Full Careers

Career Development question. Help! I have a degree in Finance, and was hired earlier last year.?

My work mostly consist of back office/paperwork, but was promised 2 get more "thinking"/mind using job later in 2006. While doing yearly appraisal with my boss I asked if my job routine will change & he said not soon! Now after 8 months in 2007 our company is merging with another & my new title is operations officer (which is back office/papework. Meaning, NOT what I was promised) My boss always told me he want 2 send me 2 work at different institutions or go on business trips & then changes his mind & do nothing. I end up doing more paperwork/follow-ups, getting signatures... WHICH I HATE! Plus, he is not fair with everyone. Some people come 1 or 2 hrs late & I come right on time. Also, when he did my appraisal I was the only employee who did not have privacy like all the others (someone in the office with us which is against policy) Today I am having a talk with him before our move is official. I want 2 go through the right channels (not skip my boss & talk to HR or so) When he keep promising me things and end up breaking all the promises I tend to get angrier. I used to LOVE to come to work and now I just hate it! Its not healthy to come to work everyday like this knowing I will do paperwork when I studied finance and graduated with GPA 3.621! Any other employees getting recruited here he gives them kick-ass jobs such as valuation and analysis which I really want to do. He never allow me to attend the monthly meetings of the dept. and I end up alone in the office when they go with the secertary and what sucks is that most of their phone calls are forwarded to me like I am doing the secertary job! Arghhhh! I need a guide line to follow when I go speak to him later. I just want to know what he see me doing in the future. I am in it for the career development and not for the money to be quiet honest! I like to be busy and work hard and do something I like and be productive.. what I am doing now is making me brain-fried (you dont use ur mind!!!) Mark thanks.. I have studied some engineering before going to business school I know I am smart and can do much more than just sit here fill paperwork and get signatures and all those mindless jobs I am doing! People get hired after I was hired and get much better jobs some are even younger than me!! I am AGITATED!!! arghhhhhhhhhhhh Gerald, maybe you like to work as a mindless machine that only do what they are told to and not look for areas to improve yourself! I have talked to my boss and to your surprise he said I totally understand and I am willing to give you more work that is not back-office related. Even better he said if I decided to look for another job that he will write me good recommendation letters and refrences and will use his resources to help me. He said he doesnt want to let me go, but because I am not improving he totally understands! So its you Gerald who cannot think right and you are so rude!!!! OLDIE!

Public Comments

1. I've been in a very similar situation. I have an engineering degree from a fairly prestigious university and basically the only jobs I've had have been grinding metal bits in small manufacturing operations. The point of grinding the metal bits is for a quality check.. the material either meets specification or it doesn't. I've hated my mindless jobs as well. You will either need to figure out how to transfer to a different department or it is time to move on. The thing is, you perform a function that must get done and your employer has found someone willing to do it... You. Maybe you can find someone that you can train to do your function, but not necessarily as "official" training. I envision something more like this: to a co-worker "Can you help me with this?" If they don't know how to do it, show them how. After a bit of time.. BOOM.. someone else can do your job, which potentially frees you up for transfer. This might not be reality and wishful thinking. Most likely it will be time for you to move on. The downside of moving on is that you really haven't had Finance experience. This is an entirely different can of worms.
2. Set up a scheduled meeting with your boss. Have a list with you that reads: I have accompishted a,b,& c , and would like a,b & c. Tell them you enjoy your job, but you need to build and grow expeirence. That you need the extra room, so you can be more valuble to the company. Do not mention well you always say, and said. Start over like you never had the coversation with him. Ask calm and proffesional, even if your boss isn't. I'm going through the same thing. My bosses are outdated, in there late 70s. I'm supposed to be the manager, have a degree in managment, and was in management for five years prior to my position. They go over every detail of my work, even though they have complimented me on my knowledge and work product. I'm looking for a new job!
3. It is not your job to watch others come to the work place and determine if they are late or not. After 7 months of paper work you are getting very parinoid. You think the boss owes you something-- he does the weekly pay check. That is all he owes you. As I read the more I am convinced of you total inexperience in the business world. You need to grow up. Blame everything on everone but yourself.. This is not hi school this the real world and GPA means absolutely nothing.. Again--- no one owes you nothing not even a thank you.--- Get the pay check and go home...
4. I am glad your boss is so understanding... aparently Gerald is really coming from a place where people just do work and say nothing and let others walk all over them! Thats insane. I like the first two Answerers, specially answerer #2 :) Its good to go prepared, calm, and know what to say in the right time.