# Dear boss, I'm really bored.... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 6, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379 "2008-03-06T21:34:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379/1 "2008-03-06T21:34:39Z")
Tomorrow I have a meeting with my lovely manager. I plan to ask for a transfer to another department. This is because, quite frankly, I can now do my job with my eyes closed and my hands tied behind my back. I’m bored. There are also certain aspects of my job I don’t like. But mainly I’m bored. That sounds a little childish, so I want to come up with a better reason for requesting a transfer. So I turn to the dopers! What should I say tomorrow? ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379/2 "2008-03-06T21:45:04Z")
You feel that you need more challenge in your career because you’re a very driven individual, and you anticipate that said department will be able to provide you with such. ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379/3 "2008-03-06T21:48:04Z")
And that you need experience in other divisions to give you the background you need for future promotions. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379/4 "2008-03-06T21:57:29Z")
And of course, with the added experience, you request better pay. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379/5 "2008-03-06T21:57:38Z")
What EmAnJ said. You may also want to say that you’re happy stay on until they’re able to find someone to replace you and will happily assist with the transition process as far as training your replacement (assuming this doesn’t interfere with the transfer, of course). Nothing annoys a manager more than being left in the lurch when an employee takes off for greener pastures. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379/6 "2008-03-07T09:31:07Z")
Thanks guys. I love all your suggestions. I think I’ll combine them into one really long run-on sentence and memorise it. 🙂 An hour until I leave for work. So everyone else still feel free to chime in! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379/7 "2008-03-07T09:41:48Z")
You have truly loved your current position but believe it is time for further professional growth. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379/8 "2008-03-07T17:29:55Z")
…and you’re bored. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379/9 "2008-03-07T21:35:45Z")
You desire to proactively integrate out-of-the-box thinking and goal-oriented strategies in order to synthesize and devise win-win solutions. Thus you need to be transferred. ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379/10 "2008-03-07T23:38:25Z")
[QUOTE=ITR champion] You desire to proactively integrate out-of-the-box thinking and goal-oriented strategies in order to synthesize and devise win-win solutions. Thus you need to be transferred. [/QUOTE] Point deduction for failing to use the words “synergy” and/or “mentoring”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379/11 "2008-03-08T07:52:04Z")
Don’t forget to tell us how it goes! ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379/12 "2008-03-08T08:30:34Z")
Tell him you’re having an affair with someone in your current department. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2008, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379/13 "2008-03-09T00:42:20Z")
[QUOTE=bbs2k] Tell him you’re having an affair with someone in your current department. [/QUOTE] Who you’re now pregnant by, thus making it even more inconvenient. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379/14 "2008-03-09T19:42:20Z")
Version 1. You have reached the point where you want new challenges, and the chance to broaden both your experience and your skills base. You imagine you _could_ do this by leaving to join another company, but you haven’t pursued this avenue at all because loyalty means a lot to you, and you have a strong preference for staying with the company if at all possible. Version 2. “I’m as bored as a sprinter in diving boots. I once saw a guy on TV who had bothered to memorise pi to a thousand places. I envied him his interesting life. I’d slit my wrists just for the fun of it, but I hate to make a mess and red really isn’t my colour. On balance, I think I’m too young to slip into a permanent coma, but I can feel it starting to happen and I’m worried neither of us would notice. Your failure to even recognise these factors, let alone do anything about them, is but one sign among many that you’re a lousy boss and I’d better off working for someone else. When I say ‘someone’, what I really mean is ‘anyone so long as it’s not you’, but I’m being polite. There’s scant evidence to support the theory, but you’re _supposed_ to be the manager here. So manage.” Version 2 is the better choice, but version 1 is more likely to get you what you want. ---
**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379/15 "2008-03-12T20:15:30Z")
So how’d it go? ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-boss-im-really-bored/440379/16 "2008-03-12T21:04:13Z")
It’s taken me a few days to get round to responding, I was too busy enjoying your replies! Anyway, there was lots of positive manager-speak. Keys words like “employee development” and “recommendation” but it came down to “not yet.” Basically, there are no positions open in the other department at the moment. My manager has forward my details on to them. Which probably means my name will be in an unopened file somewhere. My manager decided that in the meantime I obviously need some extra responsibility. So during her absence next week, I will be in charge of - attendance. That’s right folks. I’m going to be filling in the register! Will I be able to handle it? Who knows! However it looks like they’re sending me on a first aid course in May. So that will be something different for a few days at least!