Tenuous new job position

[Visitor Q]

Basically I recently started a new position, which they had recently created, to cut down on the managers work. The guy before me worked part time and was still constantly bored.

They created my position with a view to increasing the workload a lot, and it was billed as a 3 role part (Admin, Lab work and Visitor Meet and Greet). However, having been there 2 weeks now it is becoming alarmingly obvious that I have very little to do.

My job, mainly, is to collect incoming packages (so I have to be in contact with reception the whole time, so basically I get no Lunch. Joy). I had some other work for a week to get on with (compiling all the lab equipment and creating a log), which I did efficiently, quickly and eagerly. Thats now done, and I can't finish that due to (of all things), lack of stationary.

Unfortunately, just after I joined the company they noticed the recession and are cutting back on their spending markedly (whereas before they rubber stamped most things). Which means, as a newly created and filled position I'm in a very dangerous position. Also, because they are spending less and have cash flow problems, there are very few packages coming in. This makes filling my 8.25 hours a day bloody hard, and best described as punctuated equilibrium (for the evolution nuts). I get, I suppose, 2 hours of work a day. This is due to being bloody efficient at everything, so I suppose it could be strung out to maybe 3 or 4 if I acted like your usual job hating muppet. But I really want this to work, so I'm trying to impress.

The problem is, all the work being done is lab based so they other people are cagey about getting me to help them. And at best I will end up performing lab maintanence (which is what I'm trying to get involved with). However, none of this training is forthcoming and I'm having to pester for it.

So I guess my point is, how bad is my Catch 22 do you think. Sit on my arse all day trying to look busy (basically opening and closing Lotus Notes a lot, oh and reading a lot of wikipedia) and hope training turns up. Or keep pestering people to find more work, thus broadcasting my 'I have fuck all to do and therefore an economic drain' status? Neither is particularly fun, but I'm a bit stuck really.
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China traffic/travel bike vid - When I make a sweeping statement, please add the word 'statistically' in to the sentence before you bitch...
From September 2014 to January/February 2015 I will not be using any English, nor reading any. As such, I won't be on here. PM at will, but I won't be checking/posting unless in emergencies. Certainly not for the first couple of months. Please berate me savagely if I break that rule...

[Tristan.]

I had a similar thing over summer, absolutely no work to do for large parts of the day 'cept chill out in a barn, slightly different for me though, cos they needed me there.

What I did is made jobs for myself, and suggested things I could do to the manager "oh by the way, you want that scrap metal sorted?" etc. Always better to suggest things to do rather than asking if anything needs doing, is there anything at work you can see you doing, as part of your job?

I got lucky, boss walked in on me sweeping some dust, completely pointlessly and asked "haven't you got any magazines or owt with you?" So I spent the rest of the summer being payed for dossing off and playing on the CB inside a barn

Anyway yeah, advice, I would first off see if you can identify jobs you could do then suggest you do them. Though I might be tempted to walk up to the head boss manager person and basically say what you've typed here, that your aware of cost cutting, and think you could be more usefull to the company if they let you.

[colin1]

I think making yourself useful is a good plan, particularly if you attempt to make life easier for the person or people who might try to make you stay or decide not to get rid of you.

Its a tricky decision, but keeping your head down and just looking busy, will only work for so long.

You are the best placed to know which strategy will work best, as it depends on the place.

I'd start looking for another job though.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[GhostRider]

I had a similar issue when I first started my current job, manager put me on one project, mainly involving chromatography which I would start in the morning and perhaps have to check back on every half hour to an hour - but that was only to keep an eye on the trace. Nothing more phyiscally was demanded of me until 6 hours later or something like that. I tried to keep busy, and read loads of textbooks for background information. We found an old HPLC machine so I said to the boss that I'd make it my job to get it working again, that killed some time until I found out hte columns were shagged and that it was largely useless.

