Getting out of questionable tasks that are not part of my job

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP





.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;







up vote
1
down vote

favorite












I work as a designer/front end developer for a small software company, and the CEO is currently acting the role of the only sales person. Lately I've been asked to create e-mail campaigns for various marketing reasons, which is fairly easy to do. However, I have gotten caught up in an unending cycle of "spammy" email lists that get the campaign system blocked. I've tried to explain that I need to be provided with cleaned email lists, but the CEO just gets frustrated and expects me to somehow force them through.



At this point, after being locked out of the 2nd email campaign account, I feel strongly that I need to back out of this task. The list would need to be cleaned by someone who knows which people/companies we still have relations to, but that is clearly not going to happen. The CEO often leaves it to the last minute, and gets mad when it doesn't get sent out on time, blaming either me or the email system. I'm frustrated at being forced to spend so much time sending spam, and have no ability or desire to continue doing the company email campaigns, but I don't know how to back out.



Basically, since the CEO fails to understand that I cannot work with his lists, I really just want to get out of it entirely and back to doing my other work. The problem is, I have already admitted and proved that I know how to do email campaigns, so I can't think of how to get out in a polite way, or if it is even possible







share|improve this question


























    up vote
    1
    down vote

    favorite












    I work as a designer/front end developer for a small software company, and the CEO is currently acting the role of the only sales person. Lately I've been asked to create e-mail campaigns for various marketing reasons, which is fairly easy to do. However, I have gotten caught up in an unending cycle of "spammy" email lists that get the campaign system blocked. I've tried to explain that I need to be provided with cleaned email lists, but the CEO just gets frustrated and expects me to somehow force them through.



    At this point, after being locked out of the 2nd email campaign account, I feel strongly that I need to back out of this task. The list would need to be cleaned by someone who knows which people/companies we still have relations to, but that is clearly not going to happen. The CEO often leaves it to the last minute, and gets mad when it doesn't get sent out on time, blaming either me or the email system. I'm frustrated at being forced to spend so much time sending spam, and have no ability or desire to continue doing the company email campaigns, but I don't know how to back out.



    Basically, since the CEO fails to understand that I cannot work with his lists, I really just want to get out of it entirely and back to doing my other work. The problem is, I have already admitted and proved that I know how to do email campaigns, so I can't think of how to get out in a polite way, or if it is even possible







    share|improve this question






















      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite











      I work as a designer/front end developer for a small software company, and the CEO is currently acting the role of the only sales person. Lately I've been asked to create e-mail campaigns for various marketing reasons, which is fairly easy to do. However, I have gotten caught up in an unending cycle of "spammy" email lists that get the campaign system blocked. I've tried to explain that I need to be provided with cleaned email lists, but the CEO just gets frustrated and expects me to somehow force them through.



      At this point, after being locked out of the 2nd email campaign account, I feel strongly that I need to back out of this task. The list would need to be cleaned by someone who knows which people/companies we still have relations to, but that is clearly not going to happen. The CEO often leaves it to the last minute, and gets mad when it doesn't get sent out on time, blaming either me or the email system. I'm frustrated at being forced to spend so much time sending spam, and have no ability or desire to continue doing the company email campaigns, but I don't know how to back out.



      Basically, since the CEO fails to understand that I cannot work with his lists, I really just want to get out of it entirely and back to doing my other work. The problem is, I have already admitted and proved that I know how to do email campaigns, so I can't think of how to get out in a polite way, or if it is even possible







      share|improve this question












      I work as a designer/front end developer for a small software company, and the CEO is currently acting the role of the only sales person. Lately I've been asked to create e-mail campaigns for various marketing reasons, which is fairly easy to do. However, I have gotten caught up in an unending cycle of "spammy" email lists that get the campaign system blocked. I've tried to explain that I need to be provided with cleaned email lists, but the CEO just gets frustrated and expects me to somehow force them through.



