Feeling Stuck in a New Job with No Real Tasks – Should I Stay or Move On?

Dear all,

I have recently joined a travel-based company as an Admin Executive, although I was working as a Manager of Administration in my previous company, which was a business group mainly involved in Construction, Imports, and Software development. I had to leave my previous job due to the financial crisis faced by the company.

I'm not really satisfied with working in the present company as I have not been assigned any proper work until now. It's going to be two months now, but still, I'm passing my time by checking the company emails and doing whatever job comes to my table. Moreover, the company already has 3-4 people in Administration, including an Admin Manager. I'm afraid to express anything to the Managing Director as I have been referred to him by a friend of his who is known to me, although I have explained the same to him.

Please advise whether it would be wise for me to quit this job or hang around and observe until the management assigns me work. Also, I have applied to various companies but have not received any positive results.

I'm really getting desperate and frustrated as the thought of coming to the office makes me sick.

Do reply with your comments.

Regards,
P

Two months is quite a long time to spend without work. I think you should speak with the concerned person. Do not express that you are unhappy; just ask them about your role and responsibilities in the organization.

Also, you should try to get in touch with your seniors and ask for responsibilities.

@nitchmarketing

Don't worry about not having much work in your present job. If the company has hired you, it definitely has some plans for you. And if it doesn't, then you can enjoy your extended induction period. If you really like to have a heavy workload, then start looking for another job. Sometimes, having no work might be a hidden message that your employment is not required too. Check around and understand what others in your Admin Dept are handling, and maybe you can take on a part of that work on a regular basis. The world isn't a perfect place to be; some complain of loads of work and no pay, and some complain of no work and all pay. Enjoy your pay until the work follows.

Regards

Dear all,

I have tried to express my feelings, but they are probably too occupied to understand. They have been trying to give me some indefinite kind of job, like preparing some orientation program, etc. How long can one spend time without doing anything from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm?

Moreover, it's really demoralizing for me from all means! I'm unable to cope with the present scenario.

Regards,
P

I understand the situation. The best solution could be to convey it to your manager. As you have already done that, the next solution could be to try finding out what else you can do to equip yourself with knowledge by engaging in the work your fellow members are doing or try to find what new you can introduce in the present way of doing work. If you still cannot get out of the scenario you are explaining, then try for other jobs, but don't quit the present one. Believe in yourself; there is always an opportunity for a pessimist. You will get one for sure, then quit the job and move on in your life.

All the best.

Thank you very much for your reply. However, I'm really unsure how long I can continue because, until now, I was holding on by not being a pessimist only. Even though I have tried to involve and assist my coworkers so that I can learn things, to my dismay, there is a lot of internal politics which is making things worse again. What I have felt here is that even the Admin Manager has no powers; he is merely playing the role of a clerk.

I apologize for my repeated emails in this regard, but I don't have anybody to guide me. Probably, as you know, your mind and body also don't support you when you are disturbed.

Thanks and regards,
P

Alright... Be calm. It is a bit odd to be addressed as Mr. as I am a girl. When you have decided to quit, then do it, but let's think of it in another way.

Assessing Your Situation

Is there anything wrong with you or your perception? No. The work environment is not supporting you to work long or stay back, right? Yes, you are right, but the situation is worse, yes. Then why should your career get spoiled without your fault and because of somebody (situations) else? So be calm and try for another job. If you quit now, there will be a lot of unanswerable questions.

All the best.

Dear Bhandhavi,

Sorry for wrongly addressing you. Thanks again for a prompt reply. I will definitely try to follow. But what about the other senior members...any suggestions for this situation? Hope things get alright soon...

Thank you very much.
P

Advice for an Admin Manager in a New Role

I understand your concern about the present job. However, as an Admin Manager, you need to create work for yourself within your company. It seems you may not have a clear idea about Administration. If you truly feel overwhelmed with work, remember that no one will assign tasks to you; you must generate them yourself. "Turn the page and learn the work" is the motto of Administrative activity.

You can gather administration information from various sources, prepare a database, and create and formulate pro formas, designs, and tables. This will aid in the database preparation for your company. Sitting idle is not productive. Remember, work is worship. I advise you not to quit the job. Your experience in the current role will benefit you in the future.

