Is it normal to have no work to do at a new job?
Having an empty schedule and getting work only by asking can make you wonder if you are in trouble. This lack of assigned tasks during a slow period creates anxiety about your standing at the company.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Waiting for work to slowly filter in as the office adjusts to a new hire
- 2Expecting more tasks to arrive in the following months as engagements ramp up
- 3Talking to the manager to check if the situation is normal
- 4Asking seniors for work or clarification
- 5Engaging in self-study during work hours
- 6Proactively asking for more responsibilities and experiences
- 7Considering switching from an industry internship to a local CPA firm internship
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I wonder if it is normal this time of year now to not be assigned much of any work, and not have a busy office at all.”source ↗
“I constantly hit a wall where I feel I could be doing more or learning more, and I ask and proactively seek out these experiences, but they simply aren't available to me in the capacity I can handle.”source ↗
“I am spending up to half of my time at work with self study or simply wasting time since I am constantly bored.”source ↗
“I still have relatively empty schedule. I only get some work when I ask for them. Is that normal, or I am in trouble?”source ↗
“Now you are scaring me. 😫”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 25Why do I feel so overwhelmed after starting a new job?
- 3Why is corporate industry accounting so boring after public practice?
- 2What happens when you go months without a manager?
- 2Why am I penalized for working during planning periods?
- 5How do I know what my job actually is with no communication?
- 4Is it normal to have no training or supervision on a new job?