totally seeing yourself as a victim here. You need to get over this. There are bound to be things you can do - if you can sit and read a book you can also brush up on typing skills or learn a language or write a thesis or whatever you want. The thing is that you have to think about what it is you want and make it happen. You are unhappy. Take responsibility for this, for your life. It's all too easy to sit expecting something outside of you to fix it, but that isn't going to happen here clearly. So you have to figure it out for yourself.

I know this sounds harsh but I'm really trying to be helpful here. If you sit around feeling like a victim you get into a very negative circle and end up feeling exactly as you've described here. Deciding to do something and sticking to it will in itself make you feel better.

Of course as the others say, the other option is to leave. They key thing to remember is you are in control of your life. You make the decisions. If you are there it is because you have decided to stay. So what are you going to do to make it bearable?

Lots of luck.

Abbafan1972

You could always do what my work colleague does....sit and play games on Facebook all day.

Dreaming_Angel

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

Ok everyone else has been really nice and supportive so I'm going to go for a tougher approach.

You are totally seeing yourself as a victim here. You need to get over this. There are bound to be things you can do - if you can sit and read a book you can also brush up on typing skills or learn a language or write a thesis or whatever you want. The thing is that you have to think about what it is you want and make it happen. You are unhappy. Take responsibility for this, for your life. It's all too easy to sit expecting something outside of you to fix it, but that isn't going to happen here clearly. So you have to figure it out for yourself.

I know this sounds harsh but I'm really trying to be helpful here. If you sit around feeling like a victim you get into a very negative circle and end up feeling exactly as you've described here. Deciding to do something and sticking to it will in itself make you feel better.

Of course as the others say, the other option is to leave. They key thing to remember is you are in control of your life. You make the decisions. If you are there it is because you have decided to stay. So what are you going to do to make it bearable?

Lots of luck.

thats fair enough, I don't particularly feel like a victim, but I am extremely worried and anxious after 3 years of temping to getting something permanent it might disappear. I haven't burst into tears and have no intention of, but when I get home and look for other work and reflect on what to do sometimes it is difficult not to feel a bit crap.

I'm not looking for sympathy, although of course it is appreciated, but what I am trying to do is see if from an unpanicked and unbiased point of view.
I'm not offended by opinions and suggestions and I respect people are entitled to their opinion and by posting on here then that is what the replies will be, which are all important. Thinking clearly which after a nice evening means that right now I am reasonably feeling okay and am trying to be more optimistic and positive on what to do.

I don't act like this at work and I suspect quite a few would be surprised I am so upset. I am trying not to make a big fuss at work as I may be included, but hopefully not, in the next phase of a reorganisation and am desperate for work to show I'm one worth keeping not pushed out or shoved into another corner.

Dreaming_Angel

Abbafan1972 wrote: »

You could always do what my work colleague does....sit and play games on Facebook all day.

facebook blocked, they block a lot of stuff, was looking for a gif image for a presentation once from google images and most were blocked!
I've kinda got bored of fb anyway now I've got as far as I can on farmtown!