In the end, at my first appraisal, he asked if I had any issues I wanted to discuss. I said give me more work (never though I'd utter those words). I've now been working on a project that, come december, I'll have been working flat out on for a year. Part of me wishes I'd kept my mouth shut But seriously, theres nothing worse than being sat around on your arse at work, it sounds great to some, but I;d rather spend a whole day working flat out than sit around clock-watching because theres sod all to do.

GhostRider
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I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

[Visitor Q]

Yeh amen GhostRider. Just what with me being 2 weeks from permanent, I don't want to rock the boat too much.

Today I managed to collar a lab manager and had a chat. He trained me to clean the incubators and change the CO2 canisters. Both of which aren't exactly regular jobs, but it's something I can fuck off to 'check' occasionally.

Also had a word with my boss about 'my performance' while out for a fag. I mentioned I was a bit conscious of my workload at the moment, and she mentioned that I was damn efficient and the girl doing the admin that I've shifted on to was bitching a hell of a lot (making it sound like she had loads to do). Basically, she was aware that there would be slow days and busy days, and by the sounds of it she wants me there for the busy days so she has an easy life. Just they are few and far between.

Bitch was doing my work earlier though out of boredom *sulk*. Its my autoclave. MINE!
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China traffic/travel bike vid - When I make a sweeping statement, please add the word 'statistically' in to the sentence before you bitch...
From September 2014 to January/February 2015 I will not be using any English, nor reading any. As such, I won't be on here. PM at will, but I won't be checking/posting unless in emergencies. Certainly not for the first couple of months. Please berate me savagely if I break that rule...

[colin1]

ahh so its going to be a fight over who gets to do what little work there is
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Fawbish]

Just gotta stick it out Bonny, and more of a case of being constantly balanced in all things, rather than deciding on a course of action.


For instance, if I have no work to do, I'll leave it an appropriate amount of time, whilst getting on with a few personal things, (being a part time 11 hour @ uni per day guy, with my career as my main profession 35-40 hours)....I have a lot of shit to do outside of work aswell as inside just to pass my courses.

But you gotta constantly monitor what and who's around you, how you will be percieved from moment to moment and doing what will get me seen as what etc sounds like you're already doing that.

Sounds to me like you have a fairly "loose" position, ie not stuck in an office 100%. Big advantage in my eyes.

Asking for more work wont get you looked at badly, but nagging for it will. So leave it a "judged" amount of time.

To be honest, if you're on fag talking terms with your boss, I dont think you've got much to worry about mate.

On a moral note, dont go sucking arse No matter how un(in? im?)perceptive you think your superiors are, they generally have a scaryily good idea of what/who you're like, unless (like me) you're pretty good at judging things/people, in which case you can go so indepth with the mind games you play that you get lost

You're a clever guy anyway Bonny, I'd probably put money on you having already known everything I've just typed. O' course, knowing how to act in employment and actually doing it is a bit different. It becomes an art. Subtle manipulations. Show 'em what your made of! In a calculated, calm fashion.


I sound like some kinda freak. But then, you have to make life more interesting via imagination and your own perceptions, doesnt do it by itself
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

[Clanger]

I'd much rather be twiddling my thumbs in a job (earning money) than sitting at home doing much the same.

I'd do as others have suggested. Ask your boss for jobs to do, look around and see what you think could be done to improve the surroundings, suggest that you do that.

I would offer to make tea too, I know it sounds dull, but people will appreciate you a lot better if you make them a decent cuppa, and you never know your willingness to do other meanial tasks might show them that you are someone to be offered more tasks.

I would also be tempted to look for other work, its easier to get work when you are in a job.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Visitor Q]

Hmm. Shes still doign my work. Can't really use the autoclave cos the boilers out and we need the steam. And she collated the slides for the presentation (badly) herself. Something I could of done in 5 minutes, she did in an hour. So methinks she really is learning things so she can get rid of me. Joy.

