Not enough work at temp-to-hire job. Want to ask for more to do
November 28, 2023 10:07 AM Subscribe
but also don't want to be seen as an unnecessary hire and expendable.
I've been in a temp-to-hire position with a great company but the problem is that there has not been much for me to do. I feel a little useless and anxious about it. I've asked many questions over the past few years about challenges getting into my new field after going to grad school to change careers so that's making this feel a little more high stakes and fueling my anxiety.
Hi all,
I've been in a temp-to-hire position with a great company but the problem is that there has not been much for me to do. I feel a little useless and anxious about it. I've asked many questions over the past few years about challenges getting into my new field after going to grad school to change careers so that's making this feel a little more high stakes and fueling my anxiety.
I want to ask for more work but at the same time, I don't want to point out how little I have to do and therefore be perceived as extra personnel adding little value and basically redundant.
-I was hired at this company and it's a pretty good place to finally get my foot in the door.
- I found the job through a staffing agency so I'm on a six month temp-to-hire program which means not being an actually employee I am theoretically easy to cut at any time.
- They have acknowledged that I might not have a ton of work initially but two months in nothing has really changed. Going into the holidays I think there might be even less work.
- I feel like a fifth wheel and while most people are telling me, "Hey, you are getting paid." Well just getting paid isn't exactly satisfying and I feel like I'm not adding much value.
- I think a few people in my department who could give me work, might not want to share work with me. One person always explains that times are too busy at the moment to explain things while she constantly lets everybody know how busy she is. Another person has been directed to give me work by the owner but has told me that it's just easier if he does it. I've seen this kind of reason to not teach new teammates before and it usually an excuse to protect territory. I can't say for sure and think it's something worth delicately mentioning to my actual supervisors but don't want to get into that potential political conflict that it could bring. This is not necessarily my main concern at the moment, but it might be an issue. I'm not sure I want to directly address this yet.
--- As an example, I also have some very special skills that can be used and when offering them have been turned down. These are skills such as language skills when they are struggling to deal with translated work content that they can't read instead turning to Google Translate (not the world's greatest translation tool) when I'm right outside their office listening to them struggle to understand synonyms and other finer details that are really pretty easy stuff. I've offered to help but then again told it was too complicated to explain.
- The owners and my direct supervisor are constantly on the road with clients and not here much to give me work. They don't generally see my effort or lack of it.
I have asked for work but started to think it's not great to call attention to them potentially not really needing me. I want the work, I'm happy to be here, but I'm bored and don't want to be cut for being a redundant or dispensable worker. I'm really afraid of being let go. I will be following this question up with another one about other view of me being a "temp" which might make people reluctant to give me any training.
I am thinking that I will ask for some very specific work that I was hired for and haven't been exposed to yet. I think asking specifically for that work shows initiative and demonstrates a desire to do what I'm supposed to be doing. I think that's a better start to address this than just simply asking for work, any work because I have nothing to do.
What are your thoughts on this? How might any of you address this.
Hi all,
I've been in a temp-to-hire position with a great company but the problem is that there has not been much for me to do. I feel a little useless and anxious about it. I've asked many questions over the past few years about challenges getting into my new field after going to grad school to change careers so that's making this feel a little more high stakes and fueling my anxiety.
I want to ask for more work but at the same time, I don't want to point out how little I have to do and therefore be perceived as extra personnel adding little value and basically redundant.
-I was hired at this company and it's a pretty good place to finally get my foot in the door.
- I found the job through a staffing agency so I'm on a six month temp-to-hire program which means not being an actually employee I am theoretically easy to cut at any time.
- They have acknowledged that I might not have a ton of work initially but two months in nothing has really changed. Going into the holidays I think there might be even less work.
- I feel like a fifth wheel and while most people are telling me, "Hey, you are getting paid." Well just getting paid isn't exactly satisfying and I feel like I'm not adding much value.
- I think a few people in my department who could give me work, might not want to share work with me. One person always explains that times are too busy at the moment to explain things while she constantly lets everybody know how busy she is. Another person has been directed to give me work by the owner but has told me that it's just easier if he does it. I've seen this kind of reason to not teach new teammates before and it usually an excuse to protect territory. I can't say for sure and think it's something worth delicately mentioning to my actual supervisors but don't want to get into that potential political conflict that it could bring. This is not necessarily my main concern at the moment, but it might be an issue. I'm not sure I want to directly address this yet.
