I'm new - but can you advise me?

[mishka]

Hi there - I've just found you, and I hope you can throw some light on my current career for me, 'cos I feel that I'm in the dark!

I’ve been working 2 bossies in a small business for 3 years now.  I started as a basic administrator, and as the company has grown, so (allegedly) has my job role.  I’m now the PA/EA/Whatever I decide to call myself.

But I’m beginning to feel wasted here.  Bossie 1 does his own typing, because he says it’s easier to write as he thinks.  Bossie 2 gives me bits and pieces, but is pretty much self sufficient.

So you’re asking what I do, aren’t you?

Well, I do all the little bits that nobody thinks of.  I look after the suppliers, oversee the administrator, keep the bossies calm, I’m a shoulder to cry on, the keeper of secrets and a general troubleshooter.  And I’m paid really well for it.  In fact, I can’t believe that they pay me what they do for what I do.

But I’m bored.  Mindnumbingly bored.  Totally out of my skull.  I’m good at my work.  I’m efficient, dedicated and totally wasted here.

Do I move, or do I keep the money to be a companion to the Bossies?  Or do I try to get them to give me more?

Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

[countrigal]

First, Welcome!  We love having new voices join our group.  I'm sure you'll find lots of good information and helpful advice both on the site and specifically in the forums.  Hope to see you in here often.

Onto your question...Without really knowing more specifics about what you're job entails, I'd have to suggest you look around.  Is there anything, any avenue of learning, that is something you would be interested in and could add to your duties?  Is there something that someone else is currently doing that they may not like and that would challenge you and help you grow and be happier in your current position?  Do either of the bossie's have a task that they have to do routinely that they despise that could be done by you and they only get it to review and sign and pass along as their completed work (with proper credit to you, hopefully)?  Any reports that have to be filed that could be completed by you and submitted after review by them?  Anything?

If not, and if you really are as bored as you say, then you may want to look around at what is offered in your area.  Then start looking at pros and cons of leaving this job to take on another one.  In your area, are there jobs even available at this time?  If you're making good money in your current position, you may find that potential employees will overlook you because they can not match that salary and don't feel that you would take a cut in pay, which could make finding another job more difficult.  Start weighing all your options, what is the growth potential in your current job/company and do you want to advance to another position or type of job in the same company or stay with similar jobs and therefore need to look outside the company?  Will they assist you in furthering your education?  If so, how?  And could some of the work be done on company time?

Plenty of things to look into before really deciding whether or not to stay or go.  I'm sure others will have even more suggestions for you.  Once again, welcome, and keep in contact to let us know what you decide.

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[editoruk]

Again, welcome aboard Mishka!

I would echo pretty much everything that Countrigal has just said.  

First of all, I would suggest sitting down with your manager to ask for new challenges. Take the initiative and try to evaluate what could be done better or more efficiently with your input. Take the lead and make it happen!

Also, whether you're trying to expand your current role, or you're set on moving, I think that it's important to look around and see what's out there, whether it's in the way of other jobs, or training courses and educational opportunities. If you're not already part of one, a networking group can be a great way to find out what's happening in your area and the profession in general. You don't say what country you're in, but in the UK you could try signing up with IQPS (iqps.org) or EUMA (euma.org). If you're in the US, try IAAP (iaap-hq.org).

We also have a section on the DeskDemon UK careers section that you should find very useful - My Career. It has loads of information and tips on furthering your career. There are editorial articles, information on development agencies, training opportunities, universities, recruitment agencies and loads more. Even if you're not in the UK, there are loads of useful career tools that will help you work out where you are now, where you want to be, and how to get there.

I hope some of this will help you decide on your next move, and I'm sure the users here on the forum boards will have plenty of tips and advice for you.

Good luck!


Clare
Editor UK

[mishka]

Thanks for the advice - I'm in the UK by the way.  I'll get round to updating my profile when I think about it!

I love working here - in fact, that's probably half my problem.  I like the bossies - they even came to my wedding last year.. And in my heart I don't think I could go in and say "I'm leaving".

I just feel unimportant sometimes.  I've taken on the IIP accreditation, but that's slow going right now.  And I'm overseeing Health & Safety, but again, there's not a lot to do with that in a small office.

I think I'll talk to them.  At least I'll get it off my chest, won't I?

Thanks again.

Mish xx

[geminigirl]

Hi there

I know exactly how you feel about all your skills going to waste.  I work for the top two people in my company and they have absolutely no idea how to use a Career PA - their last one left out of sheer boredom (and that was only the first that they'd had) but she didn't tell me how little she actually did at the interview ;-)  After 2+ years I've finally had enough of trying to look busy and making eternal cups of tea and am now looking for another job.

90% of the work I do for them is on a personal level - and I'm talking finding house cleaners for them, or waiting in at one of their homes for a tradesman to call.  Sometimes it's fun stuff like finding entertainment for a private party but that doesn't come along very often, and is not exactly taxing stuff.

Trouble is, I'm reasonably well paid for the area and it's hard to justify asking for a decent payrise for the work I'm doing, rather than what I can do (as laid out in my CV that they were so impressed with).

So, yesterday I registered with a top flight agency and, I have to say, they made me feel pretty good about myself and how impressed they were with my CV, and say they should have no difficulty in finding a good position for me.

I really feel for you; I know what it's like to be bored out of your skull!  My advice, for what it's worth is to talk to them, tell them how you feel (I did two years ago and managed to get arranging a large conference out of them) but if they can't change things, it's time to move on to something that will put your skills to good use.

Me - can't wait to get busy again!

