New Job & Unrealistic Deadlines :)

[King-Misbah]

Hello guys,

I have joined a new job a few weeks ago. The issue is that I am given deadlines that are simply not attainable. They are unrealistic and it seems like no thinking has gone into setting the deadlines. For an example, my latest deadline was 2 days for a 7 days task.

How do I go about this professionally without sounding over whelmed. As in the work is easy but just really long.

Thank guys

 

[Slim]

I feel sorry for you buddy. Unrealistic deadlines are very stressful.

Some tips:

Give regular updates to the person who assigned you the task. Don't hide your progress (or lack thereof).

Suggest a more reasonable deadline, and be prepared to explain why the original deadline cannot be met.

If this all gets too regular, start saying no, with proper evidence. If that doesnt works out, try to go over their head as last resort.

Prepare for the worst, in any case.

 

[ElRaja]

Hello guys,

I have joined a new job a few weeks ago. The issue is that I am given deadlines that are simply not attainable. They are unrealistic and it seems like no thinking has gone into setting the deadlines. For an example, my latest deadline was 2 days for a 7 days task.

How do I go about this professionally without sounding over whelmed. As in the work is easy but just really long.

Thank guys

work as hard as you can, if u cant do it in two, do it in four, and explain with rationale that you need help when questioned why you are falling behind.

quantify with like a break down of how long each task may take, then they will either disagree with you on how long specific things take, in which case you can make a good valid argument given you are certain you have the technical skills.

in a regular job id state be very clear about whether you can achieve something or not, but given this is a new job i wouldnt do that, early impressions last a long time and you dont wanna get known as someone who creates problems before they have even tried to solve the issue.

ive known at time people setting newbies with very tough deadlines to see first hand how they deal with pressure, this may not be true in your case, but dont stress, try to put in a few extra hours and see how quickly you fall behind, then ask for help (for something specific to be done, and then after completing the task state you think you will need a bit more time on something like this in the future.

if you feel a negative response, then dont push it. once your settled and your value is obvious, then you can make your point a bit more forcefully.

hope it works out

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Work hard otherwise they will soon replace you with an AI.

 

[GBK_Fan]

Automate repetitive tasks. Also you might want to break your task down into smaller milestones, and talk to whoever is setting them that how each of them cannot be done any quicker.

IIRC you were looking forward to this new job as it was in the field you wanted. Most competitive jobs are this way. You should learn to push back without being rude or unprofessional. Try and understand why a 7 day task is marked down to 2. Maybe you are missing something?

 

[King-Misbah]

Automate repetitive tasks. Also you might want to break your task down into smaller milestones, and talk to whoever is setting them that how each of them cannot be done any quicker.

IIRC you were looking forward to this new job as it was in the field you wanted. Most competitive jobs are this way. You should learn to push back without being rude or unprofessional. Try and understand why a 7 day task is marked down to 2. Maybe you are missing something?

I can not automate research tasks and I am not missing anything :s

 

[King-Misbah]

Thank you Slim and El Raja for your posts. I will see how tomorrow goes. I realise that diplomatic communication goes a long way so really need to use it

 

[gazza619]

Well there is added pressure as it is a new job. Do you think the tasks would have been attainable if you were working on the same job for a few years?

Your employer also needs to bear in mind that you are new and will take longer to get up to speed.

Be clear and firm in your communication with your manager/boss...

 

[King-Misbah]

Well there is added pressure as it is a new job. Do you think the tasks would have been attainable if you were working on the same job for a few years?

Your employer also needs to bear in mind that you are new and will take longer to get up to speed.

Be clear and firm in your communication with your manager/boss...

Nope; these are tedious research tasks that take time. There is no way that I can do them quicker regardless of my experince

Yes; I need to be clear or else I am being unfair to myself.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Yes; I need to be clear or else I am being unfair to myself.

Good one.

What kind of research tasks are those?

 

[GBK_Fan]

I can not automate research tasks and I am not missing anything :s

How do you know the timeline for a research task? Your initial post said it was an easy but long task. Anyway good luck to you.

 

[Waseem]

You can spend day & night meeting the deadline but DON'T DO THAT. This would set expectation that you can achieve this in future as well and refusing in future may not go well.

As most have said already, don't tell them whether you can/can't do on last day. Better set the expectations first up and tell them how much you can potentially achieve with regular updates (NO SURPRISES IN THE END).

 

[Madplayer]

Step 1 - Ask the one who gave you this task whether such a task has actually been accomplished in 2 days before by any employee of the company.

Step 2 - If the answer is yes, get into contact with such a person even if he/she is an ex employee and ask how they did it.

But i am pretty sure your assessment that it simply cant be done is correct. Because 7 days vs 2 days is a crazy difference. You simply cant be wrong on it. So you might not get a direct answer to the question in step 1. Be ready with your responses.

 

[the Great Khan]

Hello guys,

I have joined a new job a few weeks ago. The issue is that I am given deadlines that are simply not attainable. They are unrealistic and it seems like no thinking has gone into setting the deadlines. For an example, my latest deadline was 2 days for a 7 days task.

How do I go about this professionally without sounding over whelmed. As in the work is easy but just really long.

Thank guys

what is the job? what are the tasks..please give some detail without obviously prejudicing your work place, and then i can give you some suggestions..also for the future..

 

[srh]

Hello guys,

I have joined a new job a few weeks ago. The issue is that I am given deadlines that are simply not attainable. They are unrealistic and it seems like no thinking has gone into setting the deadlines. For an example, my latest deadline was 2 days for a 7 days task.

How do I go about this professionally without sounding over whelmed. As in the work is easy but just really long.

Thank guys

dont kill yourself trying to make the deadlines; always have a buffer of at least 1 day in your deadlines; never try to finish a 2 day's job in 1 day

 

[Bewal Express]

Hello guys,

I have joined a new job a few weeks ago. The issue is that I am given deadlines that are simply not attainable. They are unrealistic and it seems like no thinking has gone into setting the deadlines. For an example, my latest deadline was 2 days for a 7 days task.

How do I go about this professionally without sounding over whelmed. As in the work is easy but just really long.

Thank guys

What is your job, if you don't mind sharing.