Should I leave my job?

workhappiness

Hi guys,

Going to go unreg for this and see if I get any good advice.

I changed jobs about 4 months ago now, and I HATE it. In the same industry as previous jobs but I feel like I was lied to about the company in the interview. I won't go into detail on this but suffice to say, my day to day is a hell of a lot different to what I thought it would be. I am pretty miserable here. I dread going into work. I dont like what it entails and I dont particularly like the people around me. I find myself starting to dread Monday on a Saturday!

I have been telling myself to just stick it out and get some good experience from it. (I am getting some good experience in fairness some of the time. The rest of the time, not). Im living in another country and I plan to return to Ireland some time in the next couple of years so would be changing job then anyway, hence why sticking it out wouldnt be for the long term.

Today though something snapped in me and I just thought feck it why am I still here, being miserable. A recruiter had emailed me about other jobs and this got me thinking. I wouldnt hand in notice until I got a new job but I dont feel getting another job would be a problem.

So what's stopping me?
- Does it look bad having that on my cv? How would I explain it in an interview? And down the line, when I return to Ireland in what may be a years time, another jump?

- What if I really hate the new job as well and am just in the wrong industry? WOuld some sort of career guidance help me with this? But even if I am in the right industry what if I still hate the job?

- I get really really stressed with big changes. I found the last job change 4 months ago one of the most difficult things I've done, and there were physical effects on my body from it. I'm not sure if I want to do this to myself again.

Sorry I know the above is a bit rambling but I suppose I feel a bit mixed up in my head at the moment!! Would love some unbiased input, and thanks in advance.

blatantrereg

The stress from the job change might have been from uncertainty, and from moving away from somewhere you had been a while. Maybe you would feel less stressed this time.

I wouldn't think leaving a job after a few months would be a big black mark on a cv. If you never stayed at a job more than a few months it would raise questions, but doing it once wouldn't strike me as something to read into too much.

In an interview you could just give your genuine reasons for leaving. You don't need to slag off the company or staff to do that. Just use positive language and focus what you say on yourself not on the company or other staff. "I want to expand my skillset" instead of "They make me do menial crap" for example.

Research the next job before committing to anything to minimise the possibility of moving somewhere else you aren't happy. Research the industry you're in to see what you can expect in general to make sure you are in a suitable industry.

bee06

I agree, if you went from job to job leaving each time after a few months that would look suspect but if it's the first time then I wouldn't see it as negative. If you really hate it that much then why keep making yourself miserable. Not to mention it could take you a few months to get a job anyway.

workhappiness

workhappiness wrote: »

- Does it look bad having that on my cv? How would I explain it in an interview? And down the line, when I return to Ireland in what may be a years time, another jump?

- What if I really hate the new job as well and am just in the wrong industry? WOuld some sort of career guidance help me with this? But even if I am in the right industry what if I still hate the job?

- I get really really stressed with big changes. I found the last job change 4 months ago one of the most difficult things I've done, and there were physical effects on my body from it. I'm not sure if I want to do this to myself again.

It wont look bad to have a change of jobs on your C.V.; you've said yourself that you'd wait to get a new job before leaving this one, so there'll be no gap, and you can explain leaving so soon in an interview. You can explain it in an interview by being honest but diplomatic. So instead of saying "I felt miserable", say "it just wasn't a good fit for me - everyone there was great, but I had other opportunities that I felt I was much better suited to".

As for whether or not you're in the right industry and how to know what other jobs will be like, you'd need to tell us more about the problems you have with your current role. You could try finding someone from another company who does the job you're interested in, and speaking to them about it.

Regarding the stress of changes, I recently started a new job and I was worried about the same thing. I was in a job I hated but I had been in it for so long and it all felt so familiar that I was really worried about leaving for something new. I'm prone to stress and even something as small as a night out can leave my stomach in knots. I used to throw up if I got too stressed. The minute I left my old job, a wave of calm came over me. I knew I was finally doing something about my situation, I felt like I'd taken control over my life, and I knew deep down that if I had stayed in that job, I would be guaranteed to feel miserable every day that I stayed. No matter how worried you are to move, that bad thing that your subconscious freaks out about when you worry about leaving is actually happening to you now. This is your bad thing. This is your job that you hate. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain if you look for something new.

sally365

My advice - Leave the job, if you are unhappy go asap.

My Personal Experience -
I was in a similar situation 2 years ago, I hated my job and I forced myself to stay in the job 16months as the company was a really strong name on the cv.

