Month into my new job and I hate it
I recently graduated and took a role in a F500 pricing group.
I originally was going for FP&A but they offered me this role and made it sound interesting, so I decided to accept it. I’m now a month in and hate it. It isn’t even exactly “pricing” it’s more contract compliance. All the work I’ve taken over is copy/pasting updated sales information into new models to update them and sending them to whoever needs them. My whole job so far can be summed up with copy/paste and the occasional reconciliation they’ve had me do.
I don’t see myself gaining any useful skills or knowledge in the foreseeable future in this role, but I’ve only been here a month.
Now what do I do?
See if you can automate the process. If that’s not possible, time to start looking elsewhere. Sounds like a real paperpusher job and that sucks man. Good luck.
Yeah most of my work gets done on Monday and Tuesday every week which only takes 1-2 hours each day.
I was thinking about learning VBA or something in my spare time to help automate or improve processes.
Give it at least six months. People are still learning your name, not thinking of stuff for you to do. Just relax and it will come.
I agree that you should give it at least six months. The first six months of any job can be slow unless you're experienced. In the meantime, if you have any inclination to go back for your MBA and your managers allow you to study at your desk, now would be a good time to study. Same goes for any certifications you may want (CPA, CFA, etc...).
Learning VBA would be productive or any other programming language that interests you (I started learning Python during a boring stint at work).
Also ask if there are any lingering projects that you could help on. A lot of times there are projects that managers don't have time to get to that just sit. Most aren't glamorous but they are nice to fill the time and they usually lead you to meeting more people within the organization that could potentially give you more work/projects.
Finally, if you're job has some flexibility (i.e. you can leave your desk during the day) I would start trying to grab coffee with people who have jobs that may interest you. You can build your network and try to get a better understanding of what you may want to do in a future job.
I do plan on going back for my MBA, I’ve been studying off and on for a couple weeks, but nothing too serious as it won’t be for a couple years. If I could study here I would, but I dont know how to even bring that up lol.
But I plan on looking into VBA tutorials this week. I think that would be most productive since A LOT of the processes here are very manual. I don’t think anyone else in my group knows it, so I’m sure if I could automate a couple things my manager / team would be happy.
I’d echo what was said above- you have to be patient and give it some time. Like Jiro: Dreams of Sushi, you have to prove you can consistently make perfect rice (boring tasks) before you’re allowed anywhere near the fish (interesting/complicated projects).
In the meantime- it seems like you’ve identified some gaps/inefficiencies and how to solve them. Don’t feel constricted to the job description and what your manager tells you to do. Use your own work as a test case for your solutions and when they work present them, and a ‘next steps’ implementation roadmap to your manager. Now you’re the “problem solver with initiative” and will get consideration for the more meaty projects.
I guess as a little update:
Funnily enough, shortly after I posted this my director stopped by my desk to see if I’d be available later in the day to have a ‘catch up’ meeting since it’s been about a month of me being there.
Towards the end of the meeting she said she’s happy with me on the team, likes my work so far etc. and went on to say she has a pretty big project coming up that she wants to put me on. We briefly walked through what she wants, and I’m going to have to model out different scenarios and work with other areas of the business. Which is exactly what I’ve wanted / was looking for.
I guess I thought I was more integrated into the company than I actually am, but it looks like work will soon be rolling in.
we're humans, we tend to overestimate shit like that. Don't stress out. Everything will be okay.
I better hear you on an earnings call in 20 years telling us about an exciting new venture.
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