I had one task but before I could do more than start copying the file, they needed that computer. Then I showed my boss how to play something in iTunes. Other than that, I spent the whole day playing in Photoshop, Access and Publisher, so I would be learning something and at least look busy. I made a newsletter in which the main headline was, “Assistant Does Nothing; Boss Happy” and the secondary story was, “I Really Like Almonds.”

I don’t mind getting paid well to do nothing, but I want to have an impressive list of tasks that I’ve done so I can make a good case for them keeping me on past three months.