I WAS HIRED FOR ONE JOB, BUT NOW I'M DOING TWO

QUESTION:
I'm currently a PC support specialist. In my interview, I said that I 
would enjoy moving my career toward a training position, and they were 
very responsive. I've now been in my support job for almost three 
months, but I'm also creating training courses and doing some training 
work.

Once my three-month probation is over, what should I do if they ask me 
to keep doing support but add even more training duties? I'd rather 
move entirely to training and do just one job, not two.

REPLY:
It seems to me you were hired into a support position. If the company 
indicated you could move into training after some time, figure on a 
year. They hired you to do support, not training. So, do the very best 
support job you can for at least a year. Realize that companies don't 
hire people into one job just so they can move them into another in 
three months.

One year is reasonable. Prove yourself, and then ask to be moved at 
that point. But don't do it yet; it's just not a reasonable 
expectation.

As for doing training work while you're in a support job, I'd accept 
any and all training assignments during this time period. That will 
prove your capabilities and improve your abilities. But don't push for 
a training job yet. They've got a support slot, and it has your name on 
it, like it or not.

If the company is shorthanded in training, they may be using you to 
"fill in." That doesn't justify a full-time training job, and they may 
not have it to give. (Try to see this from their perspective.) I'd wait 
until you're spending at least half your time on training before going 
to your boss and asking for the training title.

Bear in mind that they'll probably still want you to keep doing some 
support work. Most companies are shorthanded these days, and they're 
not likely to let you drop the support work.

Here's my advice: Go along with this for a while, until you can 
honestly say, "I've got more on my plate than I can handle. I think 
that as my boss it's important that you choose what you want me to 
focus on, support or training, so I can do a good job for you."

Look at it this way: When a training position opens up, you'll have the 
edge over any outside applicant because you're already doing the work.

Best, 
Nick Corcodilos 
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