How to Survive a Manager That Doesn't Know How to Manage

"Show up for work every day until one of you either gets fired or leaves." Its so sad that that is such a good answer.

A former coworker had a former boss who drilled into him "Never let a good crisis go to waste". In a big, well run company you probably will have to spend a lot of time doing a small number of things. Use this opportunity to get a lot of experience in a lot of different areas. There will come a time, probably sooner than you expect, where something will change or one of you will be gone. Take advantage of these opportunities so you will be better prepared for the opportunities after the "big change".

...or her.

Tut Tut! Been to Spec Savers lately. 'He has been working on his own projects....' No SHE involved, clearly stated in the original text, 'He'.

Are you reading between the lines?

≡≈⇔≡≅? Is that better for you?

LOL

Learn whatever he is willing to teach you.

...or she.

It really depends on what exactly this new persons role is in the company and with the existing manager and what is expected of the manager towards the new person.

...which needs to be to hand in a document called the "Job Description".

Where's the problem? You're out of school now. This sounds like the ideal opportunity to learn by doing without being overmanaged. Pick his brain and learn as much as possible.

...or her brain.

good points about her brain.

One never knows who the boss will be upon arrival.

Whichever sex this boss is, it is totally irrelevant to your progress in your profession.

You have been trained to be professional. Be that, and ask on a daily basis (if you don't already know) what you can do make things go more smoothly at work, get more done, help your boss with whatever they need so the organization moves forward at the pace needed.

You'd make a great manager; anyone that can train a dog to read a newspaper can teach anyone!

They tried using me as a supervisor before, and all I did was cuss at the one fellow I was supervising, because he knew how to depress the activate button on my anger management.

I've been put in temporary charge of people a few times.

It never ended well. Too much got done way too fast and everyone was happy at the end of the day plus thought I should have a more permanent management/team lead position than who was there.

Screwed up low company morale for weeks. I had to go.

Sounds like our new POTUS, but in your case, management could not tolerate winning!

Putting pressure on incompetent management is always a guarantee for finding the door, in all but a few cases, unfortunately.

...or her.

Actually, the OP used the masculine pronoun (multiple times)...

If his only problem is that he is new to management and your are new to the work force, work together. Give him the same encouragement and respect as you would like him to give to you. Possibly the 2 of you can grow together.

I agree, and do not oppose or object or ask too many questions. What ever he tolds you to do, do it. If ever you have a question, ask in kindness and be calm. Be sensitive enough and find ways on how you can help or assist the guy.

If I were that guy your superior I would be happy to unload things which does not need so much decision making and other stuff doable for new a comer.

What you hear and see, leave it in the office.

I think your training is already in motion, the real world isn't pretty or easy

This is an excellent position for you to start in, I might even say perfect....He will devote time and effort to showing you how to do the easiest things first, so you can take some of the load....then as you get better and faster, which hopefully you will, you can learn and take on more complex duties....One on one mentoring is the fastest way to get up to speed...providing of course you get along well, and this is mainly up to you...

Two words sum it up; "Be Humble".

But at the same time, don't be his/her fall guy/gal either!

There's a fine line to walk on both sides. I've been on both sides, some easy, other more difficult.

I hope his boss is not a bad mouth type of guy.

After 4 posts on that very subject, you might want to reread the OP (highlighting by me):

"He has been working on his own projects for 15 years and never had a JR under him. He is generally over worked and has extremely limited time for training and answering questions."

The OP also did start by saying "Hypothetical"...so it's not really a real case!

That's part of the problem in the world we live in now. You got the he he and the he she and the she he and the she she. It's easy to get sort of mixed up.

So cut to the chase and call all of them they that shall not be named.

Not the problem. We read what we want to see, and not what is written. A case of reading with eyes wide shut.

He is a dig bick!

Did 'they' read that correctly! Or did 'they' assume 'they' read it correctly.

Mr. Stewart, sir! Now, now. Set an example my good fellow. There's a good chap! Please utilise the English language correctly and properly. 'They, whom shall not be named'. People cannot be 'that's'. Twats. Yes of course.

Thank dear sir for most kind chastisement of my butchery of the King's English!

Twat I was attempting to convey. Have not found any bidders.

OH, No, no, no! You pain my little heart. The English have a Queen sir. What in tarnation is going on in the colonies these days? It is no wonder there is such consternation in the world today. MY, my, my! This is not cricket! Gadzooks foresooth, we shall be confounded by confused subjects.

The H and W are so close together on a keyboard I can fully understand your confusion with that word. Just as in were and where. In England, the H is silent like the F in milk and the Q in billiards.

True, I am sure Queen Elizabeth speaks the Queen's English, just as I (the unofficial king of Texas) use Tex's Text (pronounced as Texas Tech). One might suppose that after years of listening to Varney (an English import, now a United States citizen) on Fox Business, I would have known better than to tamper with English, much less dabble in it. I hate when folk dabble in my food.

Way of track now.

To survive a manager who, (that), doesn't know how to manage: Best advice, keep a big stick handy and a bar of chocolate in your drawer.

Why would you want to whip chocolate my dear old chap?

No you have it all mixed up like a bag of fruit that has gone loopy. The stick is for persuading the fellow and may be used later as a splint, crutch, walking aid or alternate supporting device.

The chocolate you eat for its calming effect after the event.

Just stick with it and learn on your own. All your life so far you've been fed what to learn or given a spoon and told what to learn...now you find yourself in an environment that is foreign to you.

I've been in that exact situation...I learned in 3 days what it was all about. I was left alone with some books and that's it. I was freaking out like you. After the 3rd day I got up and asked my boss what I can help with to take the load off their back. That's what you get paid to do. Rest is history. Now in management roles, I am sympathetic to new comers and try to formulate a learning program. But that takes a lot of effort and time...which is not always feasible. So you'll have to understand.

From your previous post, I think what type of work you are looking for is an R&D type of work. Have you asked the university if there are jobs going on there?

1. -- st make sure all your legal stuff contract e.c. is correct

1.a -- don't accept any informal "promises" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. -- leave as soon as possible or never sign up

3. -- as by my experience an incompetent management unavoidably leaves to a bankruptcy -- whether it's at your time in a company or other

Engineer should have been given some human management training before hiring an assistant for him, Responsibility lies with manager of engineer.

No amount of training is sufficient to deal with humans.

On the other hand, there are plenty dummies out there one could practice on.

Sit. Roll over. Play dead.

Respect the person for who they are and how they are. But as it is all hypothetical.....!

Why do you define this as occuring with an entry level job. It happens everywhere at all levels, including all managerial levels.