February 14, 2008
‘I have a problem: I’m not given any work to do’
I have been working at a financial institution in New York City for two years, and have a problem: I’m not given any work to do. I find myself asking my boss for work or offering my help in projects team members are working on. Even now, with quarterly reports, everyone in my group except me is submerged in work. At first I liked being slack, but now it is affecting my career and making me emotionally stressed. In a recent restructuring others were fired but I wasn’t. I don’t understand why this is happening and what I should do. Why would a superior do something like this to his or her subordinates if they are not going to fire them?
Analyst, male, 26
Lucy’s answer
If there is one thing worse than having too much work to do, it is having too little. And if there is one thing worse than that, it is having too little when everyone around you has too much. Not only do you have to endure the grinding tedium of the days, but you feel useless and unwanted, too.
This is wretched anywhere, but twiddling your thumbs on Wall Street, where insane busyness is a mark of honour, must be particularly punishing.
It isn’t clear from your message why you are in this mess. Perhaps your boss finds you obnoxious and is freezing you out? Or are so clever you whip through the work faster than the others? Are they just pretending to be busy? Is there some other bigger political struggle going on?
I doubt you’ll ever find a reason for your idleness and I don’t think you should waste time wondering. Neither should you go on asking your boss for work. If (as I suspect) he doesn’t like you, he’ll like you even less if you persist in nagging about being understimulated.
Instead you need to decide if you want to stay or go. If you stay you will probably get fired in time. It was surprising that you survived last time; I doubt if you’d be so (un)lucky again. If you wait to be fired, you’ll go with more money, but you’ll have to endure future torture in the meantime.
On balance, you’d be better off looking for a new job at once. Now isn’t the best time to find a job on Wall Street so it may take you some time – but then you have time aplenty.
And if your job hunt doesn’t entirely fill your days, learn how to look extremely busy while doing nothing. Write a blog, play Scrabulous on Facebook – anything is better than revealing that you are idle. There is just a chance that if people think you are frantically busy they’ll suddenly start loading work on you. And then – human nature being what it is – you may look back with longing on your idle days.
I think you might be the first person I have met complaining about having too little work! You need to find out where your team members are getting their work from? Maybe they are just using their initiative and finding work for them to do-in which case you should try and do the same. Or they are getting work from their boss, so you should ask your boss to give you some of the work.
They had the perfect chance to fire you during the restructuring, but didn’t so they obviously value you.
Try talking to your boss about the fact you don’t feel you are being “pushed”.
All in all, don’t stress-most people would kill for a slacker job!!
Posted by: Louisa, London | February 14th, 2008 at 9:45 am | Report this commentMaybe you are just good at managing upwards and other people’s reports are full of problems.
Posted by: Michael | February 14th, 2008 at 1:23 pm | Report this commentYou have time on your hands and it bothers you. Spend time looking for an internal job move. Your old team might not miss you and if you’ve no work after two years of begging, the situation is unlikely to change. But before you do so, try and analyse why you have no work: generic answers could be that you are lazy, or deliver poorly, are slow, lack skills, everyone already thinks you are busy, or maybe people just like you around because you bring joy to the office. On the other hand, the work you do get could be completed faster and to a higher standard than your colleagues can do so you’ve time on your hands while they are sweating.
I agree with Louisa that this is worthy of a serious discussion with your boss, but I disagree that most people would kill for a slacker.
Your language betrays a very passive attitude - not ‘given’ any work? You’re not on work experience - by now should have the nous to know what’s required of you in your role and be able to work without huge amounts of spoon-feeding. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is what’s putting off your colleagues when you deign to offer your help.
You say that at first you liked being slack - well, newsflash, this won’t have gone un-noticed by your peers or indeed, your boss.
There are three possible next steps:
1. get your act together tout de suite,
2. look for another job, or
3. continue as you are…
If you even consider no. 3, then you should bear in mind that the last round of ‘restructuring’ was probably put in train a while before your slackness became visible. Don’t count on being lucky the next time round!
Posted by: GLH | February 14th, 2008 at 1:42 pm | Report this commentNot given work? Not being fired when others are? Have you considered not bringing the bloodsoaked axe to work?
Posted by: Gerhard | February 14th, 2008 at 1:55 pm | Report this commentGerhard, 37, male, Banker
You remind me of a smart and motivated graduate who once worked for me. He joined late in the year, full of newbie beans, but the rest of us were slowing down and too exhausted to think up properly structured work for him. Seeing his boredom I spent an hour persuading him that it would get busier in time. He persisted in his demands for work, and over time became busier, and happier.
A year he was passed over for his first promotion - one that most people thought he deserved, since these were pretty automatic for hard workers. Apparently he’d not had enough client exposure. He had filled his day doing useful, complex analysis which he found intellectually challenging, but it gave him insufficient exposure to senior people and their clients. Once he had a better idea of how to develop his career, he started doing better, but lost enthusiasm because he knew he was a year behind.
