Author: Victoria Krstev on behalf of Inflo HR Ltd.
So, you’ve landed yourself a new job! Yay. This can be such an exciting time with so many new possibilities, but... What if it’s not your dream job? Maybe you started the position thinking it would be something you could see yourself doing long-term, but after a month or two, you suddenly realize that you are not enjoying it as much as you’d hoped. There’s not necessarily an issue with that.
It would help if you always strived to find a position that you are passionate about and you enjoy. If you are thinking about leaving your position during your probationary period, it is crucial to understand why you are making this important decision.
Picture this: you just had a fantastic interview, you nailed all of the questions, and you’re excited to start as your Manager seems like a great fit for the leadership style you’re looking for! A couple of weeks go by, and you’re quickly realizing this isn’t exactly what you signed up for. There is low-key mico-managing happening, there happens to be quite a bit of drama happening over the Slack chats, and you seem to spend half your day in unnecessary Zoom meetings. On top of that, you’re working on projects that were not what you had initially discussed in the interview.
It is a pandemic after all, and this is a normal feeling to have. Job descriptions are designed to attract talent, and sometimes interviews don’t mention all of the not-so-enjoyable aspects of the job, which include the company culture (which is usually hard to describe anyway).
Start by setting up a meeting with your Manager to ask questions regarding the position and express any concerns you may have. Come in prepared for what you want to talk about, take some time to jot down everything you want to discuss before going into the meeting. Suppose there is nothing that can be done about the position itself, but you enjoy the company. In that case, you could bring up the possibility of being transferred to a different department that you feel will better utilize your skills and passions (and possibly have a better work environment). If this also isn’t an option, you need to take some time to think about the position.
There happens to be quite a number of meetings you need to attend during the work hours that you do not need to be part of, and your boss wants to check in with you over Zoom 3 times a day. Maybe it’s not the position itself, but you do not see eye to eye with your boss, especially regarding their management style.
There is also a difference between positive criticism and negative feedback. When issues are brought up in a respectful manner, it allows employees to not feel attacked and simply understand that maybe their work is not up to company standards and will enable them to make the change needed. We suggest once again arranging a meeting to have a chat with your boss. Talk to them the way that you also want to be treated. Everyone wants to be respected so it is essential to not go into this meeting angry and accusing. Chances are, they may not even realize what they are doing, and you can hopefully settle your differences and make the work environment more positive! They can explain their expectations of the role from a different perspective. If you’re finding that your employer is not making any positive changes, possibly scheduling a meeting with someone from your HR team to discuss a role change or resigning is your next step.
Maybe there are no current issues with your job, but you’ve had someone reach out to you with a job offer that offers better benefits, better pay or even just a higher chance of moving up in your career. We recommend taking some time to sit down and make a pros and cons list of both positions. Seeing it all laid out in front of you helps you visualize both scenarios. Make sure you go back and reread your current employment contract. This is especially important if you do decide to choose to leave, they may have given you specific time frames for putting in your resignation. There may be a clause that says you need to wait a certain amount of time before working for someone else in your direct field of work.
Although we encourage you to take chances and do what is ultimately best for you and your career, having a resume filled with short stints at multiple companies may be a red flag to future employers who may feel that you’ll leave the second a new opportunity arises. Only you know what is best for you!
Whatever your reason for leaving your position ends up being, make sure that you give your employer the proper notice so they can begin to seek out a replacement for your role. Although traditionally this is two full weeks, like we mentioned earlier, it may depend on your contract! Always try to leave on good terms with the company; you never know if you’ll need to reach back out.
If you need any guidance or career advice, feel free to reach out here to our team! We’d love to help. Or connect on LinkedIn.