      At this point, after being locked out of the 2nd email campaign account, I feel strongly that I need to back out of this task. The list would need to be cleaned by someone who knows which people/companies we still have relations to, but that is clearly not going to happen. The CEO often leaves it to the last minute, and gets mad when it doesn't get sent out on time, blaming either me or the email system. I'm frustrated at being forced to spend so much time sending spam, and have no ability or desire to continue doing the company email campaigns, but I don't know how to back out.



      Basically, since the CEO fails to understand that I cannot work with his lists, I really just want to get out of it entirely and back to doing my other work. The problem is, I have already admitted and proved that I know how to do email campaigns, so I can't think of how to get out in a polite way, or if it is even possible









      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked Feb 12 '16 at 23:35









      Niahc

      7421716




      7421716




















          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes

















          up vote
          1
          down vote



          accepted










          On the general question:



          Especially in a small company, employees must often do things that are outside of their areas of expertise.



          The worst thing you can do for the company and for your own long-term prospects is to refuse to do work that you consider outside your area or beneath your dignity. When I've been in management positions, I've found nothing more frustrating than employees who say, "That's not MY job". If there was someone else whose job it obviously was, I'd be giving it to them. I'm giving it to you because you're the best person I can think of to do this job, whether in terms of skill, availability, whatever. Maybe we don't have anyone truly qualified to do this job, but you're our best hope. Or you're sitting around with nothing important to do while everyone else is running around like crazy trying to keep up.



          On the specific issue:



          I'm not entirely clear what the problem is from your description. I suppose if you could state exactly what's wrong, then you'd know how to fix it and you'd do so. But okay, you can't get these email lists to work. I'd go to the boss and explain the problem to him as best I can. Then I'd discuss possible solutions. Whether those solutions are "get better lists from wherever we're getting these lists", "I need to spend 2 weeks (or 2 days or 2 months or whatever it is) cleaning up the lists", or "I have no idea how to do this and we either need to get someone who does or give me time to research how to do this right", or whatever.



          If the boss demands that you do a job with inadequate resources, that's a different problem.






          share|improve this answer




















          • You make a good point, I am normally okay with this task, but my real problem is not the job itself, but the resources that I need to complete the task. I felt that the implication of this task is that I should be the one to solve a problem that I have no ability to solve, or forcibly send out the emails without solving the problem at all, but maybe I should be making it more clear that I simply can't do it without the proper resources.
            – Niahc
            Feb 16 '16 at 17:08






          • 2




            @Niahc Yes. I wouldn't say, "This isn't my job." I'd say, "I am having a very hard time doing this because ..."
            – Jay
            Feb 16 '16 at 17:44

















          up vote
          4
          down vote













          Nearly every job description that I have seen includes a phrase similar to "other duties as assigned". That means that pretty much anything that your boss asks you to do that isn't illegal, unethical, or immoral is part of your job.



          That said, one way out of your mailing-list-hell would be to give it to someone whose primary job description is closer to including "sending out mass emails". In another question, you mention a marketing company that your company is working with. Perhaps you could find a way to have the mass-email task included in their responsibilities. Or, if there's another employee at your company with "marketing" or "assistant" in their title, you could offer to train that person how to do email campaigns.






          share|improve this answer






















          • This answer is on the right track, but it assumes the OP is high up enough to task others. It's more likely (though I can't know for sure) that such action has to go through to CEO in question rather than the marketing/assistant directly.
            – rath
            Feb 13 '16 at 4:01











          • I understand that all jobs involve other tasks, but I don't agree that I should be forced to do things that I am not qualified or comfortable doing.
            – Niahc
            Feb 16 '16 at 16:55

















          up vote
          1
          down vote














          the CEO is currently acting the role of the only sales person




          It sounds like your boss is wearing multiple hats, which probably means other people in the company are as well. Hopefully it's temporary, but it sounds like he's really counting on everyone to give 110% to keep the ship running.



          If you're not interested in doing this extra work that is out of the scope of the position you were hired for then I'd bring it up with your boss. I wouldn't expect it to go well.



