Just because you have a job, should you be grateful and just put up with menial assignments? How and when should you approach the boss about better assignments?
New Work Position and Wants to Move Up Faster
Q. Hello,
I'm reaching out to you to see if you could help me with a little dilemma I'm experiencing.
I've been at my new position for over a year. In fact, this Tuesday made an entire year and to tell you the truth I feel like I'm in a rut. When I first began the position the CFO (who is also my boss) informed me that this is an entry-level position that it would at times be boring. Ok I can deal with that...:) Over the course of the year I've been slightly challenged but not to my full potential. I just can't help but think I have a degree in accounting and this is not necessarily what I thought I would be doing with my degree. I realize that we all have to start somewhere but I guess at the end of the day I can not help but think why can't I stay where I am and continue to be developed?
Waiting to be Challenged
So I've been thinking about talking to my boss about my dilemma. But my question to you is how do I go about presenting my dilemma to him or should I just be very straight forward about it? I feel like on every job I start I'm always placed in this box, where in my opinion I'm only given what my manager's feel I can handle. I've never liked being the status quo. I know my potential and what I'm capable of doing and I would like the chance to try and learn.
I know in this job market I should be just thankful to have a job and I am but I also want to be challenged.
I'm really hoping to hear from you soon!
Thank you in advance!!
Regards,
You're Disillusioned, but Do You Know What the Company's Mission and Direction is?
A. Congratulations on both your degree, your new job, AND holding onto it for over a year! Now the reality check. Did you have a performance review? How is the company doing in this downturned economy? More importantly, what are YOU doing to help the company get ahead? How can the company or your boss know what you can do unless you actually do it? And that does not mean waiting for Prince or Princess Charming to hand you a great project because they instinctively know you are as great as you think you are. Of course you are disillusioned with work after your degree. You see great things ahead, but you forget you have to prove yourself.
Stop Waiting and Start Doing for the Company
School is over. You no longer wait for your assignments to be handed out, and then wait for your mark. If you want a project – see what needs doing in the company. If you don't know, that means you haven't bothered to learn anything about the company that is paying you. What's the mission statement? How does it affect your department? You mention accounting - so how are the receivables doing? Is there anything you could do to help? For example - tell your boss you'd be willing to call up clients about overdue accounts. Even better – if your company offers a small discount for invoices paid within 20 days, offer to call up those clients and give them a friendly reminder about it.
Performance Review is the Perfect Time to Ask for Added Projects
Of course any manager is only going to give you what they think you can do. It's up to YOU to prove to them you can handle more. Your statement about "every job I start" means you've done this before, as if you leave jobs because you find them boring, or think they don't use your talent. No one and no job is ever going to hand over a great project because you think you can do it.
Stop whining and waiting and start proving. The perfect time would have been at a performance review (usually held yearly). You can still request one though. Be prepared though. Saying the job is not showing your potential is a ticket out the door. Before you request a meeting, make sure you understand what the company does and where it's heading, as well as any problems it needs to address. Just going to the boss to say you want some decent projects is the same as whining to the teacher or your parents that you're bored and expect them to make the work interesting. It won't happen.
Request Meeting but Be Prepared with your Contributions
Have you contributed to any projects or anything outside your daily routine? If so, you can go armed with your contributions to the boss and ask him/her if there are any other projects you could work on, even in a limited capacity. If not, why not? There's always something that needs doing in a company – usually at meetings volunteers are asked to handle certain workloads.
While your position may not allow you to lead, you should speak up and say you would like to be able to help on a particular one. Don't just say "I'll help on any project" – pick one and then when someone is appointed lead, speak up and say you'd like the opportunity to work on that project to help that person. Even if you are not invited to the meetings, you probably hear about the projects. Let your boss and the lead know you would like the opportunity to help – and be specific about what you can do on that project.
Good luck.
Advice Tip – no one owes you a promotion or a special project or interesting work. You have to prove you can do it by finding ways to help the company succeed. Anyone can sit and wait for someone to see they are great, but those that are great don't wait.
Paym Bergson - Paym Bergson - freelance entrepreneur & career coach with extensive experience working in the educational/professional development ...
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