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re: How to tell your employer you are bored in your job
Posted on 8/9/17 at 8:14 am to lynxcat
Posted on 8/9/17 at 8:14 am to lynxcat
quote:
Excel skills can make some people in an organization think you have magical powers
This. Being an Excel master goes a long, long, long way.
But like one poster said, welcome to the corporate world. It isn't exciting at all.
1
Posted on 8/9/17 at 8:41 am to Drunken Crawfish
What business are you in? If you're willing to share, what's your income range?
eta. Knowing excel does make you a genius...
eta. Knowing excel does make you a genius...
This post was edited on 8/9/17 at 8:42 am
Posted on 8/9/17 at 8:46 am to jacquespene8
quote:
The employees who go out of their way, and on their own motivation, to bring in more revenue, or to bring ideas to the table that will make the business better or more profitable are the ones that go up the ladder faster
You're not being challenged, which whatever...some people would give anything to be in a position like that, while others (like you it sounds like) thrive on a constant challenge. You need to assert yourself into making the operation better.
One of two things will happen. Both will help determine your next move.
1. A good long term fit for you would recognize and appreciate your extra effort. They'll help you grow and develop.
2. Your employer could also resent and/or be annoyed by you and what they view as "typical millennial know-it-all" behavior. If your desire to grow and be better is not appreciated and nourished, time to polish up the resume. This will not be a suitable long term fit.
Thats not to say that you won't bump your head a bit by being a little overzealous even if your employer does want to help you grow....but now seems like a great time and opportunity to figure out how your employer views ambition. It sounds nuts in a perfect world, but there are absolutely employers who want everything and everyone to be very vanilla, with no value placed on becoming great because everything is already good.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 8:56 am to Drunken Crawfish
This is interesting. I'm also bored AF at my job. My bosses boss I can tell has lived his entire life inside of these four walls. It's a bit off putting really. He's a nice enough guy, but lives a very narrow existence.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:01 am to themasterpater
quote:
What business are you in? If you're willing to share, what's your income range?
I am a part of the advocacy team for a non-profit organization in the Acadiana area. We do a lot with the state legislature and Congress in DC. Somewhere between $55k-$65k.
quote:
AUjim
Like you said, I enjoy being challenged and feeling productive while I am at work. I guess most people here don't mind being complacent which is baffling to me.
quote:
This is interesting. I'm also bored AF at my job.
Are you a recent graduate? I find that when I talk to most of my friends, they all echo the same feeling I have.
Edit: Its 10 am and I have finished all of my paperwork and addressed all of my emails. I guess I'll hop over to Excel.
This post was edited on 8/9/17 at 10:03 am
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:27 am to Drunken Crawfish
Somewhat. Graduated in 13. I've worked 3 places since. At about the 10 month mark I get bored AF.
This post was edited on 8/9/17 at 10:29 am
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:41 am to Teddy Ruxpin
quote:
If your situation allows and they seriously won't give you more work, try self-improvement either in your field or another.
Try DuoLingo and learn a language.
Maybe try coding tutorials online, etc.
You will regret not using this time to make yourself, at a minimum, more interesting if not more valuable.
Good advice here. There was a period of a few years where I found myself "bored" at work. I used that to my advantage to boost the credentials on my resume. During my "downtime" I ended up acquiring a MBA degree as well as a Project Management Certification. All which was paid for through my company's continuing education benefits. I did most of classwork and studying while sitting right here at my desk here on the job.
Now my workload has increased and I don't have time for that type of self-improvement stuff. If something similar happens in the near future where I'm just sitting around "twittling my thumbs", I already know what my next move will be to go after the next thing that will help me move towards a better job.
You have to stop looking at the glass half empty. Take this free time as a gift to improve your situation.
This post was edited on 8/9/17 at 10:52 am
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:44 am to Drunken Crawfish
I'm sort of in this boat as well. I work in consulting and when we're slow on projects, there's not much to do. They hired me primarily to sort out a mess in financial tracking and now that I've fixed that up, I have a lot of down time.
I've offered to help out in a lot of different aspects of the business, but it's hard to commit to tasks because when we pick up again, I'll be focusing on my area.