          If you're interested in doing your boss and the company a solid try thinking of this as your problem. Instead of saying someone needs to clean the list, ask "Who can I pair up with to clean this list?".



          I've gotten ahead by flipping my attitude on stuff I didn't want to do. I'm in software so instead of saying "The framework doesn't do that", I respond with "In order for us to do this here are our options, this is how long it's going to take, and we need these resources in order to do it effectively."






          share|improve this answer



























            up vote
            0
            down vote













            You have three options.



            Just tell your boss you don't know how to clean the lists so don't want to do the task.



            Find out how to clean the lists.



            Just keep spamming, when the account gets blocked open a new one and continue.






            share|improve this answer




















            • Options 1. Just leads the boss telling you to do Option 2. Option 3 just leads to frustations for the OP which leads to Option 2. The only real options is 2.
              – Martin York
              Feb 14 '16 at 19:57











            • Na... option one is unlikely but worth a try. Option 3 is fine, why get frustrated? It's only work.
              – Kilisi
              Feb 15 '16 at 5:34










            Your Answer







            StackExchange.ready(function()
            var channelOptions =
            tags: "".split(" "),
            id: "423"
            ;
            initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

            StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
            // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
            if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
            StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
            createEditor();
            );

            else
            createEditor();

            );

            function createEditor()
            StackExchange.prepareEditor(
            heartbeatType: 'answer',
            convertImagesToLinks: false,
            noModals: false,
            showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
            reputationToPostImages: null,
            bindNavPrevention: true,
            postfix: "",
            noCode: true, onDemand: false,
            discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
            ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
            );



            );








             

            draft saved


            draft discarded


















            StackExchange.ready(
            function ()
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworkplace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f62001%2fgetting-out-of-questionable-tasks-that-are-not-part-of-my-job%23new-answer', 'question_page');

            );

            Post as a guest

























            StackExchange.ready(function ()
            $("#show-editor-button input, #show-editor-button button").click(function ()
            var showEditor = function()
            $("#show-editor-button").hide();
            $("#post-form").removeClass("dno");
            StackExchange.editor.finallyInit();
            ;

            var useFancy = $(this).data('confirm-use-fancy');
            if(useFancy == 'True')
            var popupTitle = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-title');
            var popupBody = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-body');
            var popupAccept = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-accept-button');

            $(this).loadPopup(
            url: '/post/self-answer-popup',
            loaded: function(popup)
            var pTitle = $(popup).find('h2');
            var pBody = $(popup).find('.popup-body');
            var pSubmit = $(popup).find('.popup-submit');

            pTitle.text(popupTitle);
            pBody.html(popupBody);
            pSubmit.val(popupAccept).click(showEditor);

            )
            else
            var confirmText = $(this).data('confirm-text');
            if (confirmText ? confirm(confirmText) : true)
            showEditor();


            );
            );






            4 Answers
            4






            active

            oldest

            votes








            4 Answers
            4






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes








            up vote
            1
            down vote



            accepted










            On the general question:



            Especially in a small company, employees must often do things that are outside of their areas of expertise.



            The worst thing you can do for the company and for your own long-term prospects is to refuse to do work that you consider outside your area or beneath your dignity. When I've been in management positions, I've found nothing more frustrating than employees who say, "That's not MY job". If there was someone else whose job it obviously was, I'd be giving it to them. I'm giving it to you because you're the best person I can think of to do this job, whether in terms of skill, availability, whatever. Maybe we don't have anyone truly qualified to do this job, but you're our best hope. Or you're sitting around with nothing important to do while everyone else is running around like crazy trying to keep up.



            On the specific issue:



            I'm not entirely clear what the problem is from your description. I suppose if you could state exactly what's wrong, then you'd know how to fix it and you'd do so. But okay, you can't get these email lists to work. I'd go to the boss and explain the problem to him as best I can. Then I'd discuss possible solutions. Whether those solutions are "get better lists from wherever we're getting these lists", "I need to spend 2 weeks (or 2 days or 2 months or whatever it is) cleaning up the lists", or "I have no idea how to do this and we either need to get someone who does or give me time to research how to do this right", or whatever.



