How do I know what my job actually is with no communication?
A total lack of communication from leadership leaves new staff guessing about their duties and wondering if they should just stop helping altogether. Without clear boundaries, colleagues end up taking over lessons and paperwork, making it impossible to establish an actual role.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Looking for another jobDid this help you?
- 2Considering not helping the students at allDid this help you?
- 3Accepting the help instead of pushing backDid this help you?
- 4Saying 'I've got this' as a signal to back offDid this help you?
- 5Being slowly assertiveDid this help you?
- 6Asking colleagues or online communities for role recommendationsDid this help you?
- 7Requesting broad administrator roles upfront to cover all potential needsDid this help you?
- 8Managing only traditional foundation grants while avoiding corporate partnerships and relationship-based major appealsDid this help you?
- 9Staying at the job despite hating it because of concerns about excessive job hopping on a resumeDid this help you?
- 10studying CCNA and doing Packet Tracer/Windows Server labs outside workDid this help you?
- 11staying at the job for a few months or a year to gain experience before applying elsewhereDid this help you?
- 12Asking employees and managers what they liked about the previous person in the roleDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I'm in a grants manager role and I currently manage about 7 ongoing major grants for the org while prospecting and applying to new ones”source ↗
“We are sort of in a moment of flux right now, as both of my colleagues on the vertical with me just left the org.”source ↗
“I'm wondering if I should advocate for my scope to be rightsized to officially include all grant writing at the org.”source ↗
“I'm at the point of asking my manager what the hell they did.. I'm so confused and I feel like this is either setting me up for disappointment (if corporate is unable to understand what success looks like in the role) or it's going to severely limit my growth and development.”source ↗
“All i fucking do is admin work. I applied for and accepted a tax job as a cpa of a decade but i get here and the company is such a shit show that all i do is admin work.”source ↗
“I was lied to about the job description because i DID ask what kinds of filings id be working on during the interviews.”source ↗
“I am DROWNING and so are my coworkers. It might only be another 45 minutes, but I genuinely do not know what I am supposed to do.”source ↗
“I find that she has been taking over quite a bit when it comes to planning lessons, teaching them, handling the classroom management, and the paperwork”source ↗
“It’s almost like I’m the student teacher or something.”source ↗
“I told her I’d like to teach the next lesson, and then I did, she kept chiming in and interrupting.”source ↗
“I’ve been slowly Trying to be assertive but it’s hard.”source ↗
“I’m wondering why there is next to no communication, so much so that it seems there’s a code of silence.”source ↗
“Maybe I should just not help the kids at all? and maybe the teachers would prefer that? I’m only guessing because there’s so little direct communication.”source ↗
“I have only spoken to my boss once since the interview, and boss (and the assistant) was so impatient and rude I started looking for another job since it makes little sense to be on probation for 6 months and then not pass probation.”source ↗
“My question is what more types of access should I ask (because I believe I get one chance to ask for) and what bunch of certifications should I start working on”source ↗
“Fresh BSCS graduate here. I recently started my first job as a Computer Technician, expecting mostly PC troubleshooting, hardware/software support, and networking.”source ↗
“However, the actual role is much broader and mostly field-based: CCTV/NVR, UTP cabling/crimping, biometrics, alarms, metal detectors, solar-related work, PC assembly, and site installations.”source ↗
“My main concern is that my current company requires 30 days’ written notice. If I find an IT role that needs someone within 1–2 weeks, how do people usually handle this?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 43Why do I feel so overwhelmed after starting a new job?
- 16Why do I feel like a fake in my new management role?
- 7Starting a first sole sysadmin job with no documentation
- 9Can you switch accounting service lines before starting your job?
- 9Why is it impossible to keep up with everything on my plate?
- 5What job title should I apply for with HR experience?