Wanting to leave job after 2 months

[snoin]

Hello,

I recently started a new job, and have never been so miserable.

I am being micromanaged and don't feel I have been adequately supported. This came to a head on Monday when I was doing a client call. A number of issues came up which I had not been previously told about or trained on. Basically, it was 45 minutes of torture.

I spoke to my manager afterwards, and now they will sit in on all of my client meetings for the forseeable. If this was to be constructive, it'd be one thing, but I know it won't be. Communication between different departments is weak, and this leads to extensive problems.

Additionally, I am doing a job which actually needs 2 people to be able to adequately do what needs to be done. Extra things were added to my area of responsibility after I started the job - in itself this is not a problem, but it is when there aren't enough hours in the day to do it. I am regularly sent messages by management at 10pm at night.

Basically, I know this job isn't going to be for me. I have a lot of other concerns, but won't share them here in case it is identifying.

So my question is: How to approach a new job search? Obviously it's not going to look good to employers that it's been 2 months and I'm looking for something else, but at the same time, I don't think I can mentally commit to staying for at least another year.

[BashfulClam]

I left after 4 months, I said it was a fixed term contract (luckily I knew my employer had a policy of only confirming employment dates and job title).

[snoin]

Technically I am on a 4 month 'trial' period.

Right now I think they'd renew it. I recently found out I'm the third person in this role since April (apparently, no one has managed long... I am seeing why)

[Flatwhitewhiner]

It sounds miserable, OP. Certainly like you have been set up to fail.

I would have no hesitation in looking for an alternative job if I were in your shoes.

When it comes to small jobs on CVs, I think it's perfectly fine to say to a future employer that your previous role was not set up in the way you had expected/was not the role you were promised and demonstrate how the other job does fit that criteria. So long as it's a blip and not part of a wider pattern I don't think you should worry about the short stint. .

[whatsoccuringnow]

This happened to me last year. I lasted 8 months, and found a role with a much more suitable company. I simply said the role had been a great learning curve, but wasn't as busy as I was used to, hence looking for a different company. They were more interested in my longer stay previous roles to be honest. I said to the micro manager I had found a new opportunity too good to pass up at my exit interview. No big conflict, and I got a good reference.

[snoin]

Thank you for your replies! They give me hope, which already makes me feel better.

It has been another torrid week so far. As I expected, management 'sitting in' on my meetings has been a disaster. I am repeatedly undermined, and then blamed in front of clients for things which are beyond my control so that the manager can avoid taking responsibility.

I do not have any gaps on my CV, and prior to this experience I felt like a competent, happy person to work with.

My sleep has become a mess because I am finding it hard to switch off knowing how the next day at work is likely to end up. As much as I'd like to be able to see some way of things improving, they seem to be moving in the opposite direction.

You'd think after having had 2 employees previous to me who both left after a few months, they might have thought about changing how they operate. Apparently not.

[snoin]

I have managed to line up 2 job interviews.

Normally I dislike interviews, but my hate for my current job is giving me all the motivation I need!

I just had one question for anyone with experience in this area:

When I'm asked for references, how bad is it if I give the details of my manager for the job I did before this one?

I am pretty sure that if I send a reference request to my current employer they will kick up a huge drama.

[throwa]

I am in the same position - after 4m I realised that the role wasn't for me. It helped that I wanted to return to the type of work that I was doing previously. I made sure in the covering letter to address this specifically - that it wasn't the type of work which suited me and which I was good at, and I was looking to return to doing. I didn't mention the micro managing manager.

References I have always sent to HR as they have always only confirmed dates/ title / salary, rather than any form of personal reference.

Good luck!

I have just got a job offer doing the same type of role previously for a higher salary - it wasn't an issue for me.

[snoin]

I'm really happy to hear everything went well for you. Sometimes things just don't work out.

I'm also looking to move back into a role more similar to the one I used to do. I miss it!