            If the boss demands that you do a job with inadequate resources, that's a different problem.






            share|improve this answer




















            • You make a good point, I am normally okay with this task, but my real problem is not the job itself, but the resources that I need to complete the task. I felt that the implication of this task is that I should be the one to solve a problem that I have no ability to solve, or forcibly send out the emails without solving the problem at all, but maybe I should be making it more clear that I simply can't do it without the proper resources.
              – Niahc
              Feb 16 '16 at 17:08






            • 2




              @Niahc Yes. I wouldn't say, "This isn't my job." I'd say, "I am having a very hard time doing this because ..."
              – Jay
              Feb 16 '16 at 17:44














            up vote
            1
            down vote



            accepted










            On the general question:



            Especially in a small company, employees must often do things that are outside of their areas of expertise.



            The worst thing you can do for the company and for your own long-term prospects is to refuse to do work that you consider outside your area or beneath your dignity. When I've been in management positions, I've found nothing more frustrating than employees who say, "That's not MY job". If there was someone else whose job it obviously was, I'd be giving it to them. I'm giving it to you because you're the best person I can think of to do this job, whether in terms of skill, availability, whatever. Maybe we don't have anyone truly qualified to do this job, but you're our best hope. Or you're sitting around with nothing important to do while everyone else is running around like crazy trying to keep up.



            On the specific issue:



            I'm not entirely clear what the problem is from your description. I suppose if you could state exactly what's wrong, then you'd know how to fix it and you'd do so. But okay, you can't get these email lists to work. I'd go to the boss and explain the problem to him as best I can. Then I'd discuss possible solutions. Whether those solutions are "get better lists from wherever we're getting these lists", "I need to spend 2 weeks (or 2 days or 2 months or whatever it is) cleaning up the lists", or "I have no idea how to do this and we either need to get someone who does or give me time to research how to do this right", or whatever.



            If the boss demands that you do a job with inadequate resources, that's a different problem.






            share|improve this answer




















            • You make a good point, I am normally okay with this task, but my real problem is not the job itself, but the resources that I need to complete the task. I felt that the implication of this task is that I should be the one to solve a problem that I have no ability to solve, or forcibly send out the emails without solving the problem at all, but maybe I should be making it more clear that I simply can't do it without the proper resources.
              – Niahc
              Feb 16 '16 at 17:08






            • 2




              @Niahc Yes. I wouldn't say, "This isn't my job." I'd say, "I am having a very hard time doing this because ..."
              – Jay
              Feb 16 '16 at 17:44












            up vote
            1
            down vote



            accepted







            up vote
            1
            down vote



            accepted






            On the general question:



            Especially in a small company, employees must often do things that are outside of their areas of expertise.



            The worst thing you can do for the company and for your own long-term prospects is to refuse to do work that you consider outside your area or beneath your dignity. When I've been in management positions, I've found nothing more frustrating than employees who say, "That's not MY job". If there was someone else whose job it obviously was, I'd be giving it to them. I'm giving it to you because you're the best person I can think of to do this job, whether in terms of skill, availability, whatever. Maybe we don't have anyone truly qualified to do this job, but you're our best hope. Or you're sitting around with nothing important to do while everyone else is running around like crazy trying to keep up.



            On the specific issue:



            I'm not entirely clear what the problem is from your description. I suppose if you could state exactly what's wrong, then you'd know how to fix it and you'd do so. But okay, you can't get these email lists to work. I'd go to the boss and explain the problem to him as best I can. Then I'd discuss possible solutions. Whether those solutions are "get better lists from wherever we're getting these lists", "I need to spend 2 weeks (or 2 days or 2 months or whatever it is) cleaning up the lists", or "I have no idea how to do this and we either need to get someone who does or give me time to research how to do this right", or whatever.