Constantly asking people for work puts pressure on them to find you things to do. It’s like a child who demands “Mom, I’m bored. What can i play with?”
GLH is right: You should be talking to people, asking what they’re doing, developing ideas, suggesting ways to support them. This way you take the pain out of being managed. When you start work, no-one teaches you how to manage your career, but this is important. Just like learning how to learn when you first go to College.
Chuck, 30, Male, Consultant.
Posted by: Chuck | February 14th, 2008 at 2:27 pm | Report this commentMy colleague is currently in the same boat as you. She has been begging for work for 2 years. I know your colleagues are aware of this. The work environment you’re in may be too hectic to provide you much mentoring support that many of us do need. In addition, since you enjoyed the slack in the past, it’s likely that everyone around you have been behaviourally ingrained to put you on the back burner; since, you appeared patient on your issue. Look for the new job, as my female colleague; don’t be too accustomed to the slack, it’ll be harder to pick up the motivation later on. Good luck!
Posted by: Public Service Intern, male - Canada | February 14th, 2008 at 2:45 pm | Report this commentMy take on this is that you are probably bright, and at first found your work a challenge, but quickly became bored as you figured the business out. As a worker learns a job and becomes more efficient, it’s natural that s/he will make more time available that before would have been taken up doing tasks in a greater amount of time than later on in a job. Also, I wonder if you have discovered things outside work which have meant that you are not as focussed on your work, resulting in a slide in your interest in the job. If that is the case, make sure these things outside work are important, because unless you are careful you will slip off the payroll next time around.
When I’m quiet at work, I usually just share business ideas with colleagues based on work I’ve taken the initiative to do without being asked. Often this comes to nothing, but occasionally you will hit on something good and that will open doors to more work for you. The last thing I’d do is ‘beg for work’ from your bosses as they’ll think you have no interest in your job and are not self-motivated.
Posted by: Charles | February 14th, 2008 at 3:56 pm | Report this commentYour employer is obviously keeping you around as a prospective scapegoat in the event that it needs to cover up trading losses with a concoted rogue trader scandal. You’re a patsy in waiting. Every financial institution needs at least one nowadays.
Posted by: Frank, entrepreneur 47 | February 14th, 2008 at 4:42 pm | Report this commentHi,
Perhaps you should try doing something useful with your life other than number crunching for a large immoral indifferent corporation.
Posted by: jim | February 14th, 2008 at 9:39 pm | Report this commentPerhaps you are feeling dejected because beneath it all you realise how woefully moribund it is working for the disenchantment of civilisation in one of the many finacial institutions whose function it is to make the rich even richer and the poor even poorer .You are suffering the isolation and alienation that has become the modern disease of the modern wage slave.
Change your life,work for a different god instead of the money god.Search your soul,try and see if there are any vestiges of humanity within and try and salvage yourself.
good luck
I don’t want to scare you, but that’s what happened to me when I first moved to NY from California back in 2001. The PR company I worked for had absolutely nothing for me to do. I was nervous from the get-go.
I was given two small assignments, but it more or less seemed like busywork. Sure enough, in six weeks I was let go because of declining business.
I am not the financial industry expert most on this page are, but in simplest terms, you should be given work from your supervisor or otherwise have enough to do.
If it were I, I’d start sending out your resume.
Posted by: Laurie | February 15th, 2008 at 1:47 am | Report this commentI would surmise that you are insulated from being sacked by information you have or are thought to hold about the entity or managers above you, either an incident or a practice which could result in embarrassment, lawsuit or criminal charges. Perhaps you are simply in what the law calls a “suspect category”: female, minority, disabled or a combination. Have you at any time taken maternity leave, family leave, part time status or otherwise been off program? Someone may very well not want to tempt fate by sacking you, and so you will be frozen out until they can quote bad job performance or misdeed against you. Think over what you might know about what and whom.
Alternatively, the freeze out could indicate an ongoing internal investigation. Again think over what you might know about what and whom, consult your files and make notes. This is particularly important in a financial institution.
If this situation continues without answer, use the time not only to refresh your resume but become involved in professional organizations, writing articles, if appropriate, and even an MBA up at any of the great institutions you have close at hand in NY.
Posted by: Caroline. 52, Female, Pres/CEO | February 15th, 2008 at 2:23 am | Report this commentI agree with Michael, it smacks of an utterly passive attitude. I find it very difficult to believe that there is a lack of opportunity to work. More likely, there is a lack of desire to work. Most everyone I know have to prioritise what work they do. I think you need to reassess your approach.
