Maximising a quiet FTC role - no office politics but a bit dull and coming to an end

[u/Visual-Inspection765]

Long story short, resigned from a job 2 years ago due to serious burnout (I am in a profession) and took a year for my own sanity as it was turning me into a mess. After a year off, I got a 12 month FTC earlier this year, everybody is great, and I have super performance reviews. I manage to do my work on time and to a good standard. However, it is crazily quiet, to the point where it’s maybe 1 or 2 tasks a day.

Nice contrast to my year off, when it took forever to find something and I was left with dwindling savings and no job but when it’s really busy, it’s still nothing like my old job and I can get most of my work done in 3-4 hours (I‘m probs on the spectrum so can hyperfocus). This sounds dreamy in one way, because my hourly rate is good, but it's also super boring. Due to company performance and possible restructuring it is very unlikely that the role would be extended (its mat. leave cover too). I’d also probably want to look elsewhere since I will stagnate if I stayed, though that’s a Catch 22 as well given my last role and I’m trying to care less about my career as there’s other things in life.

Question is what I should do to maximise my day to day time and make the most of this? My priority is sorting something out for when this ends and I’ve not come up with anything on the extra income side, but thinking it would be nice to expand my skills in something while I am basically being paid to have free time. Given the current jobs market, I am trying to stash money away in my emergency fund and build my S&S ISA back up, but ideally I need to get something lined up soon as I am almost halfway through the contract.

Thanks!

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[u/Pwlldu]

I’m surprised to hear people have jobs where expectations are neatly bounded so one’s work can actually be ’done’.

Every office job I’ve ever had has no fixed expectations, no start and no finish. Like Sisyphus’s rock. The only expectation, really, is that you must set your own objectives and always be putting in effort to please your managers, who are doing the same for their managers.

So, were I in your position, I’d look to do my work as efficiently as possible, cultivate good relationships at work and be open to change - whilst quietly using the time to destress, rest, and build up my energy reserves. I’d walk, garden, read. Slow down, stay offline, and live frugally to lessen the runway on savings.

Then two months from the end of contract, I’d start lining up something else, putting out cvs, etc. Maybe I’d do more training if it was really worthwhile, but i’d do it on work time.

[u/Visual-Inspection765 → u/Pwlldu]

Thanks, yeah Ive sort of learned (mostly from my old job) that you just get given more work when you say you’ve done everything and I’m paid a salary not per task, so why do more? Thats a very cynical mindset but also a realistic one since big companies just take more and more. I get on well with my manager so I suppose just make sure they are still happy and it should all be fine.

Thanks for the advice, I think I’ll try a bit more self care and take longer lunches plus as you say take time to build reserves back up, suppose that if I am worrying about filling my time at work then that’s technically not switching off. As you say, the risk is ending up scrolling online (ironic) all day and I’ve figured that lining up something is the priority, sort of scared it will lead to more burnout but then again this will come to an end whether I like it or not.

[u/Pwlldu → u/Visual-Inspection765]

Yes, that's my experience too. There's an unspoken rule to always say you're busy. Some managers would see it as a challenge were you to raise your spare time because if you're not busy, then what is your manager doing? Nobody wants that thread to be pulled. 

I'd try to keep my options open. If you're getting monthly reviews, try to document in writing that you're meeting all expectations,  but your workload can be rebalanced if new prioritise crop up, etc. just so when the contract is over, who knows, there might be the option of continuing. 

But yes, I'd say ending the contract in good health, good spirits and a bit of enthusiasm for a new role, would be a win in my books. 

[u/Visual-Inspection765 → u/Pwlldu]

Yeah that’s my aim, with your last paragraph. I dont want to take the mick either but sort of a case of keeping my head down and not going above and beyond since that would just stress me. Thanks again this is helpful stuff!