--- As an example, I also have some very special skills that can be used and when offering them have been turned down. These are skills such as language skills when they are struggling to deal with translated work content that they can't read instead turning to Google Translate (not the world's greatest translation tool) when I'm right outside their office listening to them struggle to understand synonyms and other finer details that are really pretty easy stuff. I've offered to help but then again told it was too complicated to explain.
- The owners and my direct supervisor are constantly on the road with clients and not here much to give me work. They don't generally see my effort or lack of it.
I have asked for work but started to think it's not great to call attention to them potentially not really needing me. I want the work, I'm happy to be here, but I'm bored and don't want to be cut for being a redundant or dispensable worker. I'm really afraid of being let go. I will be following this question up with another one about other view of me being a "temp" which might make people reluctant to give me any training.
I am thinking that I will ask for some very specific work that I was hired for and haven't been exposed to yet. I think asking specifically for that work shows initiative and demonstrates a desire to do what I'm supposed to be doing. I think that's a better start to address this than just simply asking for work, any work because I have nothing to do.
What are your thoughts on this? How might any of you address this.
My suggestion was going to be similar to yours in asking for specific work. Perhaps you can craft your requests in ways that make clear the level of training and instruction (or not) that it would require.
For example, "I can do x including y, z. I would just need to know [e.g. how long or in what format you need]. I have time to get it done by [time]."
The more clearly you telegraph the level of time it will take the other person to integrate it into their workflow, the easier it is to say yes.
I think the same thing goes for asking for more work from your supervisors. I don't think you should not do it at all - they may well say later that they didn't know you didn't have enough and you should have asked. But you can take the same approach, of noticing things you could do and how, and offering explicitly to do those things. "I've noticed we do x a lot. I have y skills and have done x before. I have capacity to help out z person by doing [such and such part]." You don't have to highlight that you have little to do, just communicate that you have the capacity to do more and make it easy for them by being specific.
You can also proactively find things to do that don't require much input and do those things, whether or not they fit within your explicit job description and provided they're not assigned to someone else.
I tend to agree that mentioning it to your supervisors is tricky and potentially leads to undesirable politics.
posted by lookoutbelow at 10:52 AM on November 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
For example, "I can do x including y, z. I would just need to know [e.g. how long or in what format you need]. I have time to get it done by [time]."
The more clearly you telegraph the level of time it will take the other person to integrate it into their workflow, the easier it is to say yes.
I think the same thing goes for asking for more work from your supervisors. I don't think you should not do it at all - they may well say later that they didn't know you didn't have enough and you should have asked. But you can take the same approach, of noticing things you could do and how, and offering explicitly to do those things. "I've noticed we do x a lot. I have y skills and have done x before. I have capacity to help out z person by doing [such and such part]." You don't have to highlight that you have little to do, just communicate that you have the capacity to do more and make it easy for them by being specific.
You can also proactively find things to do that don't require much input and do those things, whether or not they fit within your explicit job description and provided they're not assigned to someone else.
I tend to agree that mentioning it to your supervisors is tricky and potentially leads to undesirable politics.
posted by lookoutbelow at 10:52 AM on November 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Responding to lookoutbelow - the irony is that I also do have specific grad school training in the subject matter. They have more real world experience but no formal training. I have deeper knowledge in what we do, just not yet applied. They are very good at their job having been in their positions for many, many years. It seems pretty complimentary to have the two types of knowledge, skills and experience.
posted by Che boludo! at 10:57 AM on November 28, 2023
posted by Che boludo! at 10:57 AM on November 28, 2023
Just to add - a highly valued skill is understanding systems as a whole and spotting opportunities you can contribute to. Acting as your own manager by finding things, specifically defining them and presenting your supervisor with easy opportunities to provide input is also highly valued. Any email that can be answered with a "yes" or "no", or do option 1 or 2 is a gift.
Open-ended emails are asking them to do work also, which may or not be beneficial enough for them to do.
If you don't have those specific opportunities, phrasing matters. Perhaps "I have extra capacity", not "I need more to do".
posted by lookoutbelow at 10:58 AM on November 28, 2023 [8 favorites]
Open-ended emails are asking them to do work also, which may or not be beneficial enough for them to do.