Posted by: Nicolas - (30/Male/Economist) | February 15th, 2008 at 5:13 am | Report this commentI think GLH, Michael and the others are completely off the mark. Their opinion reflects the boomer take on things that there is always more than enough work out there and you should be doing something meaningless rather than looking idle in the eyes of your fat boss. Lack of desire to work? Surely writing in to this column reflects concern that this junior person isn’t getting enough work. I have been in a similar position as a lawyer - senior people not trying to get you involved when you request and then complaining that you aren’t working hard enough. I would advise you to ignore the cyborgs who have been lucky enough not to experience this and use your time to work on other skills and apply for other jobs. Obviously you are bright - go see a headhunter and see what happens. You might find a much better fit. Beats feeling stressed and having to listen to the self-righteous workaholics who think they are carrying the world on their shoulders.
Posted by: Steve - 32, young professional | February 15th, 2008 at 6:26 am | Report this commentEven dismissing the idea that someone made this ‘problem’ up, something is still missing from the story–and it took the 11th person (Caroline, 52, Pres/CEO) to first notice it and point it out.
Either at least one among
1 financial institution
2 New York
3 analyst
4 age 26
5 male
6 ’survived recent restructuring’
is less-than-accurate, or something else has been–inadvertently?–omitted.
Whether it is something you know or are thought to know, or someone you know, third-parties can only guess. But nothing adds up until we have that extra information–itself indispensable to any reliable conclusion.
Posted by: J Michael, private banker, 39 | February 15th, 2008 at 7:22 am | Report this commentThe situation you describe is not at all uncommon. One reason why some junior bankers receive more work than others is because they are perceived to be easier to work with. Often this is just a question of the right chemistry. There will always be some very popular juniors who are seen to be quicker, more friendly and obedient, who ask less questions, and who develop a lot of self-initiative. Look at the `workaholics` and compare the way they work and communicate with your own approach. Not being fired despite a less than average workload may have many reasons. You may be perceived as smart, or having certain rare skills, e.g. language skills, that make you special compared to your peers. Alternatively, someone in the organisation may protect you without your knowing.
Whatever the actual reasons are, you should find out why you are not one of the ‘popular juniors’ and change your behaviour accordingly. You may also want to try and look for another team or department where you can expect more ‘chemistry’.
Posted by: Chris, banker, 36 | February 15th, 2008 at 8:12 am | Report this commentI would guess one of two things is happening. Either management has you filling some quota or budgetary slot; or they and the rest of the team are are desperately grabbing any work they can to justify their jobs and avoid the axe. My advice is to either grab your share of work or move on.
Posted by: Steve, 37, male, CFO | February 15th, 2008 at 9:24 am | Report this commentIf you’ve so much free time, why not do something useful with it, like start a new business. You can lay the groundwork while being paid for doing nothing in your current job. If it takes off you can leave, if not, who cares, you’ll have your job!
Posted by: Richard C | February 15th, 2008 at 9:42 am | Report this commentI’ve seen this happening, however, this was at a German bank, where the culture is more akin to a local authority tax department than Wall Street. The question you have to ask yourself is: is this enemy action or sheer management ineptitude? (After having honestly answered the question if it has anything to do with you)? The person I saw subjected to this pernicious victimisation was bright, motivated and generally liked by clients. He was considered “to clever by half” by his superiors so he was kept out of the limelight. He eventually suffered a breakdown. It ruined his career and marriage. My advice is assume the worst and get the hell outta there.
Posted by: Michael | February 15th, 2008 at 10:28 am | Report this commentI identify with this situation - I am currently given almost no work by my line manager at all. The reason for this is that I am seen as a self-starter trusted to need little motivation to get the job done, and the perception is that I am busy. I am also seen as someone with indispensible experience, albeit partially institution specific.
Posted by: Steve, 35, male, MD (investment bank) | February 15th, 2008 at 10:42 am | Report this commentThis degree of trust is nice for a while but ultimately does lead to slackness which, as one responder says, makes it harder to re-motivate when necessary. This is then career limiting since other jobs which involve hard work seem less attractive for that reason, even though they might be good career moves. In my case the work-life balance that I have become used to would be difficult to match elsewhere.
Ultimately good management should be a) know what their staff are doing and delivering and b) be looking to challenge and develop their staff which they have probably invested time and money in.
Having said all that I strongly believe that if you really want more work to do you can find it by using your initiative and not by asking your line mgr. I got promoted to MD level this way.
I think what we are dealing with here is a case of bad management. The workload is spread uneven, and managed poorly, which leads to a need for cutbacks. This is applied on those who have screwed something up. Because everybody is stressed of bad management, nobody notices you. I bet there are others who are in a similar situation.
My advice would be to seek for a new job. Your current employer is not going to make it, unless the bad manager is replaced.
Andy, Male 28, Project Manager, banking, Finland
Posted by: Andy | February 15th, 2008 at 11:08 am | Report this commentThe same thing happened to me in my last position. Information and contacts I had which was why I had been hired were allowed to get stale and ultimately redundant and the projects I was on were near-pointless. I even survived a redundnacy round, to my mild surprise. I liked Steve’s comment about the cyborgs because life is not necessarily so simple. You can drop hints, have open conversations, you can write memos, you can do stuff - but you cannot do these things in a vacuum. In my case, my boss felt one should pick things up almost by osmosis. It was, at the time, incredibly frustrating and I most certainly did send out my CV. I would also not recommend this as a method of people management. But rather annoyingly, at least in my case, he turned out to be correct, and before I knew it I was a cyborg myself, one step short of singing the company song every morning. I couldn’t even identify when the change happened. So, hedge your bets, but it may get better by itself, and the experience you can draw upon is how not to do it when you have the corner office.