[chevygirl55]

I can certainly empathize with you.  I am paid very well yet I sit here 6 - 7 hours a day with nothing to do.  When someone does give me something to do, it is faxing this, or scanning and emailing that.  It always amazes me that they walk by the fax machine to bring you the document to fax, follow you to the machine and stand there and talk to you while you are faxing their document.  

I have asked for more responsibility. I have talked to my boss on numerous occasions to let him know that I know he is paying me well at the top of my scale for the area but I am not EARNING it.  We are a small company.  There is no where to move to within the company.  We are slowly growing and they are hiring people here and there.  Anytime we hire someone else, part of what is left of my job goes to them.  In the last 1 1/2 years, my job has pretty much disappeared.  

At one point, I was sure it was me.  I was not doing a good job.  Something was wrong.  Again, I talked to my boss.  Everything was great.  I was doing a great job.  Didn't have enough to do?  So he gave me some more mind-numbing copying or scanning to do.  Don't really remember.  I have wiped those two weeks from my memory.  And when it was done, I am back to doing nothing.  It really makes you doubt yourself.

I am tired of trying to look busy.  I am tired of coming up with an idea only to have it taken from me and given to someone else to run with.  I am just tired.  I am just glad that I have things in my personal life at this point to keep me sane.  If my entire ego was based on my job, I would have checked out a long time ago.

It is tough when you know that you have the skills, the attitude, the work ethic, and the desire to be an outstanding employee and contributor.  I am done talking and asking and begging.  I continue to come in every day and do what is asked.  The pay is good.  Meanwhile, I continue to update my skills and keep on the look out for a more challenging position.  Due to some family obligations, I must spend the rest of this year a bit low key on this, but after the first of the year I will line myself up with one or two good agencies because relocation to another part of the country will not be an issue.

It is not easy, but it is just one door closing and another opening up.  I am sure that there is something good for me just around the bend.  

Keep your self esteem in tact.  That is the hardest part of this.  That along with the people I work with.  I have really come to love many of them and the thought of not working with them is hard but I will get through this.

chevygirl55

[spitfire78]

I'm curious about something.  Do you all find that when you have nothing to do day after day that you get lazy?  I sit here complaining that I have nothing to do, but then when someone does bring me something to do, I find myself putting it off instead of jumping right on it.  Maybe it's because I just don't find any of the work challenging any more.  But I am having a real problem with motivation right now, I think because I don't have that much to do.  Just wondering if anyone else has a problem with this or if I'm just a little nutty!

[gee4]

I usually do my work when I have it, so that if I am quiet, I am prepared for the next tidal wave so to speak.  I like to be busy but I know the rest of this week will be quiet and it will be hard to find stuff to do besides wait for people to return from hols and reply to my emails etc.  There is only so much clearing out of emails and filing same that you can do.

G

[chevygirl55]

Definitely, I get lazy.  You just begin to lack motivation.  You get a real "Who cares" attitude.  

chevygirl55

[diamondlady]

Spitfire, I'm with you on the getting lazy and not wanting to do things right away.  I see everyone else working hard and busy on one thing or another and on a deadline, meanwhile I'm cleaning out files, cleaning and organizing and cleaning again.  I've asked if people need help with stuff, but generally they do their own work here too.  Especially since they've switched the accounting system over, I have not been trained on it at all because of so many problems with it and folks just learning it themselves.  This Summer looks like a slow summer, especially since my boss keeps talking more and more about retirement.   He'll be 62 next year and I'm sure he's ready to go.  But, time will tell.  I've been here 8 years in November and I'm getting very bored myself.  I'd like to take some online courses, or computer courses, but that would mean me being away from the office for the training and he doesn't want that.  He want's me in the office and ready for anything.  I'm mosty the phone queen cause he's been so busy talking to this one or that one on a conference call that I have to provide the 800 number and password for the necessary people to attend or video conferences.

Right now I'm going thru his old files.  He's been here for 27 years so you can imagine thre are quite a few.  Even more in our storage facility in the other building.  He's not been in his office for almost 2 hours now with no word on how long this will go.  Just said he was going to a meeting and that was quite some time ago, so here I sit trying to keep busy and go thru files.  JOY!

Diamondlady
Peer Moderator

[geminigirl]

I second (or is that now third) it that one gets terribly lazy and not motivated do stuff when it does come in. However, that seems so rare nowadays that I'm almost quite excited at the prospect of getting my teeth into a project.  Time was, many years ago in another not-very-busy-job, that I would get very resentful when work came in to disrupt my tedium.

I sympathise with (sorry, forgot who said it) that she spends so many pointless hours cleaning and going through files again and again.  Back to when I confronted my two bosses about getting more work to do, one of them said "Mmm.  After all, there's only so many cups of tea one can make in a day."  I'm *still* not sure if he was being serious or ironic.  I suspect the latter but then again, on seeing me return to the office after 10 days' leave he did say (to someone who was asking if the new coffee machine was working) "I don't care, the teasmaid has just walked in".  I'm still promising myself I'm going to put something nasty in his cup one day ...

[mishka]

Just to update you... I've taken the plunge and registered with an agency.  I'm going to be very picky about what I take, but I've got an interview for an Office Manager's job on Friday!

Thanks for the support - you guys rock!

xx

[editoruk]

Good luck, and let us know how you get on Mishka!

Clare
Editor UK

[ecogirl]

Good luck for everyone job hunting just now - I know what you are going through.  I start my new job on Monday so I'm not sure how much internet access I will have in future.  Hopefully I'll be in touch again soon.

caroleanne

[peaches1969]

Mishka - how did it all turn out?  Were the bossies understanding when you spoke to them?

Peaches