Hi!

6 Comments

1. Anita GetzOctober 3,2022 at 11:52PM UTC

   I would come out and tell your boss, that you need more work and training. That you want to be a valuable member of the team. Good luck. If it still does not get any better, than it sounds like this is not the right fit, and start looking.

2. SBOctober 4,2022 at 3:13AM UTC

   First, congrats on your new role! Starting a new position, especially as a recent college grad, can be daunting. You want to start working, not sitting in a chair all day reading procedures. Perhaps instead of verbally asking work, do you notice anything that could be done (filing, making copies, assisting colleagues, etc.)? Maybe take the initiative (however small) to show how motivated and engaged you are? By the middle of the week, you can perhaps follow up with an email as to how you can help with something in particular? Keep a paper trail...if nothing is given to you after another week or so, you'll be able to "prove" that you are engaged. Good luck, and I'm sure it will work out. If not, well, there are other fish in the sea (sorry for the lame cliché).

3. AnonymousOctober 4,2022 at 3:32AM UTC

   Congrats on the new job! I agree with what Anita said about telling her that you are ready to move to the next steps in your training. It could be that your boss isn't organized and doesn't have a plan or is so crazy busy she doesn't know where to start. Flat out tell her that you are done reading the procedures and want to know what is next. You might be learning faster than she expected, or she might be super busy and not have time, or some sort of combination.

   If you are part of a bigger team, you might start asking your coworkers if there are things that you could help them with. That way you are doing something and learning. If you aren't part of a team besides you and your boss, try going to another group. This is easier to do if you are in office, because you can meet people when grabbing coffee and casually ask them if they need help or know of anyone in the office that does.

   You could also consider going to HR or the receptionist and asking them if they know of any group that needs extra help. You just have to be careful how you do it, since you don't want it to seem like you're reporting your boss for something. You are just excited and want something to do besides reading procedures, which makes sense because procedures are ridiculously boring.

   Good luck! Hopefully you can find some other work to do :)

4. AnonymousOctober 4,2022 at 11:53AM UTC

   Chiming in. It could also be her boss. I’m training a new employee myself! I would love to give my new staff more tasks but my micromanaging Director won’t allow it. I would ask directly.

5. AnonymousOctober 4,2022 at 7:49PM UTC

   This may help or backfire, but in these types of situations learning to "manage up" is useful. You mentioned that your boss doesn't follow through with certain trainings, one way to keep your manager accountable is to put a meeting on outlook the next day. That way it serves as a reminder and it blocks off time. The first few months do feel quite boring, I suggest taking a breath and observe your department. I understand you want to make an immediate impact, but that will come with time.

6. Tabbi KinionOctober 5,2022 at 1:26AM UTC

   Are there other people on the team?
   When I was starting out (while still in college) I would walk around the office and ask if I could help other people out when my boss didn't have anything for me. I can't stand being bored when there may be something to do.

   Looking back now, I also see that it helped me build relationships with others on the team, taught me a lot about what the other people did, and created an impression that I was a valuable and helpful employee. And those folks told my boss that I was great. I didn't do it for any of those reasons - I was simply bored and looking for a useful way to spend my day.

   So, I'd recommend asking your colleagues if you can help them out (even with the little tasks) until your boss has the space to get you going. The other bonus is that you may find a mentor along the way!