New Job, Wrong Fit?

The first day in a new job can generate a powerful combination of excitement and nerves. But when you arrive and quickly discover that the new role isn’t the one you had expected it to be, you find yourself asking a very difficult question all of a sudden. Should you stick, or should you twist?

According to the Wall Street Journal, many new hires are heading for the exits earlier than would have been expected in the past. Around two thirds of employees they surveyed have taken jobs to quickly realise it was a bad fit, and half of those had left the company within 6 months. Making the decision whether to try and work through initial doubts or cut your losses early on is one of the hardest you can face in your career. Here we’ll give you some tips on how to approach this difficult scenario and ask the right questions to make sure you make the right decision.

Don’t rush

Starting a new job can sometimes be incredibly stressful, and people under stress tend to make decisions that are either unwise or risky. Before making any hasty moves, however bad the job may seem on the first day, remain calm and take some time to think! Just because the first few days are turbulent, it doesn’t necessarily mean the job will turn out bad in the long run.

Not many things in life turn out exactly as we anticipate. Accept that you are going through a transition stage and give it a chance to see how the role develops in the early weeks and months. If each week is getting a little better, then perhaps this progress is a good omen for the future of the position. Before throwing in the towel, ask yourself whether you’ve really given the job a chance. Maybe there’s more to it than initially meets the eye.

Act professionally

The way a new employee behaves can affect the amount of support they receive early on. If the first few days have been tough and demoralising, still try and demonstrate your commitment and ask more questions to your seniors to understand your position better. Not only will your positive attitude get you more help from your managers, but you’ll also get a better picture as to whether this job is a good long-term bet.

Talking to your boss should be one of the first ports of call if things aren’t going as expected after a few weeks. Send them a message requesting a meeting at their earliest convenience. Make sure you’ve prepared your talking points, and compare how the roles and responsibilities you expected and were told about during the interview stage differ to the work you’ve found yourself doing since starting. If your boss is dismissive and not receptive to what you’re saying, then it might be a sign that it’s time to explore your options elsewhere.

Pulling the plug

If you’ve given your new job sufficient time to make a measured judgement about whether it’s the right long-term fit for you, and still see no hope, it’s time to think about moving on. Whatever your reason for leaving any company its vital you do so on a positive note, even if your experience has been a negative one. Afterall, it’s the first and last impressions that people remember. Make sure you give sufficient notice according to your contract, and be polite and professional when handing your notice in.

If you make the final decision to find a new position elsewhere, bear in mind how you’re going to frame a relatively short stint on your resume. If it’s a few short months, and you can find a new position relatively quickly, it’s probably okay to leave that particular work experience out. However, if you’re looking at 3-4 months, you’ll need to explain that time gap if you exclude it from your resume, as it might be a red flag for future employers. Think about how you’ll present this working experience to potential recruiters in the near future.

There’s a good chance that across your professional career you’ll be faced with this dilemma at some point. When it comes, be sure you’ve given yourself enough time to make the right decision, and if you do leave, make sure you do in a courteous and professional manner. That way your small career blip will be a valuable lesson learned, rather than a blot on your resume!

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