Posted by: Alex, 36, Male, Portfolio Manager | February 15th, 2008 at 12:01 pm | Report this commentThe perfect job, how can I apply?
Posted by: bob, 38, layabout | February 15th, 2008 at 1:09 pm | Report this comment26 years old, male.
You have a duty to yourself to get up and walk to the gents, and slap yourself in the face.
It is difficult to sympathise with someone so needy and lacklustre, you surely have more drive than this, are you a man or a mouse. At 26 you should be a pain in the neck to your seniors with enthusiasm.
Count youself lucky you still have a job after enjoying being slack. Then move on, challenge and ask for feedback, offer your potential and push for tasks. Sometimes at work you have to wrestle jobs from others, and in the long term you will do the business a favour by either resigning or stepping up to the mark.
But don’t, whatever you do, waste anymore time.
Do anything other than sit there wondering why you haven’t been “given” something….even if it gets you fired.
At least you will respect yourself again…
Posted by: James | February 15th, 2008 at 1:52 pm | Report this commentHi. I am the writer of this problem and posting a comment to clarify any misunderstanding that has arisen from news editing. First of all, I am at a research institution that has a very conservative, structural, political, hierarchal work environment. I am also junior relative to the colleagues in my group. This means that I am in no position to do what any of you suggested but must do what is given to me. Believe me - my help has been solicited many times by other colleagues in other groups. As much as this is good for my visibility, I have been strongly told that I am not allowed to offer my assistance to others outside my team otherwise known as resource politics. As some of you surmised, I am v. talented and possess skills that nobody else does. I have done everything that has been suggested: talk to people, try to see what is going on in this situation, etc. To clarify, this is my boss who is controlling my fate here. S/he is the one who allocates work and knows that I am being left to rot away in the corner. Moreover, she hides this fact from everyone! Lastly, I despise laziness myself so I am not slacking on my own volition but am forced into this situation! Hard to believe but true. Many of you suggested that I should move on. Anyone know of a good headhunter in NYC? Thanks.
Posted by: The WRITER OF THIS PROBLEM | February 15th, 2008 at 3:10 pm | Report this commentYou should look for another job. One has to use insight and instinct very quickly these days, (talking from experience being in a similar situation) being able to see things like a fly on the wall.
Posted by: Robert | February 15th, 2008 at 4:18 pm | Report this commentIts also probably cheaper for them to see resign that have to “pay you off”. You can’t afford to sit on the sidelines while you are hungry to develop your career. Because it is easier to find work when you are in work, look now while this company is on your CV then leave on your own terms. If they REALLY value you when you hand in that resignation letter, you’ll see what they can really offer! Don’t let precious time pass you by, the market is getting tougher and tougher because of the credit crunch, so make hay while the sun shines, good luck!
I advise that you start looking actively for another job.
I am myself an analyst and I have held research position in both buy-side and sell-side. By definition, a financial analyst has no “down-time” as every single minute of his/her time not spent talking to clients should in theory be spent learning the industry he/she covers.
Are you absolutely sure that at 26 you know absolutely everything there is to know about your sector/companies? Are you sure that you are able to answer whatever questions an investor may come up with? Are you sure there is no trade idea you could be working on instead?
My impression from reading your post is that you have failed to grasp something fundamental about the industry you are working in: knowledge is what differentiates analysts and you are meant to hoard it like crazy.
Moreover, you are an analyst in a bank which means that you operate in a highly political, highly competitive environment both internally and externally. Your lack of engagement with your colleagues coupled with what I would call a lack of intellectual curiosity probably means that your position is doomed. And do not expect a Good Samaritan to come your way and help you because you are basically canon fodder for the next round of headcount reduction.
Pre-empt what looks like an inevitable lay-off (look at where the markets are heading and draw your own conclusions as to bank’s appetite for research staff) and make a smart move. Maybe you are more suited for a role in M&A where traditionally junior work is more structured?
Cheers
Posted by: Julien | February 15th, 2008 at 4:24 pm | Report this commentGet out of there immediately for your career’s sake. I found myself in a similar circumstance. Each time I made a noise to leave, the firm gave me a healthy raise. I soon made 50-75% more than market rate for my profession. This continued for four years! When the firm collapsed (eventually no one had work), I found I’d fallen off external career radar screens. The firm bought my name to make it appear it had heft. Sure, I had a little cash, but I also had the shambles of a career almost beyond redemption. It’s a nasty seduction, which you must avoid, unless you want to risk putting your feet up permanently.
