New job but not doing what was advertised

[jpeast]

hi guys

just wondering something as friend called me to ask advice today.

She just started a new job 4 weeks in and she seems concerned that she isnt being shown the job she went for.
She is basically as she describes, doing the admin job of the section which used be done by senior member of the section and no word of when she would so far, of when she would be learning the actual job she applied for and got.

what should she do, wait few more weeks before raising the issue? she doesnt mind doing the current work but wants to learn the new role otherwise this could be a step back for her.

 

[millieforbes]

I think your friend should try and raise her progress at an informal meeting with her boss / the person who hired her to talk about progress... if someone gave her a very detailed description of a job before she took it then she should talk about specific tasks mentioned and perhaps have some suggestions of how she could get involved in that work - eg "I see Mary / Jane working on this, maybe I could shadow them?"

Its interesting that you say a senior member of the team was doing the admin before she started... was this someone who is more senior than she is now? is this person her boss? if not the person may be taking advantage of the newbie by offloading tasks they don't want to do - I would be concerned that your friend should show she wants to do more or she may just become a convenient solution and the original job may vanish!