Would you put up with this or leave?

cinnamony

Hi all,

I accepted a job offer 4 months ago and the role was described to me as software development and data analytics which is what i do.

I start the role and to my shock it turns out to be a data entry role, i let it be as I thought maybe its just because I'm new and they're giving me the low end stuff to do.
Last week of February i notice they have changed the name of my position to "Admin Assistant", I thought "okay this is definitely not what i applied for" so I confront my manager about it, he tells me they're in the process of moving me to IT consulting as they need someone with my skills for their clients and he'd speak to me by the end of March.

Last week of March arrives and still no meeting so I speak to him again, he tells me the head of consulting is just really busy and cant speak to me until the first monday or tuesday of april (so the week after).

I come into the office on Monday to find out im being sent to a client to....count their stock!
I ask him once again what's going on and he tells me not to worry about it and head of IT consulting will speak to me ASAP.

It is now the end of the week and still nothing, I am fed up and really just not feel like showing up on Monday as I have no motivation to work for them anymore. I'm spending lots of money and energy commuting to this client as its far away from where I live, they dont even give me barcode scanners so i have to check each individual barcode manually.

I know i should try to secure a job before quitting one (and im already speaking to recruiters etc) but I am just at the stage that my skills have not been used in months and im learning absolutely nothing in this role.

I'm really unsure of what to do. Should I wait this out see where it goes or just quit pronto?

Thanks in advance for any advice given!

average_runner

Move on. If your not happy get out or you regret. IT is booming so you will pick up something quickly. You will have to work a week or 2 notice though depending on your contract. Life is too short to be unhappy

give notice.

that may get their attention and if not, serve notice and gone

drunkmonkey

Are you getting paid as if your doing what your meant to? They sound like they have something in the pipeline but tied up in something else. Wouldn't panic if there ok to work for and your getting paid what you should be.

Tell me how

Any company as haphazard as this with a new hire is unlikely going to turn in to a decent employer in my view.

Start looking for opportunities to interview and look for new role.
Don't hand in notice until you've something lined up unless you can afford not to.
They may get ratty once you announce you are moving on as it sounds like they are busy so be careful that as it is within 6 month of starting period, it could be your word against theirs that you weren't up to scratch and they asked you to move on.

Curious to know if you got a contract and was there a job description contained within? How reflective was that job description of what you expected to do or what you ended up doing?

.......

Are you getting paid an admin salary or a software engineering salary?

OMM 0000

Deleted User wrote: »

give notice.

that may get their attention and if not, serve notice and gone

This is what I would do.

cinnamony

Hi all,

Thank you so much for the replies.

I'm being paid 35k which is around what my other friends in the field are being paid, that said the salary is not so incredible that i feel attached to the job by any means...

Also my contract doesn't specify my duties only says something along the lines of "all duties that are expected of your role" and that my role is "Software Developer"

This is it

Are you just out of college? Seems low for anyone with experience in software development or data analytics, though it's not my field so I'm only guessing.

.......

How much experience do you have in your field?

It seems like a low salary for that role unless maybe its your first role?

cinnamony

Its not my first role, I have 2 years of experience already. Which I realize is not much, but its also not straight out of college level.

TheBoyConor

Tell them you were hired as a software developer, not a data entry clerk or general dogsbody.
Tell them that you want a reassignment before the week is out or you'll not be back the following Monday.

IT is booming. You'll have another job with better opportunities and better pay within that week. Tell them this too.

.......

cinnamony wrote: »

Its not my first role, I have 2 years of experience already. Which I realize is not much, but its also not straight out of college level.

OK - 2 years experience is not much at all, and the thing here is - youre at a stage where you NEED experience, so on that basis, youre wasting time sitting around while they have you doing admin work (even if the salary is better than an admin salary), when you should be in a proper role gaining valuable experience.

At your stage of career Id say throw in the towel and move on before you are trying to explain a gap on your CV where you learned nothing.

Tell me how

TheBoyConor wrote: »

Tell them you were hired as a software developer, not a data entry clerk or general dogsbody.
Tell them that you want a reassignment before the week is out or you'll not be back the following Monday.

IT is booming. You'll have another job with better opportunities and better pay within that week. Tell them this too.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but I would not go as gung-ho as suggested here.

Yes, the market is booming, but, if you get a name for being borderline aggressive like this could come across, there might be consequences.
Certainly the jobs market is positive but when I managed staff, if someone had approached me with this attitude, I'd have wished them luck in their next role.

cinnamony

Although I am quite angry at the time I've wasted,
The most I would say would be
"Thank you for the opportunity to work with the company, however I feel it is time for me to move on so I would just like to notify you of my intention to leave the company after serving the notice specified in my contract"

Something along those lines...

