Boss Not Taking Me Seriously?

Question

Maybe I'm being a baby, but I'm not being treated how I would like at work.

My background: I'm a Senior majoring in Management Information Systems with a specialization in Business Administration and a minor in Computing Technology. I started a business when I was 13 years old (sold it when I was 21). I've worked in the tech department for a city school for two summers, I've worked as a senior remote technician for 4 years under GeekSquad, I'm developing an Ipad app for FedEx currently, I've ran a marathon, several half marathons. Now I'm working for the Office of Information Technology at my school.

They hired me to come in and redo their website. But apparently when I updated the website it raised a redflag with another department at my school and then they demoted my admin privileges because the directors got scared (they have no real tech experience) so now they just want me to update content, keep the site up to date, fix grammar issues, little baby things. I went from a big project to a extremely small project and it has made me the office gopher. Just yesterday I found a bug in the website and so I emailed it to the department that is suppose to support the site and they told me it was not a bug but a feature request so then it made me look like I didn't know what I was talking about. This has happened several times. All I want to be able to do is prosper and do something meaningful for the OIT Department. It really hurts my feelings when I'm cut off at my knees everytime I have an idea. But on the other hand this is easy money and b/c of my class schedule I only work 2 days a week but still that is not who I am. I understand that most companies are probably like this with all the redtape bureaucracy but what should I do? I honestly cannot imagine working full time like this.

Answer 1

Your knowledge and experience seems exceptional. It appears that your co-workers are jealous

and will try to belittle you every chance they get.

You should be putting out feelers for this type of work at some other location. Presently,you are

up against a brick wall and it will not change.You are wasting your time and talent.

Answer 2

If you can't imagine working full-time like this - you probably aren't going to be able to anywhere.



One of my client's recently hired a new Director of Marketing. One of the first things he did was update the powerpoint that plays in the lobby - it took 27 revisions because all the executives wanted their say what it looked like. He's used to being the final say in matters and on a much larger scale (print ads, etc) Here he makes fun that he is a super highly paid powerpoint creator.



I work in the ERP world - we always report "bugs" to the software companies (large companies you have heard of). We make fun of their saying "it's working as designed". My response - OK, go fix your design then. Which they don't...

Answer 3

Concentrate on your schooling and treat this as a job to bring in the money you need (if you don't need the money, then quit). If it's easy money & adapted to your availability schedule, you can't ask for better than that. Usually in these situations you just need to do your assigned job really well with a good attitude. You won't be doing this full time forever. Get your job fulfillment and challenges from your schoolwork and other sidelines. And learn that sometimes you can make mistakes or be mistaken about things. You are a student part-time employee, so don't expect to be treated like anything more.

Answer 4

Though your background is strong, they are looking at you as a part time student with little work experience. Once you graduate & get into the real world you will be taken more seriously I promise.