Posted by: Logan, 52, male, NYC | February 15th, 2008 at 6:15 pm | Report this commentIt could be worse.. you might be given dull work to do.
I personally think you are in the wrong industry, you may feel not exceptionally bright, but maybe you are when compared to your collegues. I suggest you look for another job, even in a different industry given your young age.
Posted by: Mikela, Mexico | February 15th, 2008 at 6:51 pm | Report this commentWhat’s the problem! Enjoy it!
Posted by: Gwen | February 16th, 2008 at 2:06 am | Report this commentI hate to be sitting around waiting for something to do - must be the protestant work ethic in me. If you have asked for something suitable to do and nothing has come it - get another job - unless of course you are waiting for the next round of redundancies……
Posted by: Andrew | February 16th, 2008 at 11:22 am | Report this commentAre there more employees in the institution to whom this happens right now or who have a record of this happening to them? How do others cope?
Build your network! Go to internal training,seminars, see what others do, join social or sports initiatives. All this might among other things give you the chance to get a better managed position in the institution, likely in a different department.
Don’t panic! In a moment of reflection, e.g. during a holiday, ask yourself why you have joined the institution in the first place. What were your assumptions? Have they been confirmed since then – and did they match your life goals at that time?
And what are your life goals now? Make a list. – Do you believe the institution you work in is a good partner for you to reach them? There is so much fulfilling work out there to be done… Be prepared to decide.
Posted by: Bernhard | February 16th, 2008 at 3:16 pm | Report this commentLook for employment opportunities in Paris. That’s where the best and brightest are working.
Reagrds,
Posted by: thomas | February 16th, 2008 at 3:37 pm | Report this commentTom
Why not start your own private business from work?? You’ll have access to photocopiers, printers, fax, internet, coffee, etc.
The last fellow (who resembled yourself) who worked in our company did just this, and the only 2-3 days he even bothered coming into the office were also coincidentally the same days that he attended the gym.
This is a great opportunity for you to get paid by someone else to get physically fit, and build your own great company.
Posted by: Joe Williams | February 17th, 2008 at 4:21 am | Report this commentTo me it seems quite clear, and (sadly) common among financial institutions, consultants and advisors - you are being counseled out. No-one trusts you to do a good job, and yet management doesn’t want to waste good money on firing you. They will simply let you stew until you decide to follow common wisdom (and the advice of most in this forum) to leave of your own accord and save the firm the redundancy costs. There will people who are recognized as stars who will be working 150% utilization and complaining that they have no “work-life” balance while you are twiddling your thumbs waiting for work.
That said, I don’t know you, and sometimes momentum forces this situation, with good people unfortunately developing a reputation as being lazy (and that when you WANT the work!) or incompetent. If you are indeed competent and people are wrong about you, you have 2 options: (i) accept the situation, leave and start afresh somewhere else being sure to avoid a repetition of the situation, or (ii) more difficult, but for me the best option, do something radical and prove your worth, and make everyone else realize that they were wrong about you. I can’t tell you what to do under (ii) but you will likely already have a gut feel what might work. Worst case you get in the way of others and they decide to make you redundant - at least this way you get the cash, then take a holiday and do option (i).
Posted by: Matt (Male, 34, Partner, Big-4 Accounting Firm) | February 17th, 2008 at 11:09 am | Report this commentFrom your latest post : “As some of you surmised, I am v. talented and possess skills that nobody else does”.
How lucky you are to have a unique skill, but what a waste if you don’t use it!
Find someone who values that skill and means it, and go work for them. Be an adult.
Posted by: coco, 35, male, COO | February 17th, 2008 at 7:23 pm | Report this commentAt a place I worked once they used to say that anyone who had time to read the paper in the library was about to be fired. The firm hated firing people and so they just stopped giving them work hoping they would leave. Perhaps, in your case, they forgot to fire you in the last round because you have such a low profile. In the meantime you could do what someone else I worked with did. He started buying houses until it evolved into a full time property empire. He eventually gave up doing any work and spent at least six months running his business from the office before he was asked to leave.
Posted by: Andrew | February 17th, 2008 at 11:35 pm | Report this commentA useful bit of advice an Anthropology professor once gave in a lecture was “turn your personal problems into sociological problems”. Have you explored this particular problem in enough dimensions and analysed its value implications for all business? How large is this problem globally? Is there a way to utilise this spare capacity globally? Are you able/available to apply your rare skills to problems outside your organisation? The reason I ask this is that my uncle built a chemical business out of what started as solving production chemistry problems for a casual acquaintance on a regular railway commuter schedule.
Posted by: Cornelius (male, 47, consultant) | February 18th, 2008 at 1:59 am | Report this commentI will echo many of these comments and suggest it is time to aggressively pursue another job either internally or externally. I was caught in a similar situation at the start of 2007 following a merger. I was reassigned to an ‘up and coming’ market and it took nine months of doing nothing before I forced myself to pursue other opportunities. You will be underestimating the harm of doing nothing 11 hours a day is having on your self-confidence and motivation. How much stress is weighing on you each morning as you half expect the axe?