It definitely takes getting used to. I've already gone well beyond what I was hired to do and have gotten positive feedback, but I do get frustrated internally a bit. I will be taking on new responsibilities, but people are on vacation and too busy when they are at work to integrate me into the tasks.
I've offered to help out in a lot of different aspects of the business, but it's hard to commit to tasks because when we pick up again, I'll be focusing on my area.
It definitely takes getting used to. I've already gone well beyond what I was hired to do and have gotten positive feedback, but I do get frustrated internally a bit. I will be taking on new responsibilities, but people are on vacation and too busy when they are at work to integrate me into the tasks.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:52 am to GetCocky11
I can do more than anyone else in my office just by knowing what I want to get done can be done in excel and googling it.
I use a lot of copy/paste macros, index match match, vlookups, etc.
When I started they wanted to change accounting software because they hated excel. They hate Excel because they don't know how to use it.
I use a lot of copy/paste macros, index match match, vlookups, etc.
When I started they wanted to change accounting software because they hated excel. They hate Excel because they don't know how to use it.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 11:19 am to lynxcat
quote:
Excel skills can make some people in an organization think you have magical powers. I am blown away that even basic modeling functionality is seen as advanced with most people.
I'm basically considered a wizard in my firm because of Tableau.
I've also recently completed a financial model for an E&P firm that I was shocked didn't already have one. The CFO was like this is amazing.
This post was edited on 8/9/17 at 11:21 am
Posted on 8/9/17 at 11:22 am to Drunken Crawfish
quote:
How to tell your employer you are bored in your job
1) Don't ever tell your employer you are bored
2) Ask to take on extra responsibility
3) Better yet, bring them a project you want to take on
Key to work is to never create work for your boss. Telling your boss you are bored creates work, now they have to find something for you to do. Instead, bring them something and tell them how it will make the company better. Execute. Profit.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 12:15 pm to Drunken Crawfish
Jeez and they won't let you leave? I'd ask to work remotely a couple times a week.
Also, is the job even worth it? How much are you making? Can you go somewhere else and make more?
Also, is the job even worth it? How much are you making? Can you go somewhere else and make more?
This post was edited on 8/9/17 at 12:17 pm
Posted on 8/9/17 at 3:03 pm to Jackalope
In my experience if you tell your employer you are bored they will tell you it is your fault and you should be more proactive.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 3:06 pm to Drunken Crawfish
Let me get this straight.
You are 23. You have an MBA and no debt (evidenced by TOPS and the fact you put down 20 percent on a 15 year mortgage). You work for a non-profit doing "advocacy" to politicians getting paid approx 60K a year, in what is essentially a lobbying role (maybe you yourself are not a lobbyist but you support one). It's a non-profit with a lot of earning potential.
So... what well-connected family do you come from? =)
This is going to sound harsh... but from your posts it seems like you are a prime reason why millenials get a bad rap. Your first job is supposed to be boring and menial. You don't know enough to get your ears wet and the way to learn is by starting at the bottom and working your way up.
Most professionals in their mid 20s are getting crushed with 70 hour work weeks year round doing menial crap. Many are getting paid about what you get paid, and less.
I would NOT go to your boss and tell him you are bored. He would spend the rest of the day laughing at you.
Spend your time reading and researching. If you are doing "advocacy" - then become the most knowledgeable person in the state when it comes to the issues your firm works with. Learn as much as you can. Read as much as you can. Subscribe to the e-mail newsletters relevant to your industry. Go to your co-workers and your boss and offer to support them in any way you can - no matter how minor the task.
You are 23. You have an MBA and no debt (evidenced by TOPS and the fact you put down 20 percent on a 15 year mortgage). You work for a non-profit doing "advocacy" to politicians getting paid approx 60K a year, in what is essentially a lobbying role (maybe you yourself are not a lobbyist but you support one). It's a non-profit with a lot of earning potential.
So... what well-connected family do you come from? =)
This is going to sound harsh... but from your posts it seems like you are a prime reason why millenials get a bad rap. Your first job is supposed to be boring and menial. You don't know enough to get your ears wet and the way to learn is by starting at the bottom and working your way up.
Most professionals in their mid 20s are getting crushed with 70 hour work weeks year round doing menial crap. Many are getting paid about what you get paid, and less.
