Its Not in My Job Description

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once I asked a job applicant, "Describe a time you were asked to do something that was not your job". Her reply: "No such thing. If you want me to push a broom all day, then that's my job". This was for a mid-level office job.

We hired her and she was awesome. That attitude is invaluable in an employee and it's a quality the true stand outs always have. Whatever it takes.

Most people would answer in this fashion (even if later they act differently). It's called Acing an Interview 101.

[Anonymous]

The times I've said this to myself or thought, "that's not part of my job description" relate entirely to cleaning out the shared office fridge.

I don't use it, don't leave things in there, and it shouldn't be my default responsibility because I'm the only female in the office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you asking women to plan parties or do other historically female accomplished task?

I'm a female attorney and myself and other female attorneys are routinely asked to plan office gatherings and parties. I had to request that I be treated like my other co-workers and that I only be assigned tasks that will help my career.

Yes!! wtf! How did these always become women's jobs? I have yet to see a role that men take on that's in addition to their regular work load. It's like working the 2nd shift at work. Oh you're a female lawyer? Great! We needed someone to help us organize our file room and have a monthly birthday party for the office...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you asking women to plan parties or do other historically female accomplished task?

I'm a female attorney and myself and other female attorneys are routinely asked to plan office gatherings and parties. I had to request that I be treated like my other co-workers and that I only be assigned tasks that will help my career.

Yes!! wtf! How did these always become women's jobs? I have yet to see a role that men take on that's in addition to their regular work load. It's like working the 2nd shift at work. Oh you're a female lawyer? Great! We needed someone to help us organize our file room and have a monthly birthday party for the office...

I'm male and (along with other males) I have helped plan office social events in 3 different jobs. Every job I've had it was more of a volunteer thing (eg, "who wants to be on the social committee?") and those who were interested participated. Those who weren't interested didn't. I'll allow that your experience might be different than mine, but your statement that "these always become women's jobs" isn't true in my experience.

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine this. In 40, and when I worked as a CPA, if your boss asked you to do something, you did it. If you didn't know how, you figured it out. Kids nowadays!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an attorney. When I was just starting out, an older, very established and top-billing partner once told me: "The best lawyers I know are those with the shortest list of tasks that they consider 'beneath them.'"

I've tried to keep that in mind as I've advanced in my career. Of course, for efficiency's sake, it's best to have a clear division of labor. But, in crunch time, everybody just has to grab an oar and start rowing.

OK but are you being asked to make copies for someone who easily could have done it or filing papers? I love to help, but it seems like some people don't do their fair share of "female" work.

My point is, it all depends on context. There is a very short (or nonexistent) list of tasks that I won't do no matter what. That doesn't mean I just do anything anybody asks at any time.

A thousand times this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine this. In 40, and when I worked as a CPA, if your boss asked you to do something, you did it. If you didn't know how, you figured it out. Kids nowadays!

What a radical idea!

[Anonymous]

Yes it's frustrating to have co-workers who don't put in 100%, but it's equally frustrating that managers and bosses and ceos try to get away with squeezing as much out of their workers as possible without adequate compensation. I've seen this in my own organization where one person was constantly given the same work as others in her department who were at a much higher pay grade. She asked for a promotion and was denied it on the excuse that there was no funding, so eventually she left, much to her boss's chagrin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The times I've said this to myself or thought, "that's not part of my job description" relate entirely to cleaning out the shared office fridge.

I don't use it, don't leave things in there, and it shouldn't be my default responsibility because I'm the only female in the office.

We've got two people who have assigned this to themselves because no one else volunteers (because it sucks - I don't even want to do it at home). One is a woman and one is a man.

[Anonymous]

I'll absolutely take on work that expands my expertise and skill set and eventually leads to my getting promoted.

But if someone's regularly asking me to do entry level work that will lead to others seeing me first and foremost as a staff assistant instead of a mid-level employee ready to take on more responsibilities, well then at some point I am going to say I'm sorry that is detracting from my own duties.

I've seen it in my workplace where people (especially women) get stuck in a certain position when others think of them merely as support staff because of the duties they've willingly taken on to help out.

[Anonymous]

Well, I scooped up a poop yesterday---and that is absolutely NOT in my job description. YUCK!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you asking women to plan parties or do other historically female accomplished task?

I'm a female attorney and myself and other female attorneys are routinely asked to plan office gatherings and parties. I had to request that I be treated like my other co-workers and that I only be assigned tasks that will help my career.

Yes!! wtf! How did these always become women's jobs? I have yet to see a role that men take on that's in addition to their regular work load. It's like working the 2nd shift at work. Oh you're a female lawyer? Great! We needed someone to help us organize our file room and have a monthly birthday party for the office...

Remember, while women are planning parties or performing other historically female accomplished tasks, men are being provided work. Work that will advance their career. Don't be afraid to say "no" to planning parties.

[Anonymous]

Another one who refused to do the party planning. I was seen as a radical by the other women. However, I was the only female manager and none of the male managers were being asked. I started a revolt and the end result was no parties. Which, TBT, is fine by me.

We got a new director and he wanted a party and no one stepped up. He then told a contractor to do it. Yeah, that stopped real quickly. Still no parties at my office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine this. In 40, and when I worked as a CPA, if your boss asked you to do something, you did it. If you didn't know how, you figured it out. Kids nowadays!

I would do things but only to benefit my own career. I would do zero "for the organization" or "for my boss". Most of us know the company doesn't give a rats about us and will dump us as soon as they can get an H-1B on board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because I'm not paid enough to do more than my job description calls for. And its not appreciated.

+1

Teacher