How do you respond when given tasks that you don't feel are your job/don't fall within your job description? Is there a way to politely decline without it being used against you?

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I guess it depends on who is requesting you to do the tasks. If it’s a client and it falls outside of your scope then either decline it or issue a change order and perform the task if you know you can. If it’s a colleague or supervisor, use it as a learning opportunity and perform the task even if it’s outside your job description. The more skills you can pick up along the way, the more valuable you’ll be to your company.

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Thanks for sharing!

To requestor:
“I actually don’t know how to take care of this effectively for you, but please let me connect you with department X that has the wherewithal to do so.”

To my supervisor:
“Just letting you know that I was asked to complete a task within department X’s wheelhouse. Instinct told me to defer the requestor to department X. I don’t mind learning those new skills, so let me know if you’d like me to be able to personally handle such a request in the future.”

9/10 times, your own boss wouldn’t want you doing the job of another department. I’m sure your own department has its own queue of issues to manage.

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I definitely second this. It makes you look good if you’re willing to learn a new skill, but it also needs to be something your higher ups are willing to allocate time/resources for you to do. Someone else may be more efficient for the task.

Depends on who’s asking and how complex it is. Most things I can just do quicker than I’d be able to argue that it’s someone else’s job and then have to tell them how to do it anyways

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Thanks for sharing!

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