Is it too early to quit or should I trust my gut?

19 Comments

1. Sharon GrehanMay 25,2023 at 4:45PM UTC

   Talk to the acting manager and let them know you have capacity to do additional work. Even if you can't leave the front desk, there may be additional work opportunities they can assign to you. Don't give up before having at least a few conversations to find out what is possible. Best of luck

2. Kimberley Ferretti HammettMay 25,2023 at 6:53PM UTC

   I agree! If there is something you like about the University and it has potential opportunity for you (it sounds like the slowness is potentially temporary considering the season and your leader being out), see if there are avenues that allow you to MAKE it more dynamic for yourself. If you try and it doesn't work, then look for something else that will be more worth your time, but it will be good to practice the skill of self-development and advocating. There won't be any positions where you don't at least occasionally feel stressed or mis-aligned, so for the times it is worth it to stick through it, you'll need to know how to add energizing work and ask for what you need.

   One way you can approach the conversation is to start by asking what are some of the overall teams goals and challenges. Then brainstorm ways you can contribute to them while able to attend to the desk when someone comes in. Especially if it is aligned with any future goals you have. For example, lets say one goal is prompt responses and you had an interest in training. Maybe there are frequent requests at the desk and you could compile a process map or SOP for addressing those requests.

   Hope that helps! Good luck :)

3. AnonymousMay 25,2023 at 4:54PM UTC

   I would wait it out at least until your supervisor is back from maternity leave, though through the first quarter/semester of school in fall would give the best idea of the job. It could be that it's slow because school is not in session and it's really much more dynamic during the school year. It's worth having a convo with your supervisor about.

   Have you had any training yet on the different aspects of your position? If not, see if your supervisor or someone else can point you in the direction of some training items.

   Also, ask if there are things you can do to help other people. You shouldn't really have to, but it sounds like people weren't quite prepared for the position to be filled.

   My advice is to try to be a bit proactive about getting things to fill your day during the next few weeks until your boss is back. I suspect that they have a plan for you and just haven't been able to initiate it yet. If they don't have a plan for you, and you've learned from others that it doesn't get any better once the school year starts, then bow out.

   Good luck! :)

4. AnonymousMay 25,2023 at 4:57PM UTC

   I'd use this time to upskill myself by helping others. It might be quiet now, but when summer courses start, it'll be busy. And when fall courses start, it'll really be busy. Enjoy the "down" time now and learn all you can. You never know what could come up and who's noticing your efforts.

5. AnonymousMay 25,2023 at 6:07PM UTC

   You know that is a very interesting point you make about the windowless office. In my last position I worked in a windowless office setting, and it was depressing. My job before that had a big, long window and made the working space more open. I agree with the others on if its primarily the lack of work give it some time to see when it will really pick up and ask your supervisor about when it'll get busy and if there's any extra responsibilities you can take on now. Do what's best for you!

6. AnonymousMay 25,2023 at 6:14PM UTC

   I'm in an admin position in Education and I can't *wait* for the slower pace summer months. If you thrive (and possibly had a job in a dynamic place wearing many hats such as in a theatre company), am wondering why you left? And also what drew you to the current job in Education?

7. AnonymousMay 25,2023 at 7:48PM UTC

   This is interesting.

   I love how you are honoring your intuition! Additionally, I will say that the benefit of this situation is that you discovered what is your ideal work situation. If it were me, I would have a discussion about what one could expect when students return en masse in August. I feel that's being fair to both you and the employer - meaning you would have given this opportunity a chance by the time your supervisor comes back in June and for the employer to be specific about what people can expect in this role when the university is in full swing.

   The reason why I say this is that in one of my earliest roles, I did not ask this until way later and by then it was too late. I wanted to expand to include additional duties and the company was accustomed to my doing good work up front and didn't see a point in moving me forward with other duties which created anger and resentment on my end. If I were being truly honest with myself, in hindsight, I did not listen to my intuition about them not adding different duties.

   As someone who worked at a major university while attending grad school, I LOVED the summer months as it was so quiet and peaceful! So in the interim, maybe learn something new online?

8. AnonymousMay 26,2023 at 2:52AM UTC

   I work at a university in an arts department. Universities are quiet during the summer, so usually I try to have a summer project to do.