Polish the CV, start working on your business contacts outside of work, start talking to recruitment staff.
Best of luck.
Posted by: Sasha | February 18th, 2008 at 4:48 am | Report this commentIn large organisations, a lot of people have no work to do but they do not admit it, in fact they go an about how busy they are. These are the people who often make it to the top.
Posted by: Clive | February 18th, 2008 at 9:12 am | Report this commentI found myself in a similar position twice so far in my career. A job is never so frustrating as the hours that you can sit at a desk desperate to be challenged. I put it down to poor management skills. There is certainly an argument for trying to be proactive about finding projects to work on, however when I tried this approach I found my boss was unresponsive/unenthusiastic about trying new ideas and work. At 26 and obviously early on in your career, you are absolutely right to expect some kind of mentorship and direction. Stuck in a catch 22 situation the easiest thing is to move on. And in fact that is usually when you find whether it will make or break you. Leaving poor ‘large company ethos’ managers who only look after number 1, has been the making of me, and working in a team of 3 to push forward a small business has taken the enjoyment of my career to new heights. This is turn has made me a much more confident employee as I now know that given the right circumstances - I can thrive. It sounds to me like you need to make a similar career change. People don’t leave companies, they leave managers, and after two years the only way to make a change to make you happy is to vote with your feet.
Posted by: Lisa, 27, Female, Account Manager | February 18th, 2008 at 10:21 am | Report this commentI’m afraid that I’d suggest that you start hitting the recruitment companies; look on this as a way of spending your time finding a new job when you’ve nothing else to do and you’re still being paid to kick back and relax. You might find that there’s a better job out there for you, paying more in terms of cold-hard and also in terms of job satisfaction.
Craig, 37, male, director.
Posted by: Craig | February 18th, 2008 at 12:31 pm | Report this commentThe first day on a new job one ought to begin looking for, and laying the groundwork for, one’s next job. That is before you have opened your desk, met the staff, or been assigned a locker. This refers to fashioning a resume and scanning the landscape from a new location.
Next on the list of needs is the choice of which skills will be developed at the new job (on the boss’s payroll) and which advanced degrees must be obtained. Personal skills may include a foreign language, a computer programming skill, data analysis, financial analysis, marketing and strategic planning. On the degree side, an MBA often comes first; after two years on the company dole it might have been obtained. Then focus on a Masters in much of anything: financial math, computer science, a foreign language, art history. From the sounds of the situation, there is a wonderful opportunity to advance a personal agenda - whether or not the company benefits as much as the writer does, is up to the company.
There are always associates in other departments who can guide the personal development plan. IT is often ignored and, if befriended, is a source of data and projects for advancement. Someone higher up in the company might be approached with the possibility of learning a foreign language and culture for assignment overseas. Not that one actually goes overseas - rather one now has the excuse to be learning Hungarian and scanning the Internet for bistros.
The race is not to the swift, but to the skilled who enjoys the journey.
richard, 59, male, adjunct professor in computer science, working on an Asian language
Posted by: richard | February 18th, 2008 at 1:34 pm | Report this commentTo be honest, I’ve heard this sort of complaint all too often from friends and colleagues. I’ve even experienced something similar three jobs in a row.
For all the talk of meritocracy that goes around, there are still many people and companies that expect more junior members of the team to “do their time”. I work in financial services also, and despite a six-figure package, I can still find it difficult to get sufficient amounts of work. This is usually because it tends to get distributed to people who have been in the team longer, or management doesn’t delegate.
It can be easy to go and have a talk with your manager and ask for new work, clients, etc… however, I’ve found that they often say yes, but don’t follow through. Here’s a few suggestions:
1) See if you can come up with any projects/ideas that you can push through on your own
Posted by: David | February 18th, 2008 at 1:49 pm | Report this comment2) Step up the pressure on your boss/colleagues by constantly asking them for work (be careful on this though, because you might well find they give you low level work… don’t regularly accept to do menial work)
3) Network with other people in the company to become involved in projects (consider an internal move)
4) Start looking for a job elsewhere… if all the above don’t work, as a last gasp attempt tell your boss you have been offered a very good job elsewhere (don’t bluff on this… make sure you do actually have another job lined up), however, that you would prefer to stay with the company, but would need guarantees…
You are looking at the handwriting on the wall. If they are not giving you enough work to do, and you have asked for work, gee what is the message! My advice: get another job and put this episode behind you. Do you think you are going to make them see how valuable you are and THEN give you work? Do you think they will come to their senses after you complain enough? None of this will happen. Whatever they are thinking, it is not about using you appropriately. You are stalling your career movement by staying fixated on this point. Move on! There ARE people out there who will appreciate you.