Tell me how

cinnamony wrote: »

Although I am quite angry at the time I've wasted,
The most I would say would be
"Thank you for the opportunity to work with the company, however I feel it is time for me to move on so I would just like to notify you of my intention to leave the company after serving the notice specified in my contract"

Something along those lines...

There probably isn't a notice period which would be effected within the probation period (usually 6 months). They might ask you to leave immediately so be ready for that.

cinnamony

Tell me how wrote: »

There probably isn't a notice period which would be effected within the probation period (usually 6 months). They might ask you to leave immediately so be ready for that.

My contract specifies that I have to give 2 weeks notice, but if they waive it the better to be honest!

Tell me how

cinnamony wrote: »

My contract specifies that I have to give 2 weeks notice, but if they waive it the better to be honest!

In today's world most companies ask disgruntled employees to leave immediately once they hand in their notice.
You might still be entitled to the payment of the notice period if you had been willing to work it but they wanted you to leave before right away.

drunkmonkey

Is there anyone doing the job there already, did you get their 2cent on what's happening?

cinnamony

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Is there anyone doing the job there already, did you get their 2cent on what's happening?

You mean the role I'm doing (as opposed to the role i was hired for)?
I only have two colleagues right now and they're both accounting trainees.
One of them is constantly micromanaging me and its making the role worse tbh.

upinsmoke

If I was you I wouldn't hand in your notice. It's Friday now, start getting your CV into places where you want to work and recruiters will be onto you Monday or Tueday. Plan on getting three or four a day out.

You could have a new job within a week or two.
Always stick with it until you find something, easier to hire someone who already emoloyed.

cinnamony

Tell me how wrote: »

In today's world most companies ask disgruntled employees to leave immediately once they hand in their notice.
You might still be entitled to the payment of the notice period if you had been willing to work it but they wanted you to leave before right away.

I'm not acting angry or anything like that but if i could just leave now i feel i'd have a big weight off my shoulders.

This is it

I know you've followed up a few times but I'd give them a chance, offer an ultimatum of sorts. "I understand you've said there is a role for me but I've been waiting patiently for it and I've yet to see any indication the role is actually available. Can a meeting please be scheduled this week with head of IT consulting to discuss." See if you can get with the IT guy thats suppose to be sorting this. Look elsewhere in the mean time and decide after the meeting, if you get a meeting.

TimeToShine

I'd stay while you're looking elsewhere, you'd be surprised how long the hiring process can take and you could easily get bored and restless sitting on your arse for a month or two.

drunkmonkey

cinnamony wrote: »

You mean the role I'm doing (as opposed to the role i was hired for)?
I only have two colleagues right now and they're both accounting trainees.
One of them is constantly micromanaging me and its making the role worse tbh.

No the role you were hired for talk to some of those guys. Don't mind the apprentice let it on one ear and out the other, don't get into a hufty with her.
As opposed to the others here I think you should keep your job until you've another one signed and secured at the same or more money.

cinnamony

I started emailing recruiters and applying for jobs earlier this week already, to be honest if I quit id just use the time i spend looking for a new role brushing up on my skills which i haven't used in 4 months!

My main issue is that im so unhappy on thursday i just sat in my bed incredibly reluctant to show up and ended up arriving late. I've been doing all tasks they give me and all i get is static from them, at this point i just don't know if this is a company i want to work for anyway even in another role.

drunkmonkey

Don't quit without a job secured. It's a lot easier get a job when you have one.
You'll have some tuff times through work with different people, treat these ones as training practice, don't take it to heart.

upinsmoke

cinnamony wrote: »

I started emailing recruiters and applying for jobs earlier this week already, to be honest if I quit id just use the time i spend looking for a new role brushing up on my skills which i haven't used in 4 months!

My main issue is that im so unhappy on thursday i just sat in my bed incredibly reluctant to show up and ended up arriving late. I've been doing all tasks they give me and all i get is static from them, at this point i just don't know if this is a company i want to work for anyway even in another role.

Stick with it and ull get the new role in no time. Do you have any annual leave to take at the minute?

cinnamony

I actually put on my CV that I left the company when I finished with my previous client, how am I going to describe "Checking bar codes manually and ticking them off a list" on my CV??

I booked some holidays for the end of the month but still have a lot of annual leave left, my company has this calculation they do when you leave where they check how much annual leave you took and if they decide it was too much they charge you for it.

Something else I'm wondering, if I'm looking for jobs abroad how do i keep this job whilst applying for jobs outside of ireland?

dartboardio

Send them an email and leave.

Why bother working out your notice for somebody who clearly took the piss.

