Am I an idiot for wanting to look for a new job?

LegacyUser

For the past 2 years I have been unemployed and recently gained employment in January. The company is great, the people are lovely, but there are some major downsides

- the workload is insane. I have only been there less than 3 months, but I'm already working on two major campaigns and about three other smaller ones, so I'm really struggling with it.
- it isn't what I studied in college or what I have been working towards
- the hours I have to invest are pretty insane. Most times I am lucky to get out at around 6/6:30/7, I usually only get time for a 20 minute lunch break, which for the most part I spend at my desk trying to do work. I have to bring my laptop home and do work during weekends/holidays, just to keep on top of everything.

I just don't know how much longer I can cope with this, before I just can't do it any more. I have no time for my life and no time for my girlfriend, which is putting a huge strain on our relationship.

I genuinely don't know what I should do. I know I should stick it out and keep working, but am I an idiot to apply for other jobs and to move on to them?

Tokyo

What's stopping you from doing both? Keeping working where you are right now, while sending out your résumé to job openings that you may be interested in?

Alf. A. Male

Always easier to get a job when you already have one. You'll find it very common that people are in less than satisfactory jobs and actively looking elsewhere, no reason I can see that you shouldn't be doing the same.

whiskeyman

You mention the workload is huge.
Is everyone else in the company working under huge pressure?
Can you mention it to your boss that you could do with some additional help?
Is it just a busy period and could things settle down?

It's not great to be under such stress, and you know that it's having a big effect on you and your relationship.

As Alf mentioned, it really is easier to get a new job when you already have one! Perhaps get the feelers out now and you could find better elsewhere, perhaps more related to what you want to do.
Basically, you're not an idiot to wanting to look for a new job.
Best of luck

Merkin

Are your colleagues all struggling with a mammoth work load as well or is it just you?

What I'm asking is, are you taking an inordinate amount of time doing your work because you're struggling with the tasks in hand or is there just a disproportionate amount of work for one person?

Do you think you're working smartly?

ongarboy

I would agree it's no harm to look for other work but only while remaining in this job. However, I do think you should look to see if you can stick this job until the 6 month mark at least. They say it takes that long before you can make a fairly accurate judgement call if this job is right for you. This is because you have been allowed sufficient time to get used to the work you've been assigned, work that might have seemed very intimidating in the first couple of months but having ascended the learning curve may be more manageable and efficient to work through afer 6 months.

It does seem unusual that being so new, you already have been placed with so much of a workload so soon that forces you to bring it home at evenings/weekends. Have you had 1:1s with your manager to discuss your progress and workloads? As other posters have asked, is this the norm for all established workmates as well? If so, alarm bells would be ringing for me. My fear is if you quit so soon and before securing new employment, this new idle period on your CV or very short stint in one job added to your recent 2 year inactivity will increasingly work against your appeal as a potential job candidate as recruiters will question your ability to commit the jobs.

thegreatgonzo

Am-I? wrote: »

For the past 2 years I have been unemployed and recently gained employment in January. The company is great, the people are lovely, but there are some major downsides

- the workload is insane. I have only been there less than 3 months, but I'm already working on two major campaigns and about three other smaller ones, so I'm really struggling with it.
- it isn't what I studied in college or what I have been working towards
- the hours I have to invest are pretty insane. Most times I am lucky to get out at around 6/6:30/7, I usually only get time for a 20 minute lunch break, which for the most part I spend at my desk trying to do work. I have to bring my laptop home and do work during weekends/holidays, just to keep on top of everything.

I just don't know how much longer I can cope with this, before I just can't do it any more. I have no time for my life and no time for my girlfriend, which is putting a huge strain on our relationship.

I genuinely don't know what I should do. I know I should stick it out and keep working, but am I an idiot to apply for other jobs and to move on to them?

Depending on what your job/salary is finishing at 6.30 or 7 isn't that bad, it used to happen quite a lot where I used to work if there was a big seasonal project on. I didn't get paid extra but I was new on the job and I wanted to impress. Have you joined the company at their busiest time? Will things slow down after a while?
Maybe you are constantly staying behind because they have given you too much to do or maybe you are just not good at managing your time, it would be impossible for anyone here to know. Bringing work home though is a big no no so if you do have lovely work colleagues I really think you should speak to them about the work load.