            If the boss demands that you do a job with inadequate resources, that's a different problem.






            share|improve this answer












            On the general question:



            Especially in a small company, employees must often do things that are outside of their areas of expertise.



            The worst thing you can do for the company and for your own long-term prospects is to refuse to do work that you consider outside your area or beneath your dignity. When I've been in management positions, I've found nothing more frustrating than employees who say, "That's not MY job". If there was someone else whose job it obviously was, I'd be giving it to them. I'm giving it to you because you're the best person I can think of to do this job, whether in terms of skill, availability, whatever. Maybe we don't have anyone truly qualified to do this job, but you're our best hope. Or you're sitting around with nothing important to do while everyone else is running around like crazy trying to keep up.



            On the specific issue:



            I'm not entirely clear what the problem is from your description. I suppose if you could state exactly what's wrong, then you'd know how to fix it and you'd do so. But okay, you can't get these email lists to work. I'd go to the boss and explain the problem to him as best I can. Then I'd discuss possible solutions. Whether those solutions are "get better lists from wherever we're getting these lists", "I need to spend 2 weeks (or 2 days or 2 months or whatever it is) cleaning up the lists", or "I have no idea how to do this and we either need to get someone who does or give me time to research how to do this right", or whatever.



            If the boss demands that you do a job with inadequate resources, that's a different problem.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Feb 13 '16 at 4:58









            Jay

            8,57611430




            8,57611430











            • You make a good point, I am normally okay with this task, but my real problem is not the job itself, but the resources that I need to complete the task. I felt that the implication of this task is that I should be the one to solve a problem that I have no ability to solve, or forcibly send out the emails without solving the problem at all, but maybe I should be making it more clear that I simply can't do it without the proper resources.
              – Niahc
              Feb 16 '16 at 17:08






            • 2




              @Niahc Yes. I wouldn't say, "This isn't my job." I'd say, "I am having a very hard time doing this because ..."
              – Jay
              Feb 16 '16 at 17:44
















            • You make a good point, I am normally okay with this task, but my real problem is not the job itself, but the resources that I need to complete the task. I felt that the implication of this task is that I should be the one to solve a problem that I have no ability to solve, or forcibly send out the emails without solving the problem at all, but maybe I should be making it more clear that I simply can't do it without the proper resources.
              – Niahc
              Feb 16 '16 at 17:08






            • 2




              @Niahc Yes. I wouldn't say, "This isn't my job." I'd say, "I am having a very hard time doing this because ..."
              – Jay
              Feb 16 '16 at 17:44















            You make a good point, I am normally okay with this task, but my real problem is not the job itself, but the resources that I need to complete the task. I felt that the implication of this task is that I should be the one to solve a problem that I have no ability to solve, or forcibly send out the emails without solving the problem at all, but maybe I should be making it more clear that I simply can't do it without the proper resources.
            – Niahc
            Feb 16 '16 at 17:08




            You make a good point, I am normally okay with this task, but my real problem is not the job itself, but the resources that I need to complete the task. I felt that the implication of this task is that I should be the one to solve a problem that I have no ability to solve, or forcibly send out the emails without solving the problem at all, but maybe I should be making it more clear that I simply can't do it without the proper resources.
            – Niahc
            Feb 16 '16 at 17:08




            2




            2




            @Niahc Yes. I wouldn't say, "This isn't my job." I'd say, "I am having a very hard time doing this because ..."
            – Jay
            Feb 16 '16 at 17:44




            @Niahc Yes. I wouldn't say, "This isn't my job." I'd say, "I am having a very hard time doing this because ..."
            – Jay
            Feb 16 '16 at 17:44












            up vote
            4
            down vote













            Nearly every job description that I have seen includes a phrase similar to "other duties as assigned". That means that pretty much anything that your boss asks you to do that isn't illegal, unethical, or immoral is part of your job.



