What do you do when you can't stand your new job?

Question

3 weeks ago, I was hired as an administrative assistant to the director of a nonprofit. I can't take it anymore! It's very boring, repetitive and tiring.

Also, since the first day, I try to be polite and engage my coworkers in conversation but some continue to ignore me. Its like I'm going out of my way to be nice but to no avail.

The first day on the job, the girl I replaced told me that the position has a high turnover.

I really want to quit but I just started and it took me over a year to find a job in the first place. And of course, I'm broke with like no job experience.

How long should I stay at this job before I quit? What should I do in the meantime?

Answer 1

~Given your lack of job experience, I assume you are either fairly young, or you just recently finished school (or made parole). Whichever, welcome to the real world.

Suggestions:

Make the job interesting.

Accept the fact that most people are unhappy with their job and there is no particular reason why you should be different.

Stop trying to force yourself on the hired help. You have a management position and until your earn the trust and respect of the hired help, there is no reason they should respond to you. If 'administrative assistant' translates to 'secretary', you are apt to viewed as a management spy, if not a management suit and they result is the same. Since the job has such a high turnover, maybe folks just don't want to waste their time getting to know someone who isn't going to be around long.

Have the self-respect to understand that you owe it to your employer to give the job your all in exchange for the paycheck you are taking.

If you have no skills and no experience, be thankful you found work and look at the apple, not the worm.

If the job is that miserable, you can't be doing it too well and yes, you should quit. If you can't afford to quit, your question is meaningless. Did you post it on company time?

I would recommend that you don't jump unless you know where you're going to land and you're sure that you will be better off when you do land. In the meantime, spend your free time learning new skills and getting an education, and next time, research the job before you take it. If all you want is a paycheck, don't worry too much about being not happy with what you have to do to earn it. The world doesn't owe you a living, and certainly not a living in a bed of roses, but you do owe your employer (and yourself?) an honest effort and the integrity to earn your pay, whether happily, miserably or someplace in between. We call that growing up. Such is life.

Answer 2

it is attainable yet with backache and nausea no longer very comfortable and do you extremely imagine you receives a job once you tell an agency you're pregnant, there is 1000's of people going after each and every job who wont be pregnant, very last 3 hundred and sixty 5 days even as i became unemployed I utilized for over 9000 secretarial jobs as I have years of journey and skills and that i have been given 3 interviews, good luck

Answer 3

Hi, I had the same experience few years ago. I hated the job and I was depressed for so long. I was actually so depressed to even look for another job as my energy was zero because I didn't like it and people were treating me like crap. I stayed for 4 years and I suffered psychologically and financially. I ended up quitting to stop the pain and stop them from making a fool out of me as the salary was ridiculous compared to my qualifications

I have been unemployed for a year now. It sucks to have zero income and it also sucks to be unemployed socially wise. You become nobody and suddenly everyone who knows you starts showing off with his job and his life and they use you to look down at and feel good about their status. Even if they are nice to you now once you quit everyone around you will look down at you and will enjoy watching you fail. Don't quit

My advice to you is to look for another job quitely and don't tell anyone that you are frustrated. Don't try to be the friend of anyone who doesn't want to - don't give any personal news about you. Keep to yourself - take some courses in the evening to keep your mind busy and also to learn new skillls that will make you more marketable. Don't quit - Never quit any job. It feels good to feel finally out of this building. Believe me I know this nice feeling. But very soon the bills start coming and your life start crumbling.

May the force be with you.

Answer 4

Take deep breaths, try to learn as much as you can, and keep on sending out resumes.

Not everyone will warm up. Maybe people aren't interested in being friends, since most people with your position leave quickly.

Is there any way to redefine the job so it isn't so bad? If the money is good, and the place has good bennies, try to make it to three months and see if you can get rid of the worst aspects of the job. If you can't then move on to another position.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Talk to boss and see if there is anything else you can do to help out, let them know you'd enjoy the challenge. They'd probably respect your honesty and initiative- if nothing comes of it, keep looking while you have this job- if it took a long time before, at least you may get the longevity you need for your resume at this job. Next interview, indicate you didn't feel challenged and had no control over adding responsibilities. Hang in there.

Answer 6

Life is hard...period. You can't always run when it gets tough. Remember, you are there to get a check, not make friends. Since you have no experience, tough it out for at least 6 months to a year. If it gets to be too much, look for another job before you quit. As you interview, let them know you are looking for a more challeging position and a job home. As far as the bordem, ask your boss for more to do. Good Luck.

Answer 7

Stick with your job for now and send out your resume to different companies in the meantime. You may not like it but you really do want to build your skills and show potential new employers that you are not someone who jumps from one job to the next but that you have "sticking" power. People are less likely to hire someone with little skills and who has a history of leaving jobs after short periods of time.

Answer 8

If it sucks that bad, find a waitressing position (in a big city, maybe in bar) and get your own health insurance for a while...have some fun and while you are doing that either go back to school or look for an awesome job! I did that for a while (and I am university graduate, along with many waitresses who happen to know that you can make bank if you find the right place). Plus, you can socialize and not deal with too many a**holes....good luck.

Answer 9

Hey nobody say work was fun. If everyone quit there job because it's boring there be a very small amount of people out there working. Grow up and face the fact you have to do things you do not like doing.

Answer 10

I am in administrative assistant also. If you really want to quit I'd keep it till I actually find a new position. Sometimes you have to make a sacrifice, my best judgement would be to stay in it and try to find a job real soon. Good luck.