If you don't have those specific opportunities, phrasing matters. Perhaps "I have extra capacity", not "I need more to do".
posted by lookoutbelow at 10:58 AM on November 28, 2023 [8 favorites]
I had a similar experience when I was in a role that was too junior for me, in a workplace with strong hierarchy and territorial-ness. I don't have a good answer for you. In this sort of environment it is difficult to get what you want (more responsibility, the opportunity to contribute, more work) without stepping on toes and pissing people off. Honestly, I'd keep your head down and give it some more time, as you are still quite new. Long term I'd say this is not the job for you, and you should look for other opportunities.
posted by emd3737 at 11:02 AM on November 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by emd3737 at 11:02 AM on November 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
I have to agree with you that pointing out repeatedly, "I don't have much to do, I need more work" makes you look very expendable :/ It also sounds like begging other coworkers for work isn't working and that management isn't noticing the problem or having much to offer you in the first place, so I'm inclined to say that going to them further may not help and may actually hurt by making you look like they pay you to do nothing.
My two suggestions:
(a) See if you can make up/come up with your own work to do. I don't know what you're doing, but like, "hey, this file system is a mess, mind if I clean it up?" sort of stuff. Reorganizing the paper cabinet. Whatever is something you can handle alone to "look busy."
(b) Start working on your own personal projects and/or job hunting or just reading online or whatever to entertain yourself and "look busy." If you want to be Of Value this badly and have more stuff to do, this doesn't sound like the place that can provide that on a long term basis. I get that you want to be hired there full time in person, but this problem may keep on being something that bothers you even if you get hired there full time. If it's that upsetting and anxiety-producing to have very little work to do and you're not okay with coming up with ways to entertain yourself, you may just want to continue the job hunt.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:05 AM on November 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
My two suggestions:
(a) See if you can make up/come up with your own work to do. I don't know what you're doing, but like, "hey, this file system is a mess, mind if I clean it up?" sort of stuff. Reorganizing the paper cabinet. Whatever is something you can handle alone to "look busy."
(b) Start working on your own personal projects and/or job hunting or just reading online or whatever to entertain yourself and "look busy." If you want to be Of Value this badly and have more stuff to do, this doesn't sound like the place that can provide that on a long term basis. I get that you want to be hired there full time in person, but this problem may keep on being something that bothers you even if you get hired there full time. If it's that upsetting and anxiety-producing to have very little work to do and you're not okay with coming up with ways to entertain yourself, you may just want to continue the job hunt.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:05 AM on November 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
- I think a few people in my department who could give me work, might not want to share work with me. One person always explains that times are too busy at the moment to explain things while she constantly lets everybody know how busy she is. Another person has been directed to give me work by the owner but has told me that it's just easier if he does it. I've seen this kind of reason to not teach new teammates before and it usually an excuse to protect territory.
I think others have given some good suggestions to your general question. I just want to respond to the above, to say that people may be genuinely too busy or find it less efficient to delegate work to you. I have been (and still often) am in the position where new/junior/short-term staff are looking to me for projects or tasks and I can't really invest the time and energy in delegation to someone who is not my direct report. While I appreciate an offer to assist, it often makes more sense for me to do something myself. Delegation, supervision, and double checking/correcting other's work often takes a lot of time. Just offering another perspective to consider, that people aren't necessarily out to "protect territory" or trying to be exclusive.
posted by fies at 2:48 PM on November 28, 2023 [6 favorites]
I think others have given some good suggestions to your general question. I just want to respond to the above, to say that people may be genuinely too busy or find it less efficient to delegate work to you. I have been (and still often) am in the position where new/junior/short-term staff are looking to me for projects or tasks and I can't really invest the time and energy in delegation to someone who is not my direct report. While I appreciate an offer to assist, it often makes more sense for me to do something myself. Delegation, supervision, and double checking/correcting other's work often takes a lot of time. Just offering another perspective to consider, that people aren't necessarily out to "protect territory" or trying to be exclusive.
posted by fies at 2:48 PM on November 28, 2023 [6 favorites]
Additionally, the staffing agency might have advice, especially if they’ve worked with this company before. You can also ask if they have any feedback from the company you’re working at. They want you to get placed so they get paid, and it sounds like your role is specialized enough that they might invest the time to help you.
posted by momus_window at 8:23 PM on November 28, 2023
posted by momus_window at 8:23 PM on November 28, 2023
the irony is that I also do have specific grad school training in the subject matter. They have more real world experience but no formal training.
