<p>I’m a bio major and was assigned an office job in the basic sciences admin department (just mentioning that in case office work in another department is different). While it should seem obvious, office work is one of the last things I ever want to be involved with after graduating. I’ve never even thought about it really. But I am stuck with this for a year (I sound ungrateful but I’m not), and I will be a dedicated worker as I am with any job. What are the usual tasks?</p>
<p>Also, not concerned with how ‘quiet’ or ‘easy’ the job is.</p>
<p>Shouldn’t you get this information from the employer? I don’t understand what you mean by you were assigned to the job; you mean you didn’t have to apply and be interviewed? Was a job description ever given to you wherever (newspaper, flier on a bulletin board, a job listing website?) you found out about this job?</p>
<p>Office work is usually filing, running errands, clerical duties, answering phones, etc.</p>
<h1>6 Don’t do personal stuff - After a while, you will figure out if it is ok to study and do other stuff when things are quiet. For instance, if you are at the front desk answering phones and directing people, if there is nothing to do, you usually can read a book or something. Just be prepared to drop it as soon as the phone rings or someone walks in.</h1>
<p>I am wondering if OP got this job for work study … and is saying that she doesn’t want to “work in an office” for a career. If that’s the case, let me say this: It beats flipping burgers over a hot grill. OperaDad’s advice is excellent. Remember, there is ALWAYS something to gain from ANY job you do.</p>
<p>I work at a university; some of our work study students who work in offices do things like: answer phones, greet visitors, make photo copies, do filing, run messages to other offices, etc. Depending on the office many of them are allowed to study/read while they are on desk duty.</p>
<p>Ooo, an indoor job! My son has to work each summer to support himself – we don’t have room for him at home during the summer – and despite his efforts, keeps ending up in outdoor jobs. Minimum wage, 40 hrs a week. His goal each summer is to end up with an <em>indoor</em> job, maybe where there’s AC or something.</p>
<p>Kelsmom: I think those jobs are taken. Portland’s job market is really bad. He applied for a janitor position at a pizza place, there were hundreds of applicants. It’s pretty awful.</p>
<p>We live in the Detroit area, so I know what you mean. My D did not want to scoop ice cream for the 6th summer, but it was the best she could do. As it turned out, the owner gave her 40 hours a week, which was much better than she’d have gotten elsewhere. It turned out okay, after all. Now, if she had to scoop ice cream after she’d graduated from college, that would be a different story!</p>
<p>Sorry I did say that I’m not as ungrateful as I sound. It is a work study job, I should have clarified. I wasn’t given any instruction, only told that my job would be in an office. I didn’t contact anyone about the description yet. I just have a weird habit of trying to know things before I get to know things.</p>
<p>Well, the tasks don’t sound too hot, but I’ve grown to be kind of excited about starting. I AM happy that I have a job. Believe me. :)</p>
<p>Our work study students love our office! Hopefully, you’ll get a job that isn’t too boring. Many people I have met who work in higher education didn’t plan on staying in that area for a career … but they did such a great job that they ended up getting job offers. In this economy (and especially if, as your name suggests, you are from my home state), that’s not such a bad possibility (at least for initial experience).</p>
<p>At the very least, it’s warm, dry, and not too physically taxing!</p>
His goal each summer is to end up with an <em>indoor</em> job, maybe where there’s AC or something.</p>