Regards,
Suri Babu Komakula

Dear Mr. P,

Please ask for the job description (JD) of your profile from your boss and then take on the work accordingly.

Good luck!

Dear friend, don't keep thinking that you are not satisfied in your present employment. This mindset can lead you to make mistakes repeatedly and may result in you losing your current job due to management's actions. Instead, consider searching for a better job that aligns with your qualifications and temperament. However, keep in mind that it is within your control to adapt, as every job comes with its own set of preferences and challenges. Engage in daily meditation in the morning, as it can provide you with the energy to face any situation. Wishing you all the best.

Dear all, I have recently joined a travel-based company as an Admin Exec, after working as an Admin Manager in my previous company, which was a business group primarily involved in Construction, Imports, and Software development. I had to leave my previous job due to the financial crisis the company was facing. I am not entirely satisfied with my current role in the company, as I have not been assigned any substantial work yet. It has been almost two months, and I am still passing my time by checking company emails and handling miscellaneous tasks that come my way. Additionally, the company already has 3-4 people in the Admin department, including an Admin Manager. I am hesitant to approach the Managing Director about this situation, as I was referred to him by a friend of his who is acquainted with me, even though I have expressed my concerns to him. Please advise if it would be wise for me to consider resigning from this position or if I should continue observing until the management assigns me tasks. I have also applied to various other companies but have not received any positive responses yet. I am feeling increasingly desperate and frustrated, as the thought of coming to the office makes me feel unwell. Looking forward to your comments.

Regards, P

Thank you for your reply, but I believe you have not gone through my previous messages. The company already has an Admin Manager who doesn't seem to have any authority. As I mentioned before, I can perform my job well if I am given the freedom to do so. Many times, I have approached my Managing Director/Executive Director with ideas and suggestions based on my observations over the past two months, but each time I have been discouraged by the response that they are already implementing these ideas. Additionally, there are many senior staff members in the admin department, so I have to rely on them for information, which complicates my ability to take action due to internal politics.

Furthermore, this industry is new to me as my previous experience lies in Event Management, Construction, Imports, and software development companies. I am not looking to leave my current job until I secure another one. Although I considered the advice to stay silent and collect my salary without actively contributing, I am concerned that I may be stifling my abilities by following that path.

I look forward to receiving your valuable comments.

Regards,
P(Ms.)

Understanding Your Current Situation

I do think you have a real problem. There can't be a worse punishment [willfully or otherwise] for someone used to hard and regular work than to keep him/her idle for days or weeks. Your fear about freezing your capabilities is right—whether you or those near to you notice it or not, that stage is bound to come sooner or later. I have seen it happen—the best example of this being the typical government employees who get used to full salary with no work. In your case, there's a danger that as time passes, you could become more and more redundant workwise.

Analyzing the Management's Intentions

Coming to the possibilities, have you considered this? Maybe the MD/ED are waiting for YOU to leave rather than them asking you to leave—since you came through a reference and they don't want to hurt that person. The fact that they aren't giving you any work and not accepting any of your ideas should give you an indication. Also, your past experience doesn't seem to align with the needs of any role in this company—if that's clear to you, don't you think it would be to them as well? Then why would they have hired you—perhaps NOT TO OFFEND your common friend for whatever reasons?

Exploring Your Options

Moving on to the options open to you at this point in time; there seems to be ONLY ONE. Look out for a suitable job ASAP and submit your resignation—I am sure they would feign sadness when you say you want to leave. There is a strong possibility that your common friend may not be realizing what's happening, since you mentioned you did tell him.

ALL THE BEST.

Regards,
TS

I think Tajsateesh might be correct. In this situation, I would advise you to actively look for a change, but please do not leave this job without securing another job offer.

I can empathize with your situation as I had faced something very similar early in my career. This kind of behavior is typical of family-managed units, characterized by a genuine lack of respect and trust for each other. Please immediately start looking for a new job. The longer you stay in that company, the more it will negatively impact your well-being.

Regards,
Rainbow

I can say one thing for sure with the chain of conversations you have had in this forum: you are frustrated with the situations around you. In this scenario, I would strongly suggest not going for others' opinions. Rather, I recommend starting to think about:

1. What made you frustrated?
2. Who is responsible for this?
3. Why did this situation come about?
4. How can this be handled?

