STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

ViViDogWear · Kate Spade

Need suggestions

Kitty · Hermes

Teach yourself new software?

Come up with a project idea and run it by your boss?

Read books related to your job?

Organize/clean your desk and files?

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

The same thing happened to me. I was twiddling my thumbs for months but eventually after people gained trust in my work, I was given more and more and now I find myself staying late alot of the time.

I think you have to be patient, it will come in. I am not sure of what line of work you are in but here are some suggestions:

1) like kitty said, organize/label/alphabetize as much as you can. keep paper trails of important emails, agreements, etc.
2) if there is a report or something that your "group" needs distributed, take charge of that.
3) become familiar with other tasks that your peers do. ask to learn them when the time is right.
4) learn as much as you can. my company offers software training, and we have various "guests" speak like once a month.
5) study the business - look at past reports, last months sales, whatever the industry it is, I'm sure you have books or files that keep track of what you're doing.

cahabo · Kate Spade

Could you possibly work slower without looking like you're slacking? I think it would be better than getting in trouble for not working.

Kelly · Hermes

cahabo wrote:

Could you possibly work slower without looking like you're slacking? I think it would be better than getting in trouble for not working.

I agree with this. I tend to work quickly, too. I had no idea how quickly I work until at an internship last summer everyone in my office constantly commented on how I took one hour to do what the old intern would spend a day on. My boss actually told me to slow down. He said something like "remember, you're getting paid by the hour!" I don't respect that attitude, but I realized that working slower was the only way to actually fill my time. Otherwise, I'd end up twiddling my thumbs just like you. And I almost fell asleep many times.

kenzie · Chanel

ttara123 wrote:

cahabo wrote:

Could you possibly work slower without looking like you're slacking? I think it would be better than getting in trouble for not working.

I agree with this. I tend to work quickly, too. I had no idea how quickly I work until at an internship last summer everyone in my office constantly commented on how I took one hour to do what the old intern would spend a day on. My boss actually told me to slow down. He said something like "remember, you're getting paid by the hour!" I don't respect that attitude, but I realized that working slower was the only way to actually fill my time. Otherwise, I'd end up twiddling my thumbs just like you. And I almost fell asleep many times.

I'm the same way. I work really quickly, but efficiently. My company was surprised by the quanity of work that I produced at the high quality that I produce it. When I found myself not busy at my current job (waaaaaay back when I first started), I started coming up with ideas for new projects and programs that I wanted to create and implement. That's what I recommend doing. It makes you look proactive and you aren't taking work from anyone else since your ideas are new and different.

Unfortunately, this can backfire when you come up with so many ideas and implement so many new projects that the department/job grows far beyond the capacity of one person, but the company doesn't want to expand your particular department. But I'd still rather be busy than sitting around twiddling my thumbs.

ViViDogWear · Kate Spade

Thanks for all the advice. I think in my previous positions I have done what Kenzie has suggested, but unfortunately in this position, there's nothing really for me to implement or take on. I think it's fair to say this large corporation is soo department/job/duty specific, that you really can't take on new things. I have become the point person to manage and update "standard procedures" but it really doesn't take much time.

My desk is super organized, and all my files are ahead of schedule (in fact the "lead" has already mentioned for me to stop preparing some things which is early and part of her task (it's really a simple file naming task).

ttara & cahabo - I have and will continue to work slower. It's quite sad that saome employers (esp large, corporate offices) have such low expectations and/or encourage that.

Thanks!

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I am in a similar position. I am bored 5+ hours a day and work very quickly and was always asking for more to do. It was implied that if they gave me more and I quit, that they wouldn't be able to have 1 person do that work, and wouldn't ahve a strong arguement to have a second person help!

I read my textbooks, and I'm trying to find a good podcast that teaches spanish so I can learn a language at my desk.

Keep up with the crosswords and sudoku. I often feel like my brain is turning to pudding at work, and those things do help.

Do you journal or write? If you were furiously writing maybe they would assume it's work.

-gd

Suasoria · Chanel

I'd probably get the f--- out as quickly as possible. It sounds like too much corporate structure too early in your career in this particular industry. Can you find a smaller company that would be more appreciative? There's really no sense in learning to be a better corporate peon, at least not there. It could be years before you feel like you're working.

Remember, you can look for a replacement job and not list this one on your resume. IMO, a period of unemployment is better than a short-term job, especially since you mention having a string of them.

If you feel generous offer an ultimatum to the VP first: "I'm bored to death. I'm a fast and effective worker so I constantly run out of tasks, and this damned hierarchy is preventing me from doing more valuable work, so I'm stuck. Is there any way to challenge me that doesn't compromise the corporate structure, or should I be looking for work in the hours upon hours that I have nothing to do here?"

If I was him or her, I'd promote you on the spot and bypass the manager, assistant manager, and whatever other lackeys are in frankly just standing in your way.

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

No offense, but it sounds like you have never had to deal with the "corporate structure", Suasoria. No matter how fast and effective she may be, that doesn't entitle her to the best work.

In my experience, I wasn't always given the "good" work because my boss simply wanted to deal with it herself. If something were to happen because I didn't have enough experience to handle it yet or maybe forgot to do one task or maybe disclosed information that a client shouldn't know about.. the consequences would be massive. If my company lost a million dollar sale due to my mistake, who would be to blame? (my boss) and this is all because I was bored.

Just my take on the whole corporate thing.