I know interns are supposed to do grunt work...

[skim milk]

I'm an "intern" right now
I actually have a full-time job at another company which starts soon but until this semester ends, I wanted to work somewhere to gain experience and I could use the money.

I report to one person who is high on the ladder and work in his group. Recently, I had to contact some guy who is in a whole separate department and he noticed that I'm new and an intern. He's just an analyst, no clue what he does or when he joined. He emails me out of nowhere and says that "you'll be responsible for" some news blah blah crap
I thought it would be something worthwhile but he unloaded this massive task of manually updating the daily news feeds. The other interns who work in HIS group all alternated on a weekly basis but he wants someone "consistent". Personally, I hate doing that crap. If my boss gave it to me, I would gladly do it. But the way this assignment was handed to me that someone else or him should be working on, does not go well with me and makes me feel like crap. I shouldn't even have any affiliation with him at all. He's in a whole different group. I can live up to the stereotype and be the quiet asian guy that takes other people crap but I'm kind of pissed off.

If I mention this to my boss, what should I say? I might be leaving soon so should I stick it out with this task for at least just the month of April? I definitely don't plan on sticking around much longer and not interested in a full-time position.
It takes about 45 minutes to do daily. I learn absolutely nothing doing this.

 

[waggy]

wait until your boss wants you to do something. then causually say "with teh job soandso wants me to do where should i put this on my list?" he will say "anything i give you is first" so then you work on his stuff and not worry about it.

 

[Saulbadguy]

Be the quiet asian guy and do your job.

 

[apac]

"Hey <boss's name>, I got an email from this guy about <task>. Is this something I need to worry about?"

In most companies I would think you should be receiving assignments only from your direct higher up.

 

[mugs]

Don't go to your boss and complain about it, but go to your boss and ask him if he wants you to be doing that work.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: fritolays
I'm an "intern" right now
I actually have a full-time job at another company which starts soon but until this semester ends, I wanted to work somewhere to gain experience and I could use the money.

I report to one person who is high on the ladder and work in his group. Recently, I had to contact some guy who is in a whole separate department and he noticed that I'm new and an intern. He's just an analyst, no clue what he does or when he joined. He emails me out of nowhere and says that "you'll be responsible for" some news blah blah crap
I thought it would be something worthwhile but he unloaded this massive task of manually updating the daily news feeds. The other interns who work in HIS group all alternated on a weekly basis but he wants someone "consistent". Personally, I hate doing that crap. If my boss gave it to me, I would gladly do it. But the way this assignment was handed to me that someone else or him should be working on, does not go well with me and makes me feel like crap. I shouldn't even have any affiliation with him at all. He's in a whole different group. I can live up to the stereotype and be the quiet asian guy that takes other people crap but I'm kind of pissed off.

If I mention this to my boss, what should I say? I might be leaving soon so should I stick it out with this task for at least just the month of April? I definitely don't plan on sticking around much longer and not interested in a full-time position.
It takes about 45 minutes to do daily. I learn absolutely nothing doing this.

Talk to your boss about it then...why are you asking us?

 

[bonkers325]

Originally posted by: apac
"Hey <boss's name>, I got an email from this guy about <task>. Is this something I need to worry about?"

In most companies I would think you should be receiving assignments only from your direct higher up.

Originally posted by: mugs
Don't go to your boss and complain about it, but go to your boss and ask him if he wants you to be doing that work.

do what they said

 

[Skunkwourk]

try dealing with last minute requests from multiple attorneys who want you to do something for them.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: apac
"Hey <boss's name>, I got an email from this guy about <task>. Is this something I need to worry about?"

In most companies I would think you should be receiving assignments only from your direct higher up.

Bingo.

ZV

 

[SpunkyJones]

45 minutes a day? For a month? Doesn't sound like much, but if your that worked up about it, just ask you boss if you need to do it. Plus where ever I worked, interns were pretty much feral employees, who could be scooped up by anyone to do some miserable task, you had to keep a bell around their necks to keep track of them.

 

[tigersty1e]

Welcome to the corporate world.