If you could spend your valuable time answering these questions to yourself without the involvement of others, you would certainly find the answers and start acting on them immediately.

If you read the above phrase where I mentioned "valuable time"... yes, you have valuable time which you are not realizing. I wish it should not be too late by the time you realize it, buddy. Try and identify what you are... Go ahead now... you found the answer. All the best! You can answer many things, but answering for yourself is more important. I might sound unsupportive, but this is the fact. 

Regards,
Asif

Hi P, I am from Nepal. What I suggest is to please ask for the job description or TOR from your current job. You have spent two months without performing as per your ability, and that may affect your further career. You should ask for the TOR, which will definitely show why you were hired. Then only you can decide whether to quit or not.

Regards,
DS

Please ask for the job description or TOR of your position. This will guide you to decide whether you are needed in this company or not. If your TOR does not match your skills, then you can consider quitting. Staying two months without performing and feeling frustrated is not beneficial for your future career.

DS

Hello, I agree with the suggestions given by Mr. Suri Babu. These guidelines are most useful for new joiners. If expected work is not received in the starting period, you have to work as suggested by Mr. Suri Babu. This will help to increase your knowledge and confidence, and automatically you will get work as you wish.

Regards,
K

Dear Mr. P.,

I understand your situation and know that it feels terrible to sit idle for 8 hours without any work. I agree with Mr. Suri Babu Komakula. When we join a new organization, we have to create a space for ourselves, and in the Administration and HR Department, there is a lot of work. One who is eager to learn new skills and tries to utilize their past work experience would definitely excel in their field. If the company has hired you, then there must be some purpose behind it. Please ask your immediate superior about your role in the organization and show them your willingness to be a part of the organization.

You may definitely think of other alternatives if the work environment is hostile and demoralizing.

Regards,
Syed Adil Mehdi

Hey, I too am in your position. You have been idle for 2 months, but I have been idle for 1.3 years. My designation is also as an Admin Head, but still, I am not getting a job in my profile. However, I always take the chance to learn from others (lawyers, accountants, advertising, branding, etc.). Sometimes, I feel that I am forgetting the work that I had learned before. It's very hard to kill time.

It is quite true that while you were in the UK, you were earning a good amount of money, but at that time, you didn't have job security. Now, in your current company, you have job security, and being new to the industry, you are getting a lower salary. However, once you start working and gain more experience, you will surely receive a decent amount of money.

Thanks,
PT (Ms.)

Dear, I agree with you. It is really very difficult to spend time from morning 9:30 to evening. It's demoralizing for you because I am also facing the same problem with my present job. I am working as an Executive HR in a telecom company, but they don't want to implement anything. All the work is clerical and boring. Please help me out if anyone knows of any HR openings in hardcore HR or Generalist profiles. My advice is for you to try for a new job and go for a change. It could be quite beneficial for you. All the best.

Regards,
Prinshu Taneja
Executive HR

You need not worry, as you have spent two months in your current organization. If you have not been assigned any work, try to understand the work culture of the organization. Study the organization and its people, and make suitable records. Moreover, you can approach your seniors for work. If you are from the admin department, you can temporarily assist in other departments like purchase, servicing, accounts, HR, etc., which will be beneficial for your department in the future.

In every new organization, initially, you may feel uncomfortable. However, gradually try to understand the organization better as there may be big plans ahead for the company, which is why they hired you. There is likely a specific purpose behind your hiring; otherwise, the company would not pay you without any work. Senior personnel are always focused on maximizing manpower utilization.

Thank you

Thank you for all the valued comments. They have really boosted my spirit. However, after working as Manager of Administration for so many years, this sudden change is proving to be quite difficult for me to overcome. I am doubtful if I will be assigned something more challenging than my current role because even the Manager of Administration here is working more like a clerk; perhaps, that is what the management also desires.

Moreover, whenever I try to take on more work, my colleagues create a fearful atmosphere that diminishes my interest. At the start of the day and the end of the evening, I feel disheartened due to my lack of performance. It feels like I am killing myself every moment.

I hope things will change soon.

Regards,
P (Ms)