If you genuinely have nothing to do then you're a prime target for layoffs. Move on and get a new job or your company will force you to move on when you are least prepared.
Ask HN: I have nothing to do at work and it's killing me
51–60 of 67 posts
Re: Ask HN: I have nothing to do at work and it's killing me
#52I know exactly how you feel and have experienced it in two different work environments, first as an intern during college (which only lasted 3 months but felt like eternity) and second as a senior level engineer for about a two year period. Like some other things in life, people that haven't gone through this are not likely to understand the experience. Since you care about increasing your employability I recommend t…
This seems to me to be vaguely like manipulation...
Re: Ask HN: I have nothing to do at work and it's killing me
#53If you genuinely have nothing to do then you're a prime target for layoffs. Move on and get a new job or your company will force you to move on when you are least prepared.
Why not spend the current paid time learning/getting certs? When you get the new job, move up.
Re: Ask HN: I have nothing to do at work and it's killing me
#54What kind of a temp doesn't have to account for their hours? Usually I would think both for the temp agency and for the customer. Every post-bachelor's job I've had has required me to account for my time, often two or three times over.
I briefly worked for a healthcare subsidiary of a public university, and it was a very...relaxed pace. But we had to clock in and out every day, a minimum of 8 hours. And new employees were specifically warned that we could be fired if we fell asleep at our desks...
Re: Ask HN: I have nothing to do at work and it's killing me
#55> I don't even know if this experience is transferable anywhere else It's not (doing nothing productive and pretending to look busy when your boss knows you have no real work isn't experience that's going to open any doors elsewhere), and the more of it you have the worse off you are. So you should be looking for something else, if you can't make it something else.
I mean, consider the alternative of being unemployed. How many people out of work would be infinitely better off with a do nothing job while they search.
It's possible to sell yourself when you've been unemployed, so surely it's got to be easier when you have a job no matter how meaningless.
Re: Ask HN: I have nothing to do at work and it's killing me
#56Pick up python and start automating stuff at work. Use the tools as the basis for a SaaS. Profit.
I don't have anything to do at work that requires automation. Fair idea though.
Do you do anything with Microsoft Office, including Outlook? Virtually any routine task with it can be automated without additional software.
Re: Ask HN: I have nothing to do at work and it's killing me
#57Use the time to learn to code, you can totally get in to the industry starting that way. Also once you got the basics try to think of a simple project. I'd even help you find one, just comment below. (depends a lot on what you want to learn). A project is really the best way to learn things beyond the very basics, learning without a clear goal is quickly demotivating. As a bonus you have something to show afterwards.…
Yes! I certainly am trying! And it's true, I have a number of project ideas floating in the back of my head, but I rarely realize them, which is a problem.
Here's what I want to make: recipe-based website/app, in which user can choose one of four seasons, with perhaps a slider for {Vegetarian} or {Instant Pot} (or something), and it spits out some recipes. The ingredients will default to serving for 1, but user can choose servings for 2, or 4, and the app re-calculates (1 cup -> 4 cups, etc.)
I personally want to learn (and am more interested in) the backend stuff to make it work. And I am worried that even if I get it work, I will get lost in the CSS mess of trying to prettify and arrange things. But I should just focus on learning to and making a working skeleton app first, I suppose.
Thanks for your comment.
Re: Ask HN: I have nothing to do at work and it's killing me
#58If you genuinely have nothing to do then you're a prime target for layoffs. Move on and get a new job or your company will force you to move on when you are least prepared.
On the contrary :) They are converting me into a quasi permanent staff (until Nov 2020) with full benefits, so not too bad. Things will pick up in January. I should clarify that this is a healthy state bureaucracy I'm a part of, so I'm not worried about losing my job. I'm just worried about losing my time; waking up 5 years later in the same position terrifies the shit out of me.
Re: Ask HN: I have nothing to do at work and it's killing me
#59I've been in this situation and also wanted to learn Ruby on Rails. I did Michael Hartl's tutorial and then built my own side project. This side project was never completely finished and never had any user but it helped me learn and get my next job as a Ruby on rails developer. Learning things on your own is a great way to start but the best way to improve is to work in a team with people you can learn from, on a rea…
I'm doing the same ruby on rails tutorial! I finished chapter 3 today and it was pretty fun, and satisfying to run the test and fix the simple bugs. I'm curious, did you or did you not use your side project/portfolio to get your job? How did you demonstrate your skill and technical prowess sufficiently to get a job doing it? Thanks.
Re: Ask HN: I have nothing to do at work and it's killing me
#60Don't assume that being a programmer is any different. It's all up to the project/company you work in. I've had this same situation in 2 jobs as a software engineer. The worst is you could do self-learning but then you have to say what you've done in stand-up and if you say self-learn you have to make it seem like it's relevant to business, but if it's some language the company doesn't use it's not even relevant. So you end up doing some meaningless task and spread it over long period of time cause you know you won't get more any time soon.
My suggestion is try to work from home, sounds like your company is flexible. Use your home time for self-learning and applying to other jobs/going interviews.