I HATE my job.

Bendybops19

Oh this makes me so cross, why do companies etc take on employees if they dont have the work to give them!!!!! :mad:
I am sitting at work now....with not a great deal to do...because i was taken on to do a job 50/50 - 50% secretarial and 50% admin... i have been here 7 months and have so far been doing 100% admin!!! I have to admit that i am usually busy enough to stop me getting bored now. But when i first started, it really got me down not being given any work, it made me tired and grumpy having to sit around 'making' myself look busy so they didnt think i was lazy! :rolleyes:

You really do need to keep a 'diary' of what work you are being given, how much you do, who you ask for work and what kind of response you get, and make sure u save all emails.

raeble

Thanks for all the advice. I phoned up the union yesterday to see who the branch rep is - I have been a member of unison for years but I think that support staff here are represented by a different union, they are supposed to be getting back to me. I work in subject department for a university - I have noticed that most of the internal jobs that come up are for subject departments perhaps this is a wide spread problem - I do remember talking to a copier repair guy when I first started and the impression I got was that he though working in a uni was easy work and there wasn't much to do. In the core departments like Estates and Finance there does seem to be far more work to do - the other person that left moved there and he is always busy.

My problem is I think I am about this far from completely giving up and going to the Drs to get signed off on the sick - I really don't want to be here. The only reason I am is because I've applied for a civil service job in London and it isn't going to look good if I move or if I've been treated for depression for a long period of time and the mortgage.

I couldn't be bothered to email for work any more, also I had quite a bit to because the other person left and I had been on holiday but I will start that up again, and I will start logging how much work I've got and how long it takes me to do.

I did think of sending the following email but friends talked me out of it - too rude and abrasive apparently.

Dear All,

Please could you take the time to ensure that I have a constant flow of work. If I ask you for work to do please assume that I have nothing to do for the rest of the day, not just the exact moment that I ask you for work. Most tasks that I have been given when I ask for work do not last me longer than half an hour and then I am without work again. In fact perhaps it would be best if you assume that I have nothing to do unless I tell you otherwise. I do not understand why I am supposed to be covering two jobs but have nothing to do at this precise moment in time, yes it is very quiet but surely there are some routine tasks that I could be doing? I do not see why after almost six months I am still constantly without things to do. I am really tired of asking for work to do. So if you could please organise the work flow in the department so that I have something to do and something waiting to be done I would be very grateful.

Many Thanks.

Bendybops19

I agree with spotter, also, milk them for as many training course as possible! i know u said u havnt used any of the skills u learnt from the financial training, but at least its something extra to add to ur cv!!

Fran

I agree don't send that email!

raeble

I currently have various gcse's, RSA CLAIT, RSA IBT 2, OCR Databases stage 2 - element, NVQ Administration Level 2, ECDL. I will start going on more training courses because they have a big emphasis on staff development and internal training dept its just I've covered most of the stuff they would teach in the office courses.

Murtle

don't send the email....I wish I'd written one like that where I used to work....I would have sent it, but then the supervisor was to stupid to understand it and would have told me to 'just look busy' or 'oh, I'm trying to find you some work' I don't work to be *found* it should be there....have you looked at doing some courses to widen your interests, or courses in outside interests, rather then just work-y type ones??

do you have a 5 year plan?? that you could be working towards, I know people poo-hoo these, but they can be really useful when in situations like this. If not, it might be worth looking at doing one. If you want some more information PM me and I'll email the details through

svmitche

Oh dear raeble, it seems like you're working for my employer!!! I work for a Uni too and at the moment I am in a work slump (hence my message at 2 in the afternoon!). Usually I m quite busy, but the last couple of weeks have been dire.

I can only reinforce what the other posters have said, milk the training opportunities as much as you can and is there any way that you can try and make work for yourself? I can often be found squirreling away tidying the stationery cupboard, changing display boards, creating Powerpoint presentations to sell our department, sorting out the clutter in the office and our 'resources' area and stuff, just to keep myself from going mad. I know there's only so much of that a person can do, but sometimes the thinking time that that gives you is refreshing and can lead me to think of other things which can be done.

If you really want to leave and can't stand it any longer, then start looking for a new job now. The advice in this thread is sound - if there is nothing in your Uni then try another local firm and keep looking until you find something. Don't give up and try not to let it get on top of you.

I know boredom is hell - I would rather be busy - but if you can stomach it for a while longer, while looking for a new job then all the better for you.

You said that you are quite shy, so perhaps a search on the net for some interview tips for next time?

Good luck.

Poppy9

Decide which area you really want to work in then start on a professional qualification for that area. Apply for day release and financial support from the Uni. This will occupy one day a week, then bring your books in and just get them out if you have no work to do on other days. To stop them hassling you I would just say on a Monday morning. I need some work for the week can you please supply it. If they don't then just study.

If you can apply yourself full time to studying something like the ACCA (Assoc. of chartered and certified accountants) you could be fully qualified in 2 years as you can sit as many exams as you like twice a year. Normally with part time study it takes people 4+years

Ellie2758

Nothing worse than having nothing to do all day. You really do have my sympathies. I have had jobs like this in the past, usually civil service/local govt - never private companies!!! Hope you get out soon - sounds like you need to.

Ellie

raeble

Little update on the situtation - I got a call back from the union, going to try and arrange a meeting for next week. I have been keeping a log of how much work and what I've been doing it runs as follows - Weds - 3.5hrs, Thurs 5hrs 50mins, Fri 1hr 55mins. I generally am at work for seven hours. I'm going to show this to the union guy, he said he had never heard of someone complaining to them because they didn't have enough work to do. It's nice to know I'm special.

I must remember not to talk to my mother about this anymore as she doesn't comprehend the problem with me having nothing to do, then she doesn't understand why I email them - apparently my not talking to them (gossiping about eastender, big brother, celebrity love island etc) is the reason I am not getting any work - so basically it is my fault.