I'm bored out of my mind at work. How do I ask my boss for more responsibilities and challenges?

Question

The projects I'm given are more busy work than actual fulfilling tasks. I want to show that I can take on larger roles and be the leader that they hired me to become. I'm ready to take the next step, why does it take so long?

Answer 1

This can be a tricky one....if you tell your boss that you feel unfulfilled, he/she may think that you are thinking the work is beneath you. I suggest you continue to do the work, get it done quickly and efficiently and flawlessly. Show them that you are up to the task and then some.... Then, you arrange a meeting with your boss and tell them that you are looking for MORE - not DIFFERENT. You are capable of handling the jobs you are currently doing plus other things. Let them assign more...don't make the mistake of telling them what you'd like to do. Cause like it or not, they really do think they know best.

Answer 2

Time to take a hard look at yourself. I have managed up to 35 people. I give the complex/rewarding tasks to those that I can rely on. I give busy work tasks to those that I don't have full/any confidence in or take no personal ownership in the tasks assigned to them.

How you complete the tasks is as important as actually doing the task. Does your boss consistently have to provide you with more and more detail? Does he/she send it back to you b/c the first round wasn't sufficient? There is the "letter of the law" and the "spirit of the law". If I ask you to wrap a gift for the most important client do you slap yesterday's newspaper on it and it looks like crap - you followed the 'letter of the law'. If you use high quality paper, neat corners, bow, etc, then you went above and beyond. Guess which one is the right way?

Don't think that you're too good to be doing 'busy work'. That will get you labeled as a pain in the **** in about 3 seconds. Your boss has to get stuff done, even things he/she thinks are ridiculous. If your boss has to present the results of a 'busy work' task to someone else, then his/her credibility is on the line. If you skrew it up and make your boss look bad - guess what? You just told your boss what kind of employee you are.

Your job as an employee is to make your bosses job easier. End of story. If your boss can give you tasks and walk away knowing he/she doesn't have to babysit you then you're doing fine. Positive attitude, attention to detail & going extra mile are what your boss looks for. Dealing with a difficult employee is the last thing a boss wants to do - there's real work to be done.

Answer 3

Quit your job. I graduated from a major university last June. I took a job in Times Square with great pay and benefits. It was so boring that after 3 months, I too asked for more work. They gave me nothing, so 3 months after that I was depressed at work and felt like all I worked for in college amounted to nothing but student loan bills ( about $600 a month). After 10 months on this job-I left. I had enough savings to last a couple months so I decided to take it easy and pursue the industry and position I really wanted. I contacted my former recruiter and next week I start my new job in SoHo -my dream job! It sounds like your boss is using you for busy work only so find a new company and job.

Answer 4

You didn't say how long you have been doing it. You may have to pay some dues and prove yourself over time before you will get anywhere.

In some businesses, you have to hopscotch from one company/organization to another in order to raise your level. Start looking for other opportunities if your boss wants to keep you where you are.

Answer 5

Sit down with your boss and see what projects are upcoming and ask to be a part of them. Tell them that you feel underutilized and want more. Most of the time, bosses don't realize this, and are usually happy to add tasks.

Good luck