Teepinaw

My advice to you is:

1. Keep job hunting. You will find a better role soon.
2. Keep a record of your conversations about the issues, with your boss. Difficult to do but if you can be subtle -; but asking for projects to do with X, y, z - in areas relevant to what you thought you would be doing. Or keeping minutes or following up meetings with emails etc. They might be looking for someone that is a good fit and maybe they will grow you into the role. Find a way to show you're really interested in sw development projects, if there are any ongoing in the company.
3. Keep in good terms with your boss and colleagues, you may need a reference or similar from them in the future. I'm 20yrs in to work working world and really seeing how small the circles are in Ireland. Play the game. Be respectful. Keep your nose clean.
4. Go to a GP and discuss that you're stressed at work. I recommend this, just to have it on record.

It's only advice, but I find there are too many companies that want to kick you when you're down; blame you and say (s)he was a useless so and so, glad to be rid of.... when actually they were at fault and made you miserable. From your post, I read that you're being fobbed off. Just try and see it as a learning process. When you're stock taking - try and network, as daft as it sounds! You'd never know what connection you might meet!!

So I recommend that you get in the habit of meticulously documenting everything as much as possible.

Try and turn this negative situation into a positive.

Strumms

TheBoyConor wrote: »

Tell them you were hired as a software developer, not a data entry clerk or general dogsbody.
Tell them that you want a reassignment before the week is out or you'll not be back the following Monday.

IT is booming. You'll have another job with better opportunities and better pay within that week. Tell them this too.

Sound advice. Give them an ultimatum that they need to have assigned tasks / employed you to 100% of the job spec to which you applied for by the end of next week or it’s goodbye with no notice. You will see then how much they value your expertise and employment. I have a hunch though this situation may not end well though as the underhanded behavior to which they are engaged with you already shows a gross lack of consideration and respect to the point that you should be considering leaving anyway.

wench

cinnamony wrote: »

I booked some holidays for the end of the month but still have a lot of annual leave left, my company has this calculation they do when you leave where they check how much annual leave you took and if they decide it was too much they charge you for it.

There is a difference between your annual entitlement, and how much you have actually accrued to date.

Eg if you have 20 days a year, we're only a quarter of the way through, so you've only earned 5 days so far.
So if you were to take 10 days in April and then leave, you would owe them about 4 days pay.

Jim2007

cinnamony wrote: »

You mean the role I'm doing (as opposed to the role i was hired for)?
I only have two colleagues right now and they're both accounting trainees.
One of them is constantly micromanaging me and its making the role worse tbh.

Are you working for an accounting company or a software house? There is a very big difference.

If an accounting practice, then to some extent it is understandable. January through April is a crazy time in accounting firms because practically every client have financial year end and there are usually staff shortages to do stock takes etc and everyone gets roped in to plug the holes.

Another thing about accounting firms is that they don’t pay you for doing nothing, if there is no current project that needs your skill set you are expecting to pickup general duties.

beauf

They are taking you for a fool.

Keep the job until you have another one ready to start. Then just leave. This company don't know what they are doing. It's hurting your career every minute you stay there.

As for your skills going stale. Do some project in your free time that used them and learns some new stuff. Don't wait.

cinnamony

Unfortunately I don't have time as the client i'm working with right now is very far away from me and i basically just wake up go to work then come home and go to bed. Then on the weekends i just recharge and meal prep for the week ahead

Jim2007

cinnamony wrote: »

Unfortunately I don't have time as the client i'm working with right now is very far away from me and i basically just wake up go to work then come home and go to bed. Then on the weekends i just recharge and meal prep for the week ahead

Well you still did not tell us the type of company you are working for, but it sounds very much like par for the course if you are working for one of the big 4 accounting practices.

I once spent 14.5 months living in a hotel in Wexford. Down on Sunday night and back on Saturday morning. By the end I was on first name terms with most of the hotel staff.

beauf

Regardless of the company type it's dishonest to recruit for one job but then put the person recruited into something entirely different.

Unless you act soon you'll be in the wrong job a couple of years, and totally screwed your career. The company doesn't care and will never care.

Teepinaw

cinnamony wrote: »

Unfortunately I don't have time as the client i'm working with right now is very far away from me and i basically just wake up go to work then come home and go to bed. Then on the weekends i just recharge and meal prep for the week ahead

Beware about pro rata annual leave entitlements as previously said.

Please play the game, don't burn bridges and when you get your new role, take a few weeks off for yourself before you start the new role as you'll never ordinarily get that time off again.

twowheelsonly

dartboardio wrote: »

Send them an email and leave.

Why bother working out your notice for somebody who clearly took the piss.

Whatever else you do, DON'T do this.

Strumms

twowheelsonly wrote: »

Whatever else you do, DON'T do this.

