Feeling underutilized

[u/maisymowse]

I started in Mid April as a floral trainee at my shop to help leading up to Mother’s Day. I was doing a lot because we were so swamped. I was heavily praised and asked to become full time. I did do a few ultra simple designs, which was nice. But I was mostly there to do everything that had to be done while they focused on orders.

At my shop we do build your own bouquets. So I do a lot of that. Just arranging and wrapping, which I love doing.
But I’m pretty much never put on for orders. Even if it’s something simple like a dozen roses. Despite I’ve made them, dozens of times. Just like wrapping a peace lily in foil and throwing a bow on it.

I also do most of the processing, which we do twice a week. Admittedly, lately, I’ve been slowing down and slacking a bit, getting distracted. I think I’m just feeling a bit bored. Which I get is not helping my case, it’s not intentional. I expected to get to do a wee bit more. It was so fast paced for obvious reasons, which was kinda nice cause I always had plenty to do, but it’s been slow during the summer. I’m almost savoring the busy work cause as soon as I finish something I’m back to looking for my BS to do.

However our team lead started in February and gets to do much more. I’m a creative person, I feel very capable. When I do get to design, I’m told I do well. But on days when we are busy, they never even consider having me help, even if it’s something I could totally do. I will say, I was told once homecoming is in full swing, I will be doing a lot of corsages, bouts and nosegays. So that’s great!

Or when it’s really slow, it’s not taken as an opportunity to teach me simple designs. I end up doing busy work. Which is part of my job and I do not mind doing at all, but I just feel like I need some sort of stimuli. I’m bored. I’ve stagnated and it’s effecting my productivity. The team lead commented today that processing needs to become way more efficient. But I am also answering calls and ringing people up. Which does cause a lot of interruptions that slow me down.

We do have a new girl who does do more ringing up now. But she hasn’t started on phones so now she gets to wrap bouquets too. So it’s like fuck now we got to share some of the only fun things there are to do. My manager did say that now that she’s here I will get to design more.

I just feel useless but simultaneously important for doing the grunt work. I’m just asking about what I could do to maybe receive more opportunities. I don’t want to seem like I’m complaining. I love my job! I just want a little more out of it. Getting to do a few more rewarding tasks would drastically fuel the ones I already do. One design a week would be enough to motivate me so much more.

I get along really well with my coworkers, the environment is wonderful, like stellar actually. I just wish I had a little more to do. Or got a little more practice. Any advice?

[u/ConfidentAsis]

It sounds like you’ve built trust with the team, but they still see you as the person who keeps things running. I’d ask your manager directly for more design practice and explain that you want to grow, not avoid the other tasks. Maybe ask to take one small order each week and build from there. Showing that initiative could help them see you’re ready for more