Is it my job?

by: Tiffany Smock


I was recently told a story of a disgruntled employee complained to a superior about having to do something that was not part of her job description. Not only was this unprofessional, but it was also uncalled for. I'm not sure how the situation ended, but I can bet that the employee lost much of their credibility by putting on that immature display.

This story raised an excellent question that me, my director, and fellow colleagues have been discussing over the past few days. Should you only do what your job description entails? The obvious answer should be: NO! It is almost impossible for an employer to write ever task down in the job description that you will have to do. There are tasks, many of them small in nature, that you will have to do in your position regardless of what you've been told.

Strictly abiding by the rules of your job description is a surefire way to miss a promotion opportunity as well. For example, if an employer is looking to promote someone and they have these two options who do you think they will choose?
Option A.) Employee does what they are told and follows the rules, they oftentimes stick to their own department and are labeled as stand-offish by other employees, not willing to help other co-workers, and always the first one out of the building.
Option B.) Puts the needs of the company/organization first, friendly to co-workers in the office, assist other departments if they ask, complete any and all tasks given to them, and always the first one to volunteer for a project or to help their superiors.

The answer is, without a doubt, Option B.

So as I mentioned earlier, the answer is almost common sense. If you stick to the description you might be good at what you do, but you won't gain or learn anything from the experience. Don't be afraid to think outside the box with your job and always look for new ways to get ahead in your field. This will make you a more efficient employee and give you a sense of accomplishment in your work.