   As a new person, you could assign yourself the task of reading employee manuals, studying the majors and courses offered in your department, inventorying the supply closet, taking free training courses in productivity software, etc.

   Your experience to now isn't really relevant since your supervisor isn't there to assign work to you. Give it some more time.

9. AnonymousMay 26,2023 at 3:33PM UTC

   Why not take the time to do something to train yourself on some new software or watch some videos about the university so that you can learn more about where you work. Being in a bigger place will ultimately offer you longer term and more opportunities. A career is a marathon not a sprint, take the time to invest in your own brain and time there and make it into what you need. More interaction will happen after the summer break and until then maybe it's just busy work to get in the groove. Walk around the campus on your breaks familiarize yourself with how the place lays out and functions. Quitting in such a short time is not the solution. Invest the time, it will be worth it!

10. Beth AustinMay 26,2023 at 3:50PM UTC

    As others have her aid, this is a traditionally quiet time on campus and a good time to learn more or upskill. The office will start getting busier approximately 2 weeks before Fall classes start. And once students return, you will fondly look back on these days. Give it time and make lunch dates with other office admins on campus.

11. AnonymousMay 26,2023 at 5:00PM UTC

    Four days is not very long to judge a new job, especially if you mention that your actual supervisor is not there yet. Could you ask to help or get involved with other projects or take up something that interests you that would help the office in general? See how you can leverage this time to improve your own skills and work on projects you enjoy.

12. Joanna PoeMay 27,2023 at 2:12PM UTC

    If you are judging the activity level at a major university by the month of May, you're not getting an accurate read. Enjoy the downtime, use it to learn as much as you can about the systems, and brace for late August. Source: I work in higher ed.

13. AnonymousMay 27,2023 at 2:40PM UTC

    Enjoy the quiet time and take the opportunity to really get to know where you work and who you work with. Are there online classes you can take to gain more expertise on any software or programs you have to use? I love to hire new employees during downtimes because they really can learn how to do their jobs-I promise them it’ll pick up and they just need patience because when things get busy, they’ll be more confident and able employees. And maybe even miss the quiet days sometimes.

14. Joann S. LublinMay 28,2023 at 12:16PM UTC

    I strongly endorse other commentators' suggestions but think you also could use this slow period to reach out to individuals in similar positions at other university departments -- both for coping tips and networking purposes. Such colleagues also may be able to give you insights about what it's like to work for your manager who's now on maternity leave. Best of luck and let us know how things go!

15. Liz MilneMay 28,2023 at 9:35PM UTC

    You'll be mad busy in term-time - in the usual way, you'll appreciate not having much to do for a couple of months!

16. Amy GeffenMay 29,2023 at 2:08PM UTC

    Use this time to get acquainted with the other administrators. Go out for a coffee or lunch to build relationships. You will be plenty busy when your supervisor returns to get ready for the fall. Then very busy when the semester starts.

17. AnonymousMay 30,2023 at 2:46PM UTC

    Having worked at a large university myself, odds are that either when summer session or the fall semester starts, you're going to quickly find that dynamic environment you're looking for. Do you actually like the work itself? If so, use this downtime to forge relationships with your new colleagues, in your department and outside, learn the school's systems and processes until you have them down pat, and see how the busier seasons go. You can even ask your new colleagues if this pace is typical, or if it's because it's summer. If you give this a try, you may well find yourself relishing the slower pace of of next summer :-)

18. Sarah StadtherrMay 30,2023 at 6:09PM UTC

    I also joined a University staff recently (March). Look for any and all training courses that you need in your current position as well as any that MIGHT be helpful in another University position. My University has them all online and completing them now would give you something to do as well as demonstrate initiative in this position or as a basis for qualification in a new University position. Dreadfully dull but you can also listen to your music in the background too. :)

19. Kristin BurnsMay 31,2023 at 12:13PM UTC

    It will get busy in the Fall. I'd use this time to relax, get to know your coworkers, and see if there is a summer project you can help out on. Sometimes universities will use Summer to update filing systems, review expenses, restock libraries, plan out Fall course information, or other tasks that they don't have time for when class is in session. I'd also look into course offerings if you have that benefit.