It really depends on the field, but "no formal training" doesn't necessarily mean that they're not much much more capable at their work than you would be. If there are specific things (i.e. not "grad school knowledge" but specific skills or knowledge) that you can bring to the table that can tangibly improve their results, then yes, you should find ways to bring them to the table. But if not, they may well be a company that values real world experience over theory, and they may be right to do so.
posted by trig at 8:48 AM on November 29, 2023
It really depends on the field, but "no formal training" doesn't necessarily mean that they're not much much more capable at their work than you would be. If there are specific things (i.e. not "grad school knowledge" but specific skills or knowledge) that you can bring to the table that can tangibly improve their results, then yes, you should find ways to bring them to the table. But if not, they may well be a company that values real world experience over theory, and they may be right to do so.
posted by trig at 8:48 AM on November 29, 2023
I would suggest scheduling time with your supervisor for something like a "Check In/Looking Forward" meeting. With the halfway point of your contract coming up and also the new year, you can easily associate some significance to an arbitrary date and request to meet "to reflect on your work so far and touch base about the next few months". In that meeting, you can point out your achievements, note that you've got a bit more bandwidth and would love to be utilized more on the team, clarify your specific skills that could be put into action, and generally express enthusiasm for contributing more in the new year/back half of your contract. (You can also ask for feedback, because maybe there's a reason that work isn't coming your way and you just don't know it. I think it's healthy to open the door to get performance feedback, but it really depends on your company's culture around feedback, your supervisor's ability to provide, and your ability to receive. I'd think of it as optional for this meeting, but it could be interesting!) Ultimately, if your supervisor isn't around much, they may not know your skills or bandwidth.
That said, it's your supervisor's job to funnel work in your direction and know that you have the capacity and skills to get it done. If your supervisor doesn't know this, it's your job to let them know in a super-positive, forward-looking, eager-to-contribute way will hopefully get their gears spinning and unlock some more stuff for you to do. I'd stay firmly away from noting that you're not engaged, that you're bored, that you're thinking of doing an online class while at work, etc. -- because the point isn't that you're giving them feedback about managing you poorly (which they are doing) but instead enlightening them to your potential to make them more successful by delivering more work. More: I love it here and I want to contribute more. Less: It could be good here, but this is what I need to make it that way.
And if this doesn't work, I agree with the other commenters that this may not be the right environment or job for you and looking for whatever is next is a good plan.
posted by luzdeluna at 11:56 AM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
That said, it's your supervisor's job to funnel work in your direction and know that you have the capacity and skills to get it done. If your supervisor doesn't know this, it's your job to let them know in a super-positive, forward-looking, eager-to-contribute way will hopefully get their gears spinning and unlock some more stuff for you to do. I'd stay firmly away from noting that you're not engaged, that you're bored, that you're thinking of doing an online class while at work, etc. -- because the point isn't that you're giving them feedback about managing you poorly (which they are doing) but instead enlightening them to your potential to make them more successful by delivering more work. More: I love it here and I want to contribute more. Less: It could be good here, but this is what I need to make it that way.
And if this doesn't work, I agree with the other commenters that this may not be the right environment or job for you and looking for whatever is next is a good plan.
posted by luzdeluna at 11:56 AM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
« Older How to deal with a misogynistic bully at work | What is it like auditing an undergrad class as an... Newer »
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
I really don't want to lose the opportunity to gain the new skills I'm supposed to be picking up here. That would be disappointing too.
In the interview I was asked what I didn't like in a job. My answer, "To not be engaged" they really seemed to like that answer, but I'm not really engaged and it's driving me crazy.
I have been able to get a few projects from workers that aren't in my department. One is relevant, the other not so much. I'm kind of stretching those out as they are not urgent and it's something.
I was thinking about asking if it would be ok to do a coding course either free or paid for myself. It would be EXTREMELY relevant to this job and others in the future. This might be looked at positively or again demonstrate the lack of work I have and could also talk me out of the job as not being what I was hired for in this specific position.
posted by Che boludo! at 10:46 AM on November 28, 2023