Job responsibilities and different departments

jay213

I've been working in a job for just over a year after leaving a job with the same pay to get a different type of experience. I'm in the education sector as support staff. The job title seems to be geared towards the department that I work in and my line manager is Curriculum Manager(CM) for this area (department 1). The head of school, manages this area and another on our premises as well as at another site. When teachers are of sick I'll be asked to cover the class, this happened quite a lot last year as 4 teachers left department 1. I also have the task of supervising an apprentice.

I will be asked to order goods for both areas on both sites. Let's call the other area at my site department 2. Every time I bump into Department 2 CM I asked to do a job. There have been jobs such as covering there inquiry desks on open days where students are supposed to come in for an interview with a teacher about their courses but will be greeted by me who can only take their details, pass them on and then they don't contact them.

Over on the other site there is a new CM (Department 3) that covers both areas on that site. He/head of school ask me to order equipment for that site. I have to chase to confirm if it is received, he finds most equipment now that CM is requesting me to come over and tag/mark his equipment.

Now as they are enrolling for the new year I have been requested by another manager to help with this for the next 3 weeks. At this time of the year they will also start requesting equipment that I will need to order. We do enrollment every year and don't mind but was put down for every single working day until courses start.

I have indirectly mentioned that my job role seems to be for my department in the early days, I was then told that I cover both departments by my manager and the head of school said it was mentioned in the interview, not that I recall.

When I ran behind schedule for a project due to something going missing that prevented me from doing the work and also being asked to do other tasks by staff in other departments, my line manager said something on the lines of "are you saying you can't handle your workload?" but it was said in a way like we'll get rid of you or you're under preforming and then mentioned that "that they(department 2) are not using you as much as they could be".

On the few occasions I try to say no to any request from people in the other departments they will say that they will ask the head of school, who will okay it. Then I just have to do it.

Is there anything that can be done about any of this or not really? I just feel like a bit of a skivvy and would rather focus on what I would believe to be my area. My contract mentions my job title and it doesn't have any reference to the other area. But it does not mention what department I work for either.

sangie595

No, there's nothing you can do about it. You can discuss it with your manager and point out that there is too much work, but you've done that, and if you feel that they won't support you, your only choice is to get a better job.

Dox

jay213 wrote: »

When I ran behind schedule for a project due to something going missing that prevented me from doing the work and also being asked to do other tasks by staff in other departments, my line manager said something on the lines of "are you saying you can't handle your workload?" but it was said in a way like we'll get rid of you or you're under preforming and then mentioned that "that they(department 2) are not using you as much as they could be".

On the few occasions I try to say no to any request from people in the other departments they will say that they will ask the head of school, who will okay it. Then I just have to do it.

Is there anything that can be done about any of this or not really? I just feel like a bit of a skivvy and would rather focus on what I would believe to be my area.

You have my sympathy - but that won't help you!

Yes, I do think something can be done about it. What might possibly be of value is a spot of assertion training, particularly in the light of your comments above. Local authorities often run short courses at pretty modest cost and learning how and when to say 'no' could be handy skill if you're feeling 'a bit of a skivvy'. If you have too many tasks coming in from too many people, learning to put the ball back in their court can go a long way to sorting out the problem e.g. "I've been told this is the most urgent task by X, but I know you need your job done urgently. Please speak to X and let me know your agreed priorities and I will act accordingly". In other words, let other people make their own decisions.

Having said that, I get the feeling this probably isn't going to be a long term role for you, so keeping your eyes open for something where you can do more of what you want to do may be a sensible escape route.

jay213

I'm still in this job, and it's really grating me that multiple people keep asking me to do all these things... and they just go through the top manager if I try to say no.. I got to go to the other site to sort out there equipment that nobody has ever done..

It was mentioned that the role might become cross site as the other site don't have nobody, I realized after thinking about it if you work at the other site majority of the week you get less pay as there's no London weighting if you work there.

I need a new job, I can't seem to find anything....I'm thinking of quitting but I know that won't look good to future employers, what you think?

I have an degree in IT but I'm not currently working in IT, most IT jobs want x amount of experience or require experience/knowledge on something I haven't done. Anyone got any suggestions of where I can find an IT job. Please not Indeed jobsite.

jay213

I'm getting stressed with this job but can't find anything else. I'm starting to get sty's which I usually only get when I am highly stressed.

As I can't find another job, maybe I should resign or take time of for stress. But I'm worried how this will look to future employers. any feedback on these 2 options welcome.

Comms69

How will you survive if you resign?

Mrs_Soup

Where are you looking for jobs. Have you used jobs.ac.uk which is for jobs in education. Sounds like you are in London- there are loads of universities there with huge numbers of staff - sounds like you you would be well placed to apply for that type of thing. The fact you have a job shows you can get one- and its easier to get a new one if you are already working so don't quit without somewhere to go. Do you have some form of annual review process so you can discuss with your manager?