Dilemma - I hate my new job

BunnieJ

Hi everyone :hello:

I wasn't sure where to put this, but this seemed like a good place

I hate my new job!

A few of you may have seen my other threads on the employment boards, saying how my old company were passing me up for job opportunities etc and how I was being paid peanuts and doing nothing all day. I thought I needed to get out if something better came along. It did. An opportunity for an admin assistant job came up within my office building and I got the job

I worked 3 weeks notice (I only had to give 1, but was courteous to my old company) and then 2 weeks ago I started the new job with excitement and a few nerves. Everyone in the building was saying how nice the dept I would be working for is and my nerves soon settled. However, after being there for a couple of weeks I feel like I've made a HUGE mistake!

Although I had little work to do in my old job, I got on well with everybody and enjoyed working with people (reception desk), now I sit on my own and barely talk to anyone as they're all busy doing work and I'm given mind numbing admin tasks. My hours have also changed, meaning I feel like I have less spare time (due to shift patterns) and I feel like I've upped my workload by 100%, yet am getting paid the same wage (I know I agreed to it before I took the job, but I didn't realise how much it would affect me).

In my previous job I wasn't happy, but I was never unhappy either. Now I dread going into work and feel like calling in sick to avoid going in

My old manager told me if it didn't work out I could always go back, but they've now hired somebody else to do my job.

I have no idea what to do!

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Beckyy

Ask your old manager if there's still a chance you could go back to your old job, or look for something else and persevere with it until something better comes up. I hope it works out for you soon!

Transformers

My advice - go back and read your old threads and the advice on there.

You seem to have some overly optimistic views of what jobs should offer.

Ever heard the expression "work to live, not live to work"? A job is just a job. It's there to pay for the stuff that actually makes your life.

You seem perpetually looking for something more - time to try being 'satisfied' and making something work.

Use this role to gain experience which will then help with your CV. It's early days so give it time.

Tenyearstogo

You don't get a chance to talk to people because they're doing work? That's why they go there.

Do your own work so you're too busy to notice that you're not talking. If you finish your own work, ask your boss for more work, ask others if they need help, make everyone a cup of tea, etc.

I'm confused that you say your workload has increased considerably but that everyone else is too busy to talk to you. Have you got time or haven't you?

mumonashoestring

Use some of the time you're sitting on your own to identify things you either can already do that would be useful to your colleagues, or things you'd like training on. Then you can start making constructive suggestions to your new manager of more interesting tasks you can help out with. Remember your new employer doesn't know you, it's perfectly normal to start a new admin out with more basic tasks while they find their feet and you start to gauge their strengths and weaknesses. It's a lot more likely that you'll be given more interesting tasks if you say 'I've noticed the team's really busy and x isn't getting done on time and I'm quite good at x, here are my ideas for how I could help' instead of grousing about being bored.

CH27

BunnieJ wrote: »

Hi everyone :hello:

I wasn't sure where to put this, but this seemed like a good place

I hate my new job!

A few of you may have seen my other threads on the employment boards, saying how my old company were passing me up for job opportunities etc and how I was being paid peanuts and doing nothing all day. I thought I needed to get out if something better came along. It did. An opportunity for an admin assistant job came up within my office building and I got the job

I worked 3 weeks notice (I only had to give 1, but was courteous to my old company) and then 2 weeks ago I started the new job with excitement and a few nerves. Everyone in the building was saying how nice the dept I would be working for is and my nerves soon settled. However, after being there for a couple of weeks I feel like I've made a HUGE mistake!

Although I had little work to do in my old job, I got on well with everybody and enjoyed working with people (reception desk), now I sit on my own and barely talk to anyone as they're all busy doing work and I'm given mind numbing admin tasks. My hours have also changed, meaning I feel like I have less spare time (due to shift patterns) and I feel like I've upped my workload by 100%, yet am getting paid the same wage (I know I agreed to it before I took the job, but I didn't realise how much it would affect me).

In my previous job I wasn't happy, but I was never unhappy either. Now I dread going into work and feel like calling in sick to avoid going in

My old manager told me if it didn't work out I could always go back, but they've now hired somebody else to do my job.

I have no idea what to do!

Any advice greatly appreciated!

You're an admin assistant & the majority of admin is mind numbing
The job is a stepping stone to something better so get your head down, work hard & apply for other high paid jobs when they come up.

whodathunkit

I haven't read your earlier posts but it sounds as if you're unhappy that you're now being made to actually earn your money! Work really isn't a social occasion where the purpose of being there is to chat.

Tiddlywinks

BunnieJ wrote: »

ot on well with everybody and enjoyed working with people (reception desk), now I sit on my own and barely talk to anyone as they're all busy doing work and I'm given mind numbing admin tasks. My hours have also changed, meaning I feel like I have less spare time (due to shift patterns) and I feel like I've upped my workload by 100%, yet am getting paid the same wage (I know I agreed to it before I took the job, but I didn't realise how much it would affect me).

In my previous job I wasn't happy, but I was never unhappy either. Now I dread going into work and feel like calling in sick to avoid going in

You applied for and got a job as an Admin Assistant - did you really think that wouldn't involve some tedious tasks? Someone has to do the routine stuff in the office. What did you expect to be doing? Closing multi-million pound deals?

Also you knew the hours before you applied. Just give it time to get used to them.

People should be busy at work - that's what they're paid for - it's not a coffee morning for ladies that lunch.

Life is not all pink and fluffy... sometimes you have to do things you don't like. Calling in sick when you are just a bit disillusioned (from unreasonable expectations) is a fast track to being 'let go' and that won't do your CV any good.

Just get stuck in and do your best. It's only been a couple of weeks, give it time.

SailorSam

It takes time to settle in and get use to the way things work, after a couple of weeks you're still learning the new routines. I'd persevere, you could phone your old boss but if you started looking for something different so soon, how will that look to any new jobs you apply for.

HPoirot

Phone your old boss? No and no. Word would get round the building faster than you can think, and neither your current boss nor your old one would like you much for that.

Why were you overlooked for promotions, etc in the old position? Are you a moaner? (Sorry haven't read your previous threads). If so you need to change your attitude towards the work you do. Make yourself useful, there are 1000s of ways an admin assistant can make herself indispensable, take pride in the work you do, and stop thinking that a job is there to entertain you. It is not, YOU are there to do a good job.

Georgiegirl256

whodathunkit wrote: »

I haven't read your earlier posts but it sounds as if you're unhappy that you're now being made to actually earn your money! Work really isn't a social occasion where the purpose of being there is to chat.

Exactly this. That's the first thought that entered my mind too.

It seems like this new job is abit of a culture shock, and you're now having to actually do some work.

Yes it's nice to have abit of a chin wag with your colleagues, but that's not the purpose of going into work.

What exactly is it that you are wanting out of a job? If it's abit of excitement, look for something other than admin work!