Off Topic 2017: December to Remember

[kehlis]

Re: Off Topic 2017: Fallen Kingdom

Anyone got any advice?

Starting off at a new job, but so far I haven't really done anything. It's just been day after day, killing time, doing absolutely nothing. Can't really browse like going on a site like this since I share a room with someone else and they got a clear view of my monitor(not that I think they're watching it 99% of the time anyways).

Every now and then I might get the smallest of tasks, but that's really it. Supervisor doesn't entirely check in so often(I probably could just leave early since the supervisor leaves before my day is done), and it'd be annoying if I have to constantly go to them every single time I'm looking for something new to do because I finished the last thing they asked. No real sense of direction at my job right now and nothing I've been given has me feeling like I could spend the entire day doing it. Though I also don't wanna seem like they don't need me either since it is a contract position and I don't want hours/days or contract term itself to get cut or anything.

Sure, it's nice just collecting a paycheck while doing nothing at all, but those 8 hours go by so slowly, I've honestly never been so bored before in my life. It's a small building too, and like I said, I'm stuck in a room with someone else too so I don't really have anywhere to walk around or anywhere to go(the place doesn't even have a break room).

Well for starters what kind of work is it?

I understand you probably can't give details but if you want advice you'll have to at least tell us something but what it is you actually do.

[Caulfield]

Re: Off Topic 2017: Fallen Kingdom

sometimes I'll type this on my co-worker from shipping's monitor
freaks him out and I get a good chuckle.
download.jpg

[Speedy]

Re: Off Topic 2017: Fallen Kingdom

I would advise going to the supervisor and advise you can do more in a day than what you're given. The worst that could happen is "that's all we have for you now" so either way, it's good from your perspective.

[Hassan Darkside]

Re: Off Topic 2017: Fallen Kingdom

I'd advise you to just spend some time listening. If you pay attention to what's going on around you, you'll pick up on gripes, complaints, and inconveniences people have at work but don't have the time (or won't make the effort) to fix. It may be more tedious than complicated, like documentation, and you could help out immediately. Plus you'll save yourself from having those same problems later.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: Off Topic 2017: Fallen Kingdom

The sitting around all day with nothing to do sounds like a past internship experience that probably most of us have had before, lol. Not being able to surf the internet makes it a particularly difficult way to pass 8 hours.

On the one hand, you can be more proactive and ask around for more work. A lot of places these days pride themselves on what they call a "flat management structure" which is just a cute way of saying they don't want to waste any of their precious time managing yours. But, in these types of places, a premium is placed on your ability to self-start and scrounge up tasks. Do a good job and the same people will keep you in mind the next time they could use your help. The downside of this is you could get swamped with stuff you don't exactly know how to do and with no one (apparently) eager to teach you.

On the other hand, you could just ride it out, collect your check and continue to look for a better gig in the meantime.

[Majingir]

Re: Off Topic 2017: Fallen Kingdom

is it against protocol to ask the person you share the room with if theres anything you can help them with?

Their job is higher pay grade than mine and is alot more private info, and lots of phone and email communication. They occasionally ask me for help, not on work itself, but just simple "since you're here, let's see if you can figure out how to do this " type problems.

Well for starters what kind of work is it?

I understand you probably can't give details but if you want advice you'll have to at least tell us something but what it is you actually do.

It's marketing. Basically just promoting small clients and/or products and using social media as well as managing webpage (not on technical level like knowing website coding, but just very basic things like making sure all relevant and updated info is posted on site), none of which can happen yet until those clients come in for meetings(I'm not the one contacting them if you were wondering) , so nothing I can really do until that. But it's a small company, so it's not like it's a fast paced environment at all.

This is my first office job so I'm not use to any of this at all. Everything I've had in past was such fast paced environment where I was constantly moving and rarely had dead time in the week, let alone an entire day. Most were "do first, think later" stuff so you don't really spend time doing nothing.

I would advise going to the supervisor and advise you can do more in a day than what you're given. The worst that could happen is "that's all we have for you now" so either way, it's good from your perspective.

This is the most likely thing I'll be doing.

Nobody wants to make bad impression on a boss at a new job, and I'm just hoping me going to them basically saying I don't have enough to do doesn't come off as me looking dependent or something.

[l3ulvl]

Re: Off Topic 2017: Fallen Kingdom

maj isn't getting paid

[Majingir]

Re: Off Topic 2017: Fallen Kingdom

maj isn't getting paid

Lol, I actually am. Got that stuff sorted out for most part.