Why ? The OP is being ****ed over and hard, pure and simple. I’d rather get the fûck out of there, have my health and well being and indeed dignity then crawl out of there demoralized and stressed and having been ridden by a shower of chancers. They were only there a reasonably short duration so worrying about a bit of paper isn’t important.

beauf

Generally I would say don't burn your bridges and get another job before leaving the one you're in. But spending 4 months in this job nothing for your CV. 4 months on a data project with
Would be far more useful. Especially if you're not happy and you need to keep your skillset up.

twowheelsonly

Strumms wrote: »

Why ? The OP is being ****ed over and hard, pure and simple. I’d rather get the fûck out of there, have my health and well being and indeed dignity then crawl out of there demoralized and stressed and having been ridden by a shower of chancers. They were only there a reasonably short duration so worrying about a bit of paper isn’t important.

I wouldn't worry about the bit of paper either, word of mouth is far more damaging. We still don't know who he's working with but chances are they're connected to plenty of others in the industry.
Another week or two is going to make sweet FA difference at this stage so do it properly for the sake of it. Chances are he won't even have to work that two weeks anyway.

youcancallmeal

My experience of working with IT consultancies is they hire you with all sorts of promises of working on interesting projects. Then when you're in you're just seen as a resource to be assigned to projects regardless of your experience or desires. I've seen it all, java software devs being asked to worked on ancient cobol systems, software architect assigned as a business analyst, data analyitcs expert given manual testing tasks. Turnover is huge and they don't seem to care as cheap graduates pick up the slack. Moral of the story is don't work for consultancies unless you are a graduate looking for experience.

beauf

While I agree 2 weeks is nothing to wait...

twowheelsonly wrote: »

... but chances are they're connected to plenty of others in the industry.
...

I think this is way overstated unless you are in specialised field or well known company. It doesn't really apply to small Mickey mouse companies.

jleavy046

OP,
Above everything you need to be happy. For me, personally that's more about the people I work with then the job I'm doing but that's just me.

That said, life is indeed too short so you have to make your own judgement - if you're sitting on the bed in the morning so unhappy about going into work that your really, really stressed then do something about it. Hit the reset button.


References are indeed important, but you obviously have good references if you got the job in the first place. Right?

You are so lucky, the job market is strong, you are at the start of your career and you have - today, right now - so many choices.

Okay, hopefully that's the reset button pressed! Chin up.

If I was just slightly unhappy, I would go to the manger, fully explaine the situation (documented by email followup) and give it a period of time. Be looking for a new role in the meantime and see what comes up. If no progress, hand in notice and serve whatever notice is required. Within probation these things do happen, that's why it's there! It's a much for you as it is for them.

If I was very very very unhappy, within probatation, I would not return to the job. Nothing is more important than being happy enough to be able to face going into work.

Best of luck

GreeBo

For the love of god don't give them an ultimatum, don't sent them an email, don't just not turn up and don't just resign.

First step if you want out is to find somewhere else to go. Never resign until you have something else lined up.

As someone already said, they may just not be ready to get your your real role started, in the meantime, to make your day to day job slightly more tolerable, get yourself one of these:
https://blogs.systweak.com/10-best-barcode-scanner-apps-for-android/

GreeBo

jleavy046 wrote: »

OP,
Nothing is more important than being happy enough to be able to face going into work.

Other than food and rent of course.:rolleyes:

Strumms

GreeBo wrote: »

As someone already said, they may just not be ready to get your your real role started, in the meantime, to make your day to day job slightly more tolerable, get yourself one of these:
https://blogs.systweak.com/10-best-barcode-scanner-apps-for-android/

If they were not ready, this should have been discussed with the OP and an agreement sought whereby the OP could on an agreed and time specific timeframe be working different tasks. The fact this communication was not sought shows again, a gross lack of consideration, respect and professionalism and leadership.

GreeBo

Strumms wrote: »

If they were not ready, this should have been discussed with the OP and an agreement sought whereby the OP could on an agreed and time specific timeframe be working different tasks. The fact this communication was not sought shows again, a gross lack of consideration, respect and professionalism and leadership.

Indeed it does, but you still dont walk away from a paying job until you have another paying job.

greentea is just wrong

Try not to leave your company on bad terms - you never know who you will end up working for in the future, Dublin is a very small place, and I have ended up working with several colleagues from old companies throughout the years.

I'd use your time in work to look for a new job (if you aren't that busy). Keep the head down & get out of there.

Another little piece of advice coming from someone who has sat on the other side of the table during interviews - do not speak negatively about this experience in your following job interviews. If they ask why are you leaving/wanting a change, just a statement that the role isn't really what you had thought you had signed up for is enough, and then speak positively about wanting to utilize the skills that you aren't currently getting the opportunity to do so at present.

Good Luck !