Why do Trainees Get Stuck with so Much Grunt Work?

Why do Trainees Get Stuck with so Much Grunt Work?

It’s a common phenomenon in many businesses. Fresh out of college trainees get stuck with so much grunt work. Whether it’s copying, filing, answering phones or fetching coffee, at some point or another, most trainees will suffer through the less glamorous assignments. But why is this? Let’s explore the causes of trainees being stuck with so much grunt work, and the possible ways to avoid it or make it more beneficial.

Reasons Trainees Get Stuck with Grunt Work

There are a few different reasons why trainees find themselves doing the grunt work. Let’s break it down.

  1. Lack of Experience – One of the main reasons why fresh out of college trainees are given the grunt work is simply because they lack the experience of other, more seasoned employees. This is why it’s all the more important to make sure that, if your business has trainee positions, your senior staff is properly trained in how to teach and mentor the newcomers.

  2. Not Taken Seriously – As a trainee, it can be difficult to be taken seriously. Many employees don’t respect the fact that trainees are still learning and so often treat them as if just because they are inexperienced, they are stupid. This can lead to senior staff dumping their grunt work on junior staff to free up more time for themselves.

  3. Business Will Allow It – For many companies, giving the trainees the grunt work is simply the easiest course of action. While it may not be the most beneficial for the trainees, it does allow the senior staff to focus on more substantial tasks.

  4. Cultural Norms – In some businesses, it’s part of the culture to assign the less desirable tasks to the trainees, often without any thought as to how it might affect them. This is especially true when senior staff with years of experience have been taught to expect that the fresh out of college trainees get stuck with the grunt work.

Is There Any Way to Avoid Grunt Work?

The short answer is yes. There are ways to avoid getting stuck with the grunt work, or to make it more beneficial.

  1. Prioritize Learning – For trainees, it’s important to make sure that, if possible, any grunt work that is assigned to them is something that they can learn from. Instead of simply being given the mundane copying and filing gigs, use the opportunity to learn about the company’s filing system, document scans/runs, software programs, etc.

  2. Do Your Case – When it comes to avoiding grunt work, it’s important to build your case. If other senior staff members aren’t going to take your ideas seriously, show them why they should. Make sure to use clear and concrete examples of how the grunt work might be a waste of your time, and why better use of your skills may benefit the company long-term.

  3. Find Your Mentor – Every business is different, so make sure that you’re taking the time to find a mentor or two who can help you navigate the process of avoiding the grunt work. This might be someone more senior than yourself, or even a peer in your company. Either way, having someone to help guide you through the system will make avoiding the grunt work much easier.

  4. Ask for Opportunities – Don’t be afraid to ask for more challenging projects and opportunities. Speak up in meetings and let your superiors know what you know and what you’re interested in doing. This might mean that, instead of simply being handed mundane tasks, you could be asked to work on a project that you find interesting.

Benefits of Doing Grunt Work

While avoiding the grunt work is part of the goal for many trainees, it’s also important to recognize that there are benefits to the less glamorous gigs.

  1. Necessary Skills – Doing grunt work can help to hone skills such as organization, attention to detail, multi-tasking, communication, etc. By tackling the menial tasks, you’re sure to learn the ins and outs of how the business works, as well as useful skills like the operation of the printer and other office technology.

  2. Internal Network – When it comes to the business world, who you know is just as important as what you know. That’s why it’s important to build your internal network by getting to know the other employees in your company. The grunt work might not be the most glamorous, but it can provide opportunities to build lasting relationships with senior staff and peers.

  3. Room to Grow – While it might be temporary, doing grunt work can also help to give you the room to grow. It can be difficult to overcome the initial leap of getting the more substantial tasks. The grunt work can help to give you an opportunity to practice and hone the skills required to take on those more challenging projects.

Finding yourself stuck with so much grunt work can be frustrating, but it’s important to remember that there’s a way to make this time more meaningful. By making sure to prioritize learning, do your case, find a mentor and to ask for opportunities, trainees can make sure that any grunt work is used to their advantage. With the right attitude and effort, anyone stuck with the less glamorous gigs can turn them into a valuable learning experience.

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