You encounter many types of this kind of BS in the workforce and it's in your duty to speak up and say something.

The CEO's and top management didn't get there by being yes men. You'll notice that all of them are not smart... but most if not all have some sort of tact/savvy/whatever you want to call it.

This is the best condition for you to practice some tact because you won't be there any longer. Plus this douche isn't even in your department.

It gets tricky when a senior person in your group tries to pull this on you.

 

[QurazyQuisp]

When ever there is work given to me and I'm not sure if it's work I should be doing, I will always ask my boss. It seems like more often than not my boss will tell me it is not my job and they'll take care of it.

 

[Doodoo]

Since he isn't even in your department, i'd go to your boss and ask him if he wants you to do the work. He may have other menial tasks for you to do since you're his intern.

 

[mh47g]

Oh and, we need updates.

 

[Svnla]

Originally posted by: fritolays
...... I can live up to the stereotype and be the quiet asian guy that takes other people crap but I'm kind of pissed off. .......

WTF? This is 2008 and you still think that way? No wonder the stereotype is still linger. :disgust:

GROW A PAIRS. Unless the assigment is from your boss or your boss's boss, you don't have to do jack. Now I don't mind to help out in a bind but to get dump on, no f***ing way.

If I was you, I would reply to the analyst..."Oh Bob, I would love to help but my plate is full, thanks for asking". End of story.

To add insult to injury, this is a intern job after all, not like it is a well paid job.

 

[Kelemvor]

I too would work it in such a way as to ask if you should be doing it as you didn't know who this person was or if this would conflict with that your real boss wants you to be doing. Your boss may have no idea that the other guy gave this task to you and might not appreciate it.

 

[rudder]

Sue their asses off!

 

[paulxcook]

Ask your boss in a non-complaining way. He will probably get annoyed at this other guy and make life hard for him. You're off the hook AND get revenge, too.

 

[Baked]

Wear some knee pads to work or quit. QQ more.

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: Doodoo
Since he isn't even in your department, i'd go to your boss and ask him if he wants you to do the work. He may have other menial tasks for you to do since you're his intern.

That's what I'd do. Just tell him this guy asked you to do this stuff and you were wondering if that's what he wants you to do.

 

[skim milk]

I'm going to email my boss tomorrow and say something along this line

Hey <boss's name>, I got an email from this guy about <task>. Is this something I need to worry about?"

thanks all

I'll post an update if you guys are interested.


oh the reason why I was concerned is that I'm going to be sitting directly next to the guy after Friday. I didn't want bad blood between us... but on second thought, i don't really give a shit since I'm leaving.

 

[puffff]

Originally posted by: Svnla

Originally posted by: fritolays
...... I can live up to the stereotype and be the quiet asian guy that takes other people crap but I'm kind of pissed off. .......

WTF? This is 2008 and you still think that way? No wonder the stereotype is still linger. :disgust:

Agreed. You're doing asians a disservice by even acknowledging the stereotype.

 

[her209]

If you don't want to be asked to do stuff in the future, do it very poorly when asked.

 

[SpiderWiz]

Reply asking when you start and cc you current boss.

 

[yllus]

I'm never surprised anymore at the bad career advice given out here.

If you get a work request outside your direct line of authority, handle it by telling that person that it sounds good, but that you had better check with your own boss before agreeing to make sure it works with how how he's going to be budgeting your time. I mean, if he's about to assign you something that's going to take up all of your time making it impossible for you to do extra work for this guy, you'd better know that before committing to getting stuff done for others.

It's a politics-neutral, sensible approach that works for each of the three parties involved. Your boss should know exactly how your time at work is being spent, so it's obvious that he should be informed about other tasks you take on. It's fair to the other guy, because you don't want to put him in a position where he's depending on you for some piece of work which you don't have time to do. And it's fair to yourself, because this way nobody is about to unknowingly double your workload while mistakenly thinking that you're sitting around idle.

I would never say something like, "Is this something I need to worry about?" That's just screaming, "I can't handle office politics, be my protector!" Yech.