And to cap it all today. Like riding in in the ice isn't bad enough (into a completely ungritted carpark), by day was completely ruined by the muppet on reception radioing me for a package half way through the lab meetings I try and sneak into.

How hard is this?

'Hi, I'll be in a meeting for two hours. I /will/ leave my radio on, but only contact me if something needs signing for or bringing in through the loading bay. NOT packages left at reception'.

Video conference then breaks, so we had to move upstairs. I say;

'WE are going upstairs for a meeting, as before only contact me if I need to sign for something and I'll come back down at the end to check for post'.

Guess what she did 5 minutes into the meeting, which was taking place in a packed room with the door at the front. Cos I didn't reply (as I'm not meant to be in there, was pissed off, and had been looking forward to the meeting for a fortnight) she phoned my boss who wasn't in the meeting. Then bitched at me when I could eventually get out and go down there, fuming.

She then adamantly told me I 'wasn't in a meeting' and 'this isn't working'... Seriously how fucking clear do I have to make it. Do I need some sort of flag system or what. Should I speak slowly and loudly... maybe a bit of mandarin? She basically robbed my one bit of science a fortnight from me. Because shes a trisomy 21. Fucking marvellous.

Oh and we aren't that close. We both nip out for fags serruptitiously, and happened to bump into each other out there.

I'm just getting really fed up with it now. The thing is I haven't got a great deal of choice at the moment, but browsing wikipedia constantly and waiting for a package is going to make me stop covering the brake on the ride home.
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China traffic/travel bike vid - When I make a sweeping statement, please add the word 'statistically' in to the sentence before you bitch...
From September 2014 to January/February 2015 I will not be using any English, nor reading any. As such, I won't be on here. PM at will, but I won't be checking/posting unless in emergencies. Certainly not for the first couple of months. Please berate me savagely if I break that rule...

[Robby]

Sounds like my first job - at least the concept of lots of time and little work. Shaky ground if you're disposable.

I presume you're employed as a bottom level admin muppet - here's my advise as someone who manages such people.
We expect the worst, because there are so many muppets out there. Someone bright and efficient will get promoted fast. You can do the work in 2 hours, but rest assured plenty of people would take 8 hours and still get it wrong.

Be helpful and efficient, try to stay sane, company should like you. I can't comment on the whole cost pressures thing, because in the civil service all money is public, infinite and imaginary.

Fawbish has the right idea too. Maintain sanity by gradually manipulating all those around you. Leave a trail of subtle destruction that will take 5 years to show up.

In my case, one office I used to work in still thinks I'm a very devout jew, and they still always make sure they buy ginger nuts in the biscuit stock up because I persuaded them that ginger nuts are the only kosher biscuit, and they mustn't discriminate based on my religion. Was useful for getting out of saturday shifts too.

Various entries on a certain computer system that Mr James is aware of contain entries referring to conversations with Geoff Mendoza. Geoff Mendoza is a figment of my imagination.

And for plain old manipulation, many people who think they owe me something, which is a very useful group to have in an airport.

[Visitor Q]

I honestly cannot for the life of me see how anyone would take more then double the time I'm taking.

It doesn't help that through my manager making school boy errors it looks bad on me (I could list but I access this from work).

Just today has really put me in a stinking mood. I know I'm over thinking everything, but this muppet reception getting it wrong looks bad on me to. I gave her clear instructions, she fucked up because she has the intellect of a fruit fly, my manager had to go down. Making me look less useful.

And my manager not mentioning it (to my warped mind) seems like a very very bad point. Bah.

Jumping before pushed would be preferable. But I am known to over think things in a paranoid manner. The cost thing seems less important now, but it certainly seems like shes twigged that theres fuck all for me or her to do. So amalgamating the two would be sensible.

My only saving grace is that she knows the madness me begin soon, and then she'd be back to the (even more) frazzled heap from before I joined.

Bah.