[slickdtc]

Off Topic 2017: Fallen Kingdom

Yeah, if you really can't fill your days, your most direct route to doing so is asking your supervisor directly what else you can do. You're new to the company and they're new to you, so it could take an adjustment period for your supervisor to figure out exactly what role they want you to play. It's a good thing to have that communication. Makes you look good too that you're completing your work so quickly and are willing to take on more work.

I get the fear of not wanting your hours or contract cut, but killing 8 hours isn't fun. It's wasted time you could be looking for a better, more suitable job if the company does indeed cut back your hours.

My last piece of advice is be creative. Think outside the box. So you're kind of managing clients social media pages? Think of unique, creative ways to accomplish that. Really take it upon yourself to research ideas and consider everything. There's tons of ways to attack social media and plenty of resources to help you out. Social Media Examiner and Simply Measured are a few newsletters I subscribe to that have given me ideas or strategies. I've always found that in the absence of pure work to do, reading something that relates to what you're doing is never a bad idea. Check out Facebook's latest algorithm tweak. What social channels are on the up and which ones are being used less. How best to optimize video for your brand. And so on.

I know you said your coworker handled the communications, but if you know what clientele you're chasing, maybe you can jump in to that a bit too. Not stepping on their toes, but showing initiative. Find websites, companies, local shops that fits the service your company provides and go get 'em.

[Majingir]

Re: Off Topic 2017: Fallen Kingdom

Yeah, if you really can't fill your days, your most direct route to doing so is asking your supervisor directly what else you can do. You're new to the company and they're new to you, so it could take an adjustment period for your supervisor to figure out exactly what role they want you to play. It's a good thing to have that communication. Makes you look good too that you're completing your work so quickly and are willing to take on more work.

I get the fear of not wanting your hours or contract cut, but killing 8 hours isn't fun. It's wasted time you could be looking for a better, more suitable job if the company does indeed cut back your hours.

My last piece of advice is be creative. Think outside the box. So you're kind of managing clients social media pages? Think of unique, creative ways to accomplish that. Really take it upon yourself to research ideas and consider everything. There's tons of ways to attack social media and plenty of resources to help you out. Social Media Examiner and Simply Measured are a few newsletters I subscribe to that have given me ideas or strategies. I've always found that in the absence of pure work to do, reading something that relates to what you're doing is never a bad idea. Check out Facebook's latest algorithm tweak. What social channels are on the up and which ones are being used less. How best to optimize video for your brand. And so on.

I know you said your coworker handled the communications, but if you know what clientele you're chasing, maybe you can jump in to that a bit too. Not stepping on their toes, but showing initiative. Find websites, companies, local shops that fits the service your company provides and go get 'em.

It's a temp position that ends at end of summer(with the hope I could get extended until Christmas) so it's not like I'm for sure here for long. It's a new position they never had before, so I'm not even sure they entirely know what they want out of me either. And just my luck, I was all prepared to go meet with supervisor, and they're not here(at least in morning) so now I literally can't do anything else since the one person I can even ask about anything isn't here right now.

I don't think I'm allowed to contact the companies just yet so I'm basically just waiting around until then.

How much do you know about this field of work? If it's a decent amount, mind if I PM you questions about it?

[slickdtc]

Re: Off Topic 2017: Fallen Kingdom

It's a temp position that ends at end of summer(with the hope I could get extended until Christmas) so it's not like I'm for sure here for long. It's a new position they never had before, so I'm not even sure they entirely know what they want out of me either. And just my luck, I was all prepared to go meet with supervisor, and they're not here(at least in morning) so now I literally can't do anything else since the one person I can even ask about anything isn't here right now.



I don't think I'm allowed to contact the companies just yet so I'm basically just waiting around until then.



How much do you know about this field of work? If it's a decent amount, mind if I PM you questions about it?

Sounds like the problem is the position being new so you and the company are both trying to find the sweet spot for work versus time.

Marketing is a very broad field, but shoot me a PM and I may be able to help out a bit.

[Majingir]

Re: Off Topic 2017: Fallen Kingdom

Sounds like the problem is the position being new so you and the company are both trying to find the sweet spot for work versus time.

Basically. Hopefully all this "complaining" doesn't come back to bite me. Like going from not having anything to do to suddenly overworked like crazy and/or given things too hard for me.

[BurghFan]

Re: Off Topic 2017: Fallen Kingdom

Map of everything America hates by state



As for Mississippi

Mississippi, well, that answer was too NSFW, so you can find out what Mississippi residents despise here.

Some of these seem really random

[kehlis]

Re: Off Topic 2017: Fallen Kingdom

That's hilarious.

[Majingir]

Re: Off Topic 2017: Fallen Kingdom

lol,based on the NSFW answer, Utah and Mississippi would go well together.