            That said, one way out of your mailing-list-hell would be to give it to someone whose primary job description is closer to including "sending out mass emails". In another question, you mention a marketing company that your company is working with. Perhaps you could find a way to have the mass-email task included in their responsibilities. Or, if there's another employee at your company with "marketing" or "assistant" in their title, you could offer to train that person how to do email campaigns.






            share|improve this answer






















            • This answer is on the right track, but it assumes the OP is high up enough to task others. It's more likely (though I can't know for sure) that such action has to go through to CEO in question rather than the marketing/assistant directly.
              – rath
              Feb 13 '16 at 4:01











            • I understand that all jobs involve other tasks, but I don't agree that I should be forced to do things that I am not qualified or comfortable doing.
              – Niahc
              Feb 16 '16 at 16:55














            up vote
            4
            down vote













            Nearly every job description that I have seen includes a phrase similar to "other duties as assigned". That means that pretty much anything that your boss asks you to do that isn't illegal, unethical, or immoral is part of your job.



            That said, one way out of your mailing-list-hell would be to give it to someone whose primary job description is closer to including "sending out mass emails". In another question, you mention a marketing company that your company is working with. Perhaps you could find a way to have the mass-email task included in their responsibilities. Or, if there's another employee at your company with "marketing" or "assistant" in their title, you could offer to train that person how to do email campaigns.






            share|improve this answer






















            • This answer is on the right track, but it assumes the OP is high up enough to task others. It's more likely (though I can't know for sure) that such action has to go through to CEO in question rather than the marketing/assistant directly.
              – rath
              Feb 13 '16 at 4:01











            • I understand that all jobs involve other tasks, but I don't agree that I should be forced to do things that I am not qualified or comfortable doing.
              – Niahc
              Feb 16 '16 at 16:55












            up vote
            4
            down vote










            up vote
            4
            down vote









            Nearly every job description that I have seen includes a phrase similar to "other duties as assigned". That means that pretty much anything that your boss asks you to do that isn't illegal, unethical, or immoral is part of your job.



            That said, one way out of your mailing-list-hell would be to give it to someone whose primary job description is closer to including "sending out mass emails". In another question, you mention a marketing company that your company is working with. Perhaps you could find a way to have the mass-email task included in their responsibilities. Or, if there's another employee at your company with "marketing" or "assistant" in their title, you could offer to train that person how to do email campaigns.






            share|improve this answer














            Nearly every job description that I have seen includes a phrase similar to "other duties as assigned". That means that pretty much anything that your boss asks you to do that isn't illegal, unethical, or immoral is part of your job.



            That said, one way out of your mailing-list-hell would be to give it to someone whose primary job description is closer to including "sending out mass emails". In another question, you mention a marketing company that your company is working with. Perhaps you could find a way to have the mass-email task included in their responsibilities. Or, if there's another employee at your company with "marketing" or "assistant" in their title, you could offer to train that person how to do email campaigns.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48









            Community♦

            1




            1










            answered Feb 13 '16 at 0:16









            shoover

            43439




            43439











            • This answer is on the right track, but it assumes the OP is high up enough to task others. It's more likely (though I can't know for sure) that such action has to go through to CEO in question rather than the marketing/assistant directly.
              – rath
              Feb 13 '16 at 4:01











            • I understand that all jobs involve other tasks, but I don't agree that I should be forced to do things that I am not qualified or comfortable doing.
              – Niahc
              Feb 16 '16 at 16:55
















            • This answer is on the right track, but it assumes the OP is high up enough to task others. It's more likely (though I can't know for sure) that such action has to go through to CEO in question rather than the marketing/assistant directly.
              – rath
              Feb 13 '16 at 4:01











            • I understand that all jobs involve other tasks, but I don't agree that I should be forced to do things that I am not qualified or comfortable doing.
              – Niahc
              Feb 16 '16 at 16:55















            This answer is on the right track, but it assumes the OP is high up enough to task others. It's more likely (though I can't know for sure) that such action has to go through to CEO in question rather than the marketing/assistant directly.
            – rath
            Feb 13 '16 at 4:01