I would NOT go to your boss and tell him you are bored. He would spend the rest of the day laughing at you.
Spend your time reading and researching. If you are doing "advocacy" - then become the most knowledgeable person in the state when it comes to the issues your firm works with. Learn as much as you can. Read as much as you can. Subscribe to the e-mail newsletters relevant to your industry. Go to your co-workers and your boss and offer to support them in any way you can - no matter how minor the task.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 3:27 pm to LSUFanHouston
quote:
So... what well-connected family do you come from? =)
Ha. None. I got this job through a connection I made as an intern in college.
quote:
This is going to sound harsh... but from your posts it seems like you are a prime reason why millennials get a bad rap. Your first job is supposed to be boring and menial. You don't know enough to get your ears wet and the way to learn is by starting at the bottom and working your way up.
And I would disagree. I can only speak for me and my peers but we got out of school hungry to prove ourselves and ready to work and we get stuck in a corner and told to keep to ourselves. And when we do ask to take on an expanded role, there is nothing directed to us. I mean, I can't go calling on congressmen directly, I would get my arse fired
Maybe it's just the specific nature of my job. Maybe that comes off as sounding entitled which isn't my intention, and it could be that everyone starts out with menial tasks that don't fill a full work day, but I don't feel that I am exercising any of my skills and learning any new ones (hence why I am a fan of the Excel recommendations).
quote:
Go to your co-workers and your boss and offer to support them in any way you can - no matter how minor the task.
I have but it gets to a point where you start to annoy them which I also want to avoid.
This post was edited on 8/9/17 at 3:29 pm
Posted on 8/9/17 at 3:29 pm to LSUFanHouston
quote:
This is going to sound harsh... but from your posts it seems like you are a prime reason why millenials get a bad rap. Your first job is supposed to be boring and menial. You don't know enough to get your ears wet and the way to learn is by starting at the bottom and working your way up.
Not sure how it's a bad thing that he's good at his job and wants to do more. He's said nothing about being underpaid/deserving a promotion. He just wants to improve himself.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 3:37 pm to Drunken Crawfish
quote:
And I would disagree. I can only speak for me and my peers but we got out of school hungry to prove ourselves and ready to work and we get stuck in a corner and told to keep to ourselves. And when we do ask to take on an expanded role, there is nothing directed to us.
That's because you are 23 and have no experience. You are learning. If you could do the jobs that require more experience, there would be no need for your co-workers, right?
I don't think you and your friends are entitled... I just don't think you understand you need to crawl before you can walk.
It would be like taking some driving classes, getting your license, and then becoming a race-car driver. Maybe one day you will be an awesome race car driver but you have to learn how to actually drive first.
School doesn't teach you jack about how to work in the real world, and I'm a gonna be honest - that MBA ain't worth much without some experience to back it up.
Spend your time learning and soaking up as much knowledge as you can.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 3:38 pm to DallasTiger45
quote:
Not sure how it's a bad thing that he's good at his job and wants to do more. He's said nothing about being underpaid/deserving a promotion. He just wants to improve himself.
I took it as he's complaining about the level of work he's doing and he thinks it is beneath him and he should be doing higher-level stuff.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 4:36 pm to Drunken Crawfish
quote:
. I can only speak for me and my peers but we got out of school hungry to prove ourselves and ready to work and we get stuck in a corner and told to keep to ourselves.
Prove yourself by doing the menial task flawlessly....for a couple of years.
I asked an analyst to put a clients org chart from a hard copy to Visio. She fricked it up. Like 9 of the names were misspelled. It may seem boring but it needs to get done and if you can't do that right then I'm not trusting you with shite.
After a couple of years at an entry level position you can think about moving up and being promoted.
I get it, I'm technically a mellinial, 34, you see your peers in the media with success at a very young age but that is just NOT COMMON.
Create opportunities to make the business easier. Automate a manual process at the office. Do research on an area of your job. But don't expect to be handed something critical at 23.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 6:07 pm to Drunken Crawfish
Find ways to make yourself busy. Think outside the box. Be creative and entrepreneurial. If you don't have enough to do, they either don't need you or you aren't doing a good enough job of finding proactive ways to add value.
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