Oh and Robby, I introduce myself as 'Admin Bitch'
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China traffic/travel bike vid - When I make a sweeping statement, please add the word 'statistically' in to the sentence before you bitch...
From September 2014 to January/February 2015 I will not be using any English, nor reading any. As such, I won't be on here. PM at will, but I won't be checking/posting unless in emergencies. Certainly not for the first couple of months. Please berate me savagely if I break that rule...

[Annabella]

You need to start finding yourself things to do. As Robby said, someone bright and intelligent with an ounce of common sense won't go unnoticed.

Can you access your Manager's diary? Or your Boss' diary? Are there things you can prepare for them before meetings such as information packs etc. Do you have enough knowledge of the their jobs to give them some support that they may start to feel they couldn't understand how they went without?

At my last job I made quite a little industry for myself, so much so I've been replaced by three people (who constantly tell me they can't cope)
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[Visitor Q]

The problem is, as mentioned above abit, about 90% of the work at my place is experiment based. And whilst I'm a graduate so trusted in labs (I don't even get mithered to put on labcoats when just strolling through) to an extent, and as such do the waste solvents (sporadic 20minute a time task), autoclaving (10 minute a time, 3 hour automatic cycle), incubator cleaning (we have around 10, each takes about 30 mins to clean - 25 hour cleaning cycle - 5 mins to top up... but only need doing once a month ) and load the dishwashers.

Have taken to loading and unloading the kitchen dishwasher, loading the coffee machine, making teas, pestering people for work etc.

However what bothers me is seeing my manager doing things I was BLATANTLY told I would be doing, and ignoring me when I mention I could do it. I have been told before her main shortfall is ability to delegate. But seems like a serious case of getting a dog and barking yourself.

I've mentioned repeatedly to mention to the lab managers about whether they need help. But I'm concerned about really broadcasting my boredom as I might end up talking myself out of a job.

Ah well, in my long boring shift tomoro I'll slope off and phone the Reed.co.uk agent who placed me and have a whinge. Getting time off for interviews will be a cock, so I'd rather get this sorted out.
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China traffic/travel bike vid - When I make a sweeping statement, please add the word 'statistically' in to the sentence before you bitch...
From September 2014 to January/February 2015 I will not be using any English, nor reading any. As such, I won't be on here. PM at will, but I won't be checking/posting unless in emergencies. Certainly not for the first couple of months. Please berate me savagely if I break that rule...

[Fawbish]

I somehow convinced the University I attend (one day a week for 11 hours solid lessons with a half hour dinner )to cut me a lot of slack last year, using the fact work shipped me off to Canada for a month and a half near the end of my course as ammunition (it did happen, I wasnt lying about that)

The reasoning I used was that Work were sending me off, so I had to have extra time. Work offered canada to me for christs sake. i wasnt going to say No. Work made me promise I'd pass all my modules, if I went.

So I promised. Then just manipulated the truth until it worked out pretty nicely for me.

Passed all my modules with an average of 41.5. Doing fuck all, and not being there for a month and a half. Got a fuckin' extra "score" for effort in my C programming (I was told quietly), when I'd bundled together a report that morning

ALL about the manipulation. Work werent even bothered about my less than average score, because to them, I had taken up a lot of responsibility, and delivered what I'd promised.

In reality. I did fuck all, lied to a few peeps, and managed to get paid whilst doing everything. Plus a lot of overseas pay.


You gotta start somewhere Bonny, stick with the shit and soon enough it starts to shine. You learn to deal with the stresses (and yes, boredom can be classed as a stress...in my mind anyways) as they grow. And dude. They grow to much more than this
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

[Tarmacsurfer]

[Visitor Q]

Aye. I got a call from an agency I'd applied through ages ago, offering me an interview doing this;

[Visitor Q]

Bastards

[garth]

Ah well, time to look for a new job, in the meantime, you kick back, do F all, and get paid for it.
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