ASK HR: This job is dead boring, but I cannot afford to resign just yet

Q. I am stuck in a dead-end job right now. The pay is little and I haven’t learnt anything new in the past six months. To be honest, this job is boring. I am currently job-hunting and also seeking ideas of how to make a boring job interesting because I don’t intend to resign before I get a new job. Any advice?

There is no dead-end job, we create the situations that make a job lackluster and monotonous.

This usually happens when you have been in the same role over a long period of time and the responsibilities remain the same. Have you developed yourself over the years or do you still have the same credentials you presented during the interview?

You are responsible for your career growth, so you need to deliberately make plans on how you would like your career to pan out, then map out the training programs or mentorship you require to make this happen. If your organisation offers training support to employees, discuss the proposal with your manager and HR.

Six months is a very short period to conclude that a role is boring. Actually, six months is the learning curve, which explains why most organisations have an induction period of six months to allow the employee to settle in the role and for the organisation to evaluate suitability. It is generally recommended that you hold a role for a minimum of three years to create impact. I have seen individuals that hold a similar position, yet one of them enriches and enlarges the job by taking on more responsibilities, while the other one does the bare minimum and keeps on complaining about the job.

You could also spice up your role by trying out different and innovative approaches to your working strategy. My advice to you is that you seek additional responsibilities that you feel you can fulfill. Also consider offering to assist in a department that interests you, in case they need an extra hand. This way, you will learn and gain experience within your organisation. If you demonstrate that you have capacity to perform beyond your current role, then you might be considered for a transfer when an opportunity arises.

Should this not happen however, you have gained experience that you can include in your CV as you scout for another role. Money is never enough, but you will earn a reasonable amount as you progress in your career. The best approach is to do the job to the expected standard and exhibit enthusiasm to take up additional responsibilities, this way, you are guarantee of a pay rise.