Posted by: Judy | February 19th, 2008 at 12:29 am | Report this commentWow - one of the easiest “problems” I’ve seen on Dear Lucy.
Use the time and resources (internet, internal research materials, etc.) to gather information, build your knowledge base, and develop in professional and personal ways. Build your contacts network internally and externally. Investigate other opportunities at the same time. Join a gym that you can use at lunchtime and have a small lunch afterward at your desk. Attend religious services when you can.
There you have it - mentally, physically and (dare I say!) spiritually, you’re developing, growing, and getting paid for it. Your in finance, which ultimately (for most of us) means a “reduction in force” or a voluntary move to another firm anyway, so enjoy this time to pursue your own agenda - the next job may not be so easy.
Posted by: Scooter | February 19th, 2008 at 1:31 am | Report this commentI was in similar situation 1 or 2 years ago. Out of boredom, I started reading articles on personal development. This enabled me develop ideas about changing the way I do my work. To my surprise, things have changed, my manager and my colleagues now delegate more challenging duties to me and I am enjoying my work again.
Posted by: Nnebaby | February 19th, 2008 at 10:45 am | Report this commentMay be you need to sit down and re-assess your style. It’s easy to move to another company but what if you meet worse people? Don’t give up just like that. See if you can introduce some ideas that will make people notice you again. It could also be an opportunity for you to develop your weak areas which might help you in future
You are a horse that has been locked (or self-locked) in the stable - if you don’t get out to exercise soon you will be useless as a professional. Get more aggressive about it or change job. You are right to be concerned. Usually it helps if you are very specific in the tasks you ask for.
Posted by: male executive, 41 | February 20th, 2008 at 9:09 am | Report this commentThere are many reasons such things happen but it could take you months to discover the most plausible one. With any luck, you might have found a satisfying explanation among those offered here. In the meantime, this search for the truth hasn’t helped you find another job, the one thing you can change. On the bright side, your boss has given you the free time needed to begin this more practical search.
Posted by: Investor, male, 51 | February 20th, 2008 at 6:38 pm | Report this commentYour employer is obviously keeping you around as a prospective scapegoat in the event that it needs to cover up losses in a concocted rogue trader scandal. You’re a patsy-in-waiting. Every financial institution needs one nowadays.
Posted by: Entrepreneur, male, 47 | February 21st, 2008 at 9:42 am | Report this commentIt is difficult to sympathise with someone so needy and lacklustre. At 26 you should be a pain in the neck to your seniors, constantly showing them your enthusiasm, challenging them, asking for feedback and pushing tasks. Sometimes at work you have to wrestle jobs from others. Don’t sit there wondering why you haven’t been “given” something.
Posted by: Male, anon | February 21st, 2008 at 9:42 am | Report this commentA colleague of mine was subjected to this pernicious victimisation – he was bright, motivated and generally liked by clients, but considered “too clever by half” by his superiors so he was kept out of the limelight. He eventually suffered a breakdown. It ruined his career and marriage. My advice is assume the worst and get the hell outta there.
Posted by: Male, anon | February 21st, 2008 at 9:44 am | Report this commentThe perfect job. How can I apply?
Posted by: Layabout, male, 38 | February 21st, 2008 at 9:45 am | Report this commentWhy not start you own business from work? You’ll have access to photocopiers, printers, fax, internet and coffee.
The last fellow like you who worked in our company did just this, and when he even bothered coming into the office he spent a lot of time in the gym. This is a great opportunity for you to get paid by someone else to get physically fit and build your own great company.
Posted by: Male, anon | February 21st, 2008 at 9:46 am | Report this commentDear Analyst,
Step up to the plate and seize this down-time to creovate a brand new you! I too suddently have more free time; but what a fantastic opportunity throw myself 9,870 per cent into new life developmental projects! Whatever the constraints, there are always opportunities. Be now!
Martin
Posted by: Martin, 49, male World-class executive (on career break), Florida | February 22nd, 2008 at 11:16 am | Report this commentI couldn’t wait to read all of your responses when this question was published last week - now I am intrigued to write my own response.
I, too, am in this situation but am 10 years your senior and work for a high tech start up. Many times I thought about quitting thinking they don’t deserve me but then I realign my thinking to: what do I deserve? A steady, hefty paycheck and vesting stock options. Sure, I feel the others think I am beneath them (as if) and it occasionally bugs me, especially when they treat me with no respect. Yes, my manager is a crappy manager (I am reassured by your comments).
I decided a while back to take my life into my own hands and it has gone something like this:
2004 - started my own company on the side to save myself from absolute boredom.
2005/2006 - worked both jobs, made great cash but was out of my mind juggling everything.
2007 - Decided to get pregnant - Really got a reason to take it easy and four months off with “pay”.
2008 - Ceased my side business as its too much with an infant. Still getting the lame projects but going home to see my baby and not working 24/7 like the others.
2009 - Going to be pregnant again this year. Stocks will fully vest Q4.