[Cerulean60]

I once left a job after 5 months - realised almost immediately it wasn't a good fit for me, agonised over what it would look like on my CV, but decided to do it anyway. This was a few years ago, and it was definitely the right choice - wouldn't hesitate to do the same if I ever found myself in that situation again.

[independent98]

I recently left a job after 3 months and it was the best thing that happened to me. I didn't have another job to go to however i was offered a job two weeks after I left and started just before Christmas..
I am so much happier as the previous role was taking a toll on me mentally and emotionally. I have learnt to be very wary of businesses which have a high turnover and I am not in favour of working for another small business at the moment.

If you think that the role isn't right for you then bite the bullet and leave, what is for you will come to you when the time is right

[independent98]

I also made good friends with other contractors who will enact as my reference and I have put it down as a short term contract role. I just say that the role was to clear the backlog which acquired in 2020...

[strangerontheinternet]

Hey @snoin - I say good luck and go for it. Just start applying and I'm sure you'll get something. This happened to me, I was in a job only a week or so and got offered another job which sounded exactly what I was looking for before but wasn't available so I took the other job. Got to new job and absolutely hated it. I was good at my job before, well liked and respected, confident enough to do my job, eager to please and show new manager I was good. New manager was awful and has ruined me as a person. I've never been so depressed and miserable. Now sometimes a simple decision such as bf asking where I want to eat can send me into a melt down as i was treated so badly at work. I've now been there 18m as covid etc couldn't get a new job. I'm so bad at my job now I just sit and worry all day and feel I can't get anything done as it won't be right and I don't know how to do anything anymore and feel I've forgotten everything and am useless because that's how management made me feel. Look for a new job and get out ASAP

[snoin]

Just an update - I start a new job next week!

I don't mind admitting that I rather enjoyed the look on the face of my former manager when I gave them the news. Although I kept it professional, I did tell them that they really needed to improve their onboarding processes and the general working environment if they want to boost retention. Do I think they'll pay any notice? Absolutely not, but I tried. I feel sorry for whoever my replacement will be.

General conclusions from my experience (hopefully they can help others too):

• I do think it's easier to find a job while you currently have one. I was made redundant last year and had a few months without work. It seemed a lot harder to land interviews then than it did this time when I was already in a job.

• I only use years and not months, on my CV. I don't know to what extent this makes a difference, but it does allow you to have a more positive feeling CV (I admit, this only really makes a difference if you were employed somewhere over different years, which was luckily my case even though it was only a couple of months in reality)

• It's a luxury, but if possible, only apply for jobs you think you're really going to be good at. I made a mistake in applying for a job (partly out of desperation) which I had severe doubts about. I was hoping to be proved wrong but obviously wasn't.

• Rejections happen. During this search, I interviewed in the end for 3 jobs (I did plenty more applications!). I was rejected for one and I turned down another as I had concerns from the application process.

• Ultimately, applying for a job, and working itself, is a two-way process. Try and make your interviews conversational and make sure you get to know them too.

• If after two months it isn't working - don't be afraid to accept that. It isn't a failure. I actually feel like I have made a success of the situation. Had I decided to keep going in my old job, I was just going to become more worn down, and ultimately less confident in my abilities. Work isn't a prison sentence.

[Tiggytico]

Great news! Congratulations OP!

[redswinger]

Congrats OP! Not just on getting a great new job but on your attitude. Staying in a job you hate is really not good for you feeling of self worth - you've made the decision and taken control of your life again, it must feel fabulous!

[sneakysnoopysniper]

I realised in my first ever job (age 16) that it wasnt for me and I applied almost immediately (after only 3 months) for another job which involved working with the public. I gave this at interview as the reason why I had applied elsewhere, whereas in the current job I was sitting adding up figures all day.

Its always better if you can find some aspect of the job you are applying for which is a better fit for your skill set and experience (or aspirations) rather than saying you dont like your current workplace or job. Never bring it down to personalities or relationships.