            This answer is on the right track, but it assumes the OP is high up enough to task others. It's more likely (though I can't know for sure) that such action has to go through to CEO in question rather than the marketing/assistant directly.
            – rath
            Feb 13 '16 at 4:01













            I understand that all jobs involve other tasks, but I don't agree that I should be forced to do things that I am not qualified or comfortable doing.
            – Niahc
            Feb 16 '16 at 16:55




            I understand that all jobs involve other tasks, but I don't agree that I should be forced to do things that I am not qualified or comfortable doing.
            – Niahc
            Feb 16 '16 at 16:55










            up vote
            1
            down vote














            the CEO is currently acting the role of the only sales person




            It sounds like your boss is wearing multiple hats, which probably means other people in the company are as well. Hopefully it's temporary, but it sounds like he's really counting on everyone to give 110% to keep the ship running.



            If you're not interested in doing this extra work that is out of the scope of the position you were hired for then I'd bring it up with your boss. I wouldn't expect it to go well.



            If you're interested in doing your boss and the company a solid try thinking of this as your problem. Instead of saying someone needs to clean the list, ask "Who can I pair up with to clean this list?".



            I've gotten ahead by flipping my attitude on stuff I didn't want to do. I'm in software so instead of saying "The framework doesn't do that", I respond with "In order for us to do this here are our options, this is how long it's going to take, and we need these resources in order to do it effectively."






            share|improve this answer
























              up vote
              1
              down vote














              the CEO is currently acting the role of the only sales person




              It sounds like your boss is wearing multiple hats, which probably means other people in the company are as well. Hopefully it's temporary, but it sounds like he's really counting on everyone to give 110% to keep the ship running.



              If you're not interested in doing this extra work that is out of the scope of the position you were hired for then I'd bring it up with your boss. I wouldn't expect it to go well.



              If you're interested in doing your boss and the company a solid try thinking of this as your problem. Instead of saying someone needs to clean the list, ask "Who can I pair up with to clean this list?".



              I've gotten ahead by flipping my attitude on stuff I didn't want to do. I'm in software so instead of saying "The framework doesn't do that", I respond with "In order for us to do this here are our options, this is how long it's going to take, and we need these resources in order to do it effectively."






              share|improve this answer






















                up vote
                1
                down vote










                up vote
                1
                down vote










                the CEO is currently acting the role of the only sales person




                It sounds like your boss is wearing multiple hats, which probably means other people in the company are as well. Hopefully it's temporary, but it sounds like he's really counting on everyone to give 110% to keep the ship running.



                If you're not interested in doing this extra work that is out of the scope of the position you were hired for then I'd bring it up with your boss. I wouldn't expect it to go well.



                If you're interested in doing your boss and the company a solid try thinking of this as your problem. Instead of saying someone needs to clean the list, ask "Who can I pair up with to clean this list?".



                I've gotten ahead by flipping my attitude on stuff I didn't want to do. I'm in software so instead of saying "The framework doesn't do that", I respond with "In order for us to do this here are our options, this is how long it's going to take, and we need these resources in order to do it effectively."






                share|improve this answer













                the CEO is currently acting the role of the only sales person




                It sounds like your boss is wearing multiple hats, which probably means other people in the company are as well. Hopefully it's temporary, but it sounds like he's really counting on everyone to give 110% to keep the ship running.



                If you're not interested in doing this extra work that is out of the scope of the position you were hired for then I'd bring it up with your boss. I wouldn't expect it to go well.



                If you're interested in doing your boss and the company a solid try thinking of this as your problem. Instead of saying someone needs to clean the list, ask "Who can I pair up with to clean this list?".



                I've gotten ahead by flipping my attitude on stuff I didn't want to do. I'm in software so instead of saying "The framework doesn't do that", I respond with "In order for us to do this here are our options, this is how long it's going to take, and we need these resources in order to do it effectively."







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered Feb 13 '16 at 0:16









                The Muffin Man

                1,043710




                1,043710




















                    up vote
                    0
                    down vote













                    You have three options.



