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Post Info TOPIC: I don't know what to do!
ico


Dooney & Bourke

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Posts: 517
Date:
I don't know what to do!
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I am really getting desperate on my situation now, so I am writing hoping some of you girls have some wise words for me...

I started my new job in a pharm company about two weeks ago.

Well, it really sucks.

I don't have a project on my own: I am just following around another girl doing her experiments, helping her with weighting things and putting samples into instruments. My boss told me to follow her around for now, to learn how to use the instruments we have, btu I have learned that during the first two days. Now I am afraid I am about to get on her nerves, always following her, but that's what they have told me to do.
And that's not even the worst part!

Because during the waiting time, when we have to wait for 4-5 hours for instruments to do their analysis, I have nothing to do. Literally.
There is one computer for 4 persons, so it's not like I can say to the guy who is writing a report - let me check my email, or facebook, or ST forum!
And, even if I had a computer, we have no subscription to scientific pubs, so I really cannot even search for work-related papers!
Basically, my last two days of work involved staring in the air, while the instrument was getting cleaned. And re-reading for the thord time some publications I had already read.

And, as if this weren't enough - I'll have to talk at the next lab meeting at the end of the month - about fashion, probably, since I have done no real work until now.

I have no idea what to do. I am afraid of telling to my boss, because he'll just tell me to keep busy (I don't know how). I am seriously getting insane doing nothing for 8 hours. It's somethign I wouldn't whish to anyone.

I left my job because I thought working at a private company, they'd put you in the best situation to do your work. But it's not so.

I am starting to suspect they hired me to fill up all the work hours they needed to get done for a grant they got - without making me do any actual job!

I am gonna call my old boss tomorrow, and ask her if there is a chance I could go back - even though I don't have many hopes on this. And I am gonna send out résumés, but I don't even have the vacation days to take days off to go to interviews, because I just started!

I am hating every single moment I am at the new job. I feel trapped and I have started having panic attaks at night - I thought they were gone, but I am getting worse and worse...

please, tell em anything that I could do that came to your mind. I really want to get out of there ASAP!

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pollyjean23


Marc Jacobs

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Posts: 2429
Date:
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Wow, ico. That sounds horrible.  I think calling your old boss and sending out resumes are good starting points.  If your old boss can't take you back, you should at least get him or her to give you some advice. 

We can try to think of why this situation is like it is until the cows come home, but I suspect that we would never really find out.  It sounds like there are numerous problems.  I think it's best to put all of your energy in getting out of there and keeping yourself as sane and as healthy as possible.

Is there a network of any size near you that you could put on alert for you during your job search?

Are you still affiliated with any university libraries so you could access article databases at home and bring printed articles with you?  Might be a good time to get some books from a professional association or something since you can't get online stuff. 

I'm sorry this is happening, and we ST-ers are here to help you get through this as unscathed as possible!

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Suasoria


Chanel

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Posts: 3120
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I second the suggestion of bringing in reading material. Maybe send a memo/email to the boss letting him/her know that because you have so much "down time" you're going to catch up on some work-related reading to keep busy. You could also suggest some publications they could subscribe to that would benefit everyone. This may be a subtle way of saying you don't have enough work.

I know the grass is always greener, but if I could spend 4-5 hours of my workday just getting paid to read a novel...ah, heaven.

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Miss Mabel


Kenneth Cole

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Posts: 284
Date:
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Suasoria wrote:

I second the suggestion of bringing in reading material. Maybe send a memo/email to the boss letting him/her know that because you have so much "down time" you're going to catch up on some work-related reading to keep busy. You could also suggest some publications they could subscribe to that would benefit everyone. This may be a subtle way of saying you don't have enough work.

I know the grass is always greener, but if I could spend 4-5 hours of my workday just getting paid to read a novel...ah, heaven.


I third those suggestions! Also, I think I read on your blog that you had another job offer as well when you accepted this offer? Could you reach out to that organization and see if they still have that opening or if they have another opening?

I'm so sorry this is happening, but try not to worry too much. No good can come of that. Try to spend time each day thinking about the good things in your life you're grateful for. And, you will eventually find something else or this situation will improve. Good luck!

 



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kenzie


Chanel

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Posts: 4919
Date:
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Oh goodness. I can definitely relate to this because I feel like this every single day. Not having anything to do at work is so much worse than being overextended (to me, anyway).

Definitely start with contacting your old boss. Hopefully, something will work out there. And keep sending resumes.

I also agree with Suasoria's reading material suggestion.

Good luck to you!

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XtinaStyles


Marc Jacobs

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Posts: 2478
Date:
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Is it possible that they don't want to overwhelm you/don't trust you yet? Its only been 10 days!

My job started off like this, I was with 1 person 8 hours a day and she started getting on my nerves. Once I proved myself capable and learned the ins and outs my role took a much more involved and important stance.

I think you can subtly talk about it with your supervisor without having to jump ship.

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ico


Dooney & Bourke

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Posts: 517
Date:
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XtinaStyles wrote:

Is it possible that they don't want to overwhelm you/don't trust you yet? Its only been 10 days!

My job started off like this, I was with 1 person 8 hours a day and she started getting on my nerves. Once I proved myself capable and learned the ins and outs my role took a much more involved and important stance.

I think you can subtly talk about it with your supervisor without having to jump ship.


I think you are pretty right. I went to work today and didn't take any decision, just wanted to see how it would go. We had a busy day, thank God, but the most important part is that, talking to a colleague about some meeting she was having, she told me how she and another girl started off working on the same things, then eventually they split up their projects. I am hoping it's gonna go this way for me too - it seems to be almost the company's methid.

I'll talk to my boss anyway, asking for example if I can bring my computer to work to use for calculations/internet search while the other is in use. Hope he agrees...

 



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Aurora


Marc Jacobs

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Posts: 2408
Date:
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I'm sorry you are going through this. This is always my fear when I think about leaving a job and starting a new one. I am hoping that things will improve since it has only been a week or so since you've started. I think the other girls have good suggestions and I can't add too much right now.

Can you maybe ask your coworkers or your boss if they have something that you could work on for them?

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