I suffered so bad with stress during the time I developed a medical condition. Seriously. (I won't go into details but it affects me every day - PM if you wish)

Industry Advice -
I worked in IT for a huge company and I did some research and I quickly read what I was doing wasn't really benefical for my skills development. I knew I needed to get into another area and try it out. So don't freak, you might find some work (another job) you like in your industry.

Main Advice -
We only have one life, and were all going to end up in the same place, you'll get by if you hand in your notice. Think positively, also don't listen to people who are work clones trapped in ****ty jobs they hate…''oh no no no, your lucky to have a job''…thats what they'll say…thats what they told me!

My Career

Today, Im a sole trader making more for myself monthly on my own time. I left with no plans, no ideas, but here i am today 100% happier.

Some Souless Workers will try and tell you otherwise, but go with your gut. Be happier and figure something out along the way.

- Good luck, let us know how you get on

boredatwork82

I got a job, that looked good on paper. It didn't work out, I knew from the first week, that it was a horrible place to work.
I applied for jobs, was honest with companies, and actually got the first job I applied for.

lots of my mates have short stints on their CV. There are lots of bad jobs out there. The people interviewing you will have had similar experiences. As long as you don't have loads of these jobs on your CV its grand. No one has the perfect CV and job history. Move, onwards and upwards.

Put it on your CV, explain what was so bad about it, and see hat happens. That's what I did. And I have 2 short stay jobs! and I have no problem.
SO get looking for new jobs, but don't leave your current one ttill you get another one.

castaway_lady

Go talk to the recruiter and see whats on offer elsewhere that would be a good match. You clearly have options. You just explain the short term nature of this one as having been offered a better opportunity. Simple as.
It would be a whole different story is you had no options but you clearly do so take action and investigate them

krispin

Changing jobs so soon can work in your favour, just depends how you sell it. If you say you hated the job and that's why you moved - BOOM! There's goes the interview. If you say you saw this opportunity to do a job you felt would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (or something to that effect), then no one's going to hold that against you. After all, can't time the happenstance of fortune.

No gaps in my CV so far that couldn't be explained, but having gaps shouldn't be a problem to most recruiters. For instance, I had a 3-month gap on my CV due to relocation. When asked at the interview why I wasn't working for 3 months straight, I said that moving and exploring what the country had to offer were reasons for this gap. If you're relocating for romantic purposes or to be with family, even better! Some recruiters love that stuff as it shows you are human and gives them something to talk about when you're sitting down for a chat.

And stop worrying! Nothing good can come from worrying that you'll hate the next job or discover that you might be in the wrong industry. If it happens, then so be it, but you're at least one step closer to narrowing down what you like, right? Use your work experiences, past and present, to determine what kind of job you'd enjoy and stick to those where you can. If you're not sure even from this, trying temping with an agency to get a feel for more areas of the industry you're in to see what else you might like and could be a fit for your skill set.

The more changes you have, the easier it will get to prepare yourself for the next. It's not in everyone's nature to cope well with change, but make yourself a game plan, a manifesto or something, so you have a set way of dealing with a new situation that will calm you down and keep you focused. The plan might change at times, but you'll get used to running through the stuff you have to do and slowly find it a breeze. Seriously, you can do this!

workhappiness

Hello, quick update from OP here.

I handed in my notice a few days after the advice you gave me above. I feel like a weight is lifted off my shoulders. I start my new job next week. I have already been out for dinner and drinks with my new colleagues and they were so friendly and we had so much fun.

I talked it out with my partner, and between this and the advice above, I had the kick in the arse I needed.

So thanks everyone. Muchos love!

Milky Moo

Well done, you sound exactly like me not but a few weeks ago. I started a job 3 months ago, about 2 levels above my skill set. I could have probably grown in to it but my boss is the worst person I have ever worked with. Being blamed and talked down to was part of my daily experience, indecision and zero communication were the norm. Tomorrow is my last day and I can not wait, I have found a new position where the vibe is completely different. You spend so much time in work you should strive to find somewhere that doesn't make you miserable!

IlmoNT4

Awesome...good luck...I started a job once and within a few days I knew it was the wrong move. I had a new job within a month and was gone. Anyone whos ever questioned it on my CV I've been upfront about it, and that I knew it was the wrong fit for both me and the organisation, people understand that this happens and its been no issue at all.

Rubberchikken

well done.
there's nothing like working in the right place with the (hopefully) right people.

you made the right decision and i'm glad it worked out. best of luck.