                    Just tell your boss you don't know how to clean the lists so don't want to do the task.



                    Find out how to clean the lists.



                    Just keep spamming, when the account gets blocked open a new one and continue.






                    share|improve this answer




















                    • Options 1. Just leads the boss telling you to do Option 2. Option 3 just leads to frustations for the OP which leads to Option 2. The only real options is 2.
                      – Martin York
                      Feb 14 '16 at 19:57











                    • Na... option one is unlikely but worth a try. Option 3 is fine, why get frustrated? It's only work.
                      – Kilisi
                      Feb 15 '16 at 5:34














                    up vote
                    0
                    down vote













                    You have three options.



                    Just tell your boss you don't know how to clean the lists so don't want to do the task.



                    Find out how to clean the lists.



                    Just keep spamming, when the account gets blocked open a new one and continue.






                    share|improve this answer




















                    • Options 1. Just leads the boss telling you to do Option 2. Option 3 just leads to frustations for the OP which leads to Option 2. The only real options is 2.
                      – Martin York
                      Feb 14 '16 at 19:57











                    • Na... option one is unlikely but worth a try. Option 3 is fine, why get frustrated? It's only work.
                      – Kilisi
                      Feb 15 '16 at 5:34












                    up vote
                    0
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    0
                    down vote









                    You have three options.



                    Just tell your boss you don't know how to clean the lists so don't want to do the task.



                    Find out how to clean the lists.



                    Just keep spamming, when the account gets blocked open a new one and continue.






                    share|improve this answer












                    You have three options.



                    Just tell your boss you don't know how to clean the lists so don't want to do the task.



                    Find out how to clean the lists.



                    Just keep spamming, when the account gets blocked open a new one and continue.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Feb 13 '16 at 2:14









                    Kilisi

                    94.6k50216376




                    94.6k50216376











                    • Options 1. Just leads the boss telling you to do Option 2. Option 3 just leads to frustations for the OP which leads to Option 2. The only real options is 2.
                      – Martin York
                      Feb 14 '16 at 19:57











                    • Na... option one is unlikely but worth a try. Option 3 is fine, why get frustrated? It's only work.
                      – Kilisi
                      Feb 15 '16 at 5:34
















                    • Options 1. Just leads the boss telling you to do Option 2. Option 3 just leads to frustations for the OP which leads to Option 2. The only real options is 2.
                      – Martin York
                      Feb 14 '16 at 19:57











                    • Na... option one is unlikely but worth a try. Option 3 is fine, why get frustrated? It's only work.
                      – Kilisi
                      Feb 15 '16 at 5:34















                    Options 1. Just leads the boss telling you to do Option 2. Option 3 just leads to frustations for the OP which leads to Option 2. The only real options is 2.
                    – Martin York
                    Feb 14 '16 at 19:57





                    Options 1. Just leads the boss telling you to do Option 2. Option 3 just leads to frustations for the OP which leads to Option 2. The only real options is 2.
                    – Martin York
                    Feb 14 '16 at 19:57













                    Na... option one is unlikely but worth a try. Option 3 is fine, why get frustrated? It's only work.
                    – Kilisi
                    Feb 15 '16 at 5:34




                    Na... option one is unlikely but worth a try. Option 3 is fine, why get frustrated? It's only work.
                    – Kilisi
                    Feb 15 '16 at 5:34












                     

                    draft saved


                    draft discarded


























                     


                    draft saved


                    draft discarded














                    StackExchange.ready(
                    function ()
                    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworkplace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f62001%2fgetting-out-of-questionable-tasks-that-are-not-part-of-my-job%23new-answer', 'question_page');

                    );

                    Post as a guest

















































































                    Comments

                    Popular posts from this blog

                    Long meetings (6-7 hours a day): Being “babysat” by supervisor

                    Is the Concept of Multiple Fantasy Races Scientifically Flawed? [closed]

                    Confectionery