2010 - Definitely out of here by then to start my own business again and reap the rewards of my own hard work. Never again will I work for a crappy manager.
Your situation isn’t going to change. You should start looking for another job or at least take your life into your own hands as I’ve done!
No, I am not entirely happy here 85% of the time but I have my eye on the big prize and not the small prize of trying to earn someone’s respect that I ultimately care less about!
Posted by: Female, go getter, sitting idle | February 22nd, 2008 at 11:11 pm | Report this commentThe people I like least are the ones asking for work. I am too busy with important stuff - like blogging - to spend time thinking what they should be doing. After all, they have a job title, some vague area of responsibility, probably some targets to reach if they want to get their bonus. As long as they make the company more valuable, don’t piss off my superiors, and make me more important to the company, I don’t much care what they do.
Ask me HOW to do the job better, or to help get something done, then I’m all ears. But don’t ask me what to do. If I had to answer that then I might as well do it myself, and as previously mentioned, I don’t have time for that.
Next time downsizing comes around, the people who regularly ask “what should I be doing” are on the top of my list.
Chris,55, male, VP
Posted by: Chris Johnson | February 28th, 2008 at 11:41 am | Report this commentEnjoy it while it lasts – because when the party is over… it’s over! So get a book or a hobby or trade stocks online or whatever floats your boat.
I have been in this situation – I did not have work and that made me restless, which made me act/appear obnoxious and made everyone around me resentful.
If you are just “too good/smart” then go get a PhD or start your own company… that will keep you busy/occupied.
Posted by: Consultant in US | March 4th, 2008 at 8:10 pm | Report this commentHell this is interesting. Actually I am in the same situation. I possess special (language & cultural) skills which got me the job but now keep me from getting projects because I am being held back for that special stuff which consistently fails to materialize (no I am not business development so I am not supposed to get it myself).
And yes, one’s way (in the sense of behavior patterns or perceived attitude) does have sth to do with it. If you want to be lazy you might say the worlds are just different. There are no problems with the colleagues, but there is a certain mismatch. This is an organizational problem in the end because the superior is unaffected.
No neither I nor the original author are lazy and passive. The people suggesting this do not understand the problem, possibly because they do not have that uniqueness and - which is very likely connected - because they are seen to be easier to approach.
Doing sth different at work is only theoretically an easy way out. You don’t want to get caught, you want to work and not necessarily complete the PhD on the bill of the employer, and you have a restrictive firewall.
Changing jobs is the solution. Or waiting for a miracle, but these are by definition rare.
Good luck to the original Writer!
rf, male, 36, Project Manager
Posted by: rf | March 10th, 2008 at 5:01 pm | Report this commentQUESTION I: You describe yourself as ‘very talented’–specifically who agrees with you? Only that person can possibly give you any work to do.
QUESTION II: You further describe yourself as ‘possessing skills nobody else does’–specifically which ones are relevant to the job? Only those are of any practical use where you are.
One can only speculate about the reasons why you have not yet been fired. Some might suggest, however, that a lack of initiative is one reason why you should be, and that without answers to I and II above any headhunter would have difficulty explaining to another NY financial institution what use they have for you.
Posted by: HKLivingston, 26, investment banker | March 10th, 2008 at 6:27 pm | Report this commentIf only you could know how I understand you! I faced exactly the same problem when I got my first full-time job 5 months ago. I know how irritating such situation can be when your boss can not organiz your work and does not even highlight any current tasks and long-term goals.
Posted by: Anna,23, female, specialist in marketing | April 15th, 2008 at 7:17 am | Report this commentFor the first 2 month I felt anxiety and even thought of changing my workplace. But later I started sending cover notes to the head of the board who offered me this job. In these notes which I sent him together with my weekly reports I told in details about the way I do my job and I also asked him questions how should I improve my reports. Later I could consult with those who could advise me on my job, and now everything is more or less clear. Although I still feel that I do smth that is not needed…And my advice is:
You have to find time for serious comprehensive talk with your immediate superior and tell him about your problem. Don`t postpone it, don`t waste your time. This is the only way out. Maybe they will offer you new, more exact duties.
If I had your age(26) and time, these are the things I’d list up to make it up for the slack time :
1) Ask your Boss whether your next engagement requires some learning.Then perhaps enroll in some in-house course and learn a bit more.
2) Propose a new methodology or develop some creative software that might cut tasks of your team-mates by a huge fraction.This will keep you creative !
3) Find whether someone else is in the same situation as you are - then you could probably talk over learning/doing something resourceful.This will cut your aloofness !
4) Self-learning ! some companies would like to assess your competitiveness by seeing how your perform while left in solitary.These are golden periods when you can come up with your own plans and impress your Boss - else dive into loneliness and regret when fired later!
The key is ADVANCE, LEARN, EXCEL…
Posted by: Gordon | May 8th, 2008 at 7:56 am | Report this comment