How long would you give a new job before you decided you didn't like it!

[DirtyBeetie]

I've started a new job this week. I know the first few weeks are pretty crap as you try to work out what you're supposed to do and get to know everyone etc but I usually don't feel like this.! It's a totally new sector I'm working in so I guess I'm learning new words / how things work etc but I really don't think I'm going to like it.

I'm trying to keep an open mind but just wondered what's others experiences were. How long would you give before you decided it wasn't going to work.

I knew mine wasn’t the right fit by the end of the first morning, however I gave it a couple of months to be sure. 13 months later I still feel the same and am job hunting like mad. The only thing keeping me going is Spotify and looking forward to the weekend/other things we have planned.

6-12 months

About 6-12 months.

I guess it depends on the role and how much autonomy and responsibility you have. I started a new job 15mths ago. I am the most senior person in the organisation (CEO) and it was a slight change of sector for me to definitely felt very over whelmed for quite a few weeks / months. Of course there was no-one to tell me what to do etc so I had to figure it out fairly quickly.

There were a lot of legacy issues to tackle straight away which I was not expecting at all. I feel more on top of it these days but there are still some very hard days. Mostly I am happy I am here. I would be happier of I had not had to spend the past year + mopping up someone else's crap (previous CEO)

I had a better team and a far better working atmosphere in my last job but I have a higher profile position here and a higher salary so I am getting on with it.

I feel I can make a positive change here and already I am seeing things getting better so that motivates me.

But I will admit that in the first couple of weeks I truly felt like running away!!!

It depends on what aspect of the job you think isn't the right fit. If it's colleagues, then you may want to give them some months to become familiar with them, and them with you. If it's your boss, same thing. If it's the job role itself that you feel isn't quite what you thought or like, you can still give it a few months to get yourself settled in.

A minimum of 6 months. I would never quit a job without something else to go to, and I wouldn't want to have lots of short-lived jobs on my CV. So I would always stick it out whilst searching for other things. 6 months gives you enough time to fully get to grips with the job, the atmosphere etc. and to be able to make a fully informed decision, rather than a knee-jerk reaction.

Tbh I know within a matter of days, sometimes even hours, if a job is wrong for me. Years ago when I was young without any responsibilities I left a job after one morning.
These days I wouldn't do that of course, but I'd be looking for something else from day 1 if it didn't feel right.

2 yrs in I'm still not sure I’m settled. Love the job and I finally know what I’m doing, but on Monday night have a job interview and it’s more hours (currently term time) in the same organisation.

A friend of mine recently gave up a job after six weeks. She said she knew early on she’d made a mistake taking the job, but wanted to give it at least a few weeks to properly assess it and be sure it wasn’t just nerves.

I work part time so I guess that makes it a bit longer to settle in. I think im not too sure about it because I don't know what I'm doing! There doesn't seem to be loads of work either. The people seem nice enough from what I've seen so far. I think I'll give it 6m and see how it goes.

I'm the op. I remember this writing this post on my first week, thinking what have I done! . Happy to report that today was my last day and I'm moving to a new job. Things never improved and I just didn't like it. I guess sometimes you just know whether something is for you or not.

Interesting. I forced myself to do a year in a job I hated too! Looking back, God knows why!

I'm on week 6 of a new job. 2 weeks ago I decided I didn't like it but this week I'm actually quite enjoying it. I was in my last job for 13 years so it's a big change for me. It's definitely worth giving new jobs a few months I think. Glad things have worked out for you OP

A year.

I like to give it 6-12 months but usually have a gut feeling within a couple of weeks if it isn't right. It's only happened three times in 25 years of working, but definitely in one of them I wish I hadn't ignored my gut and had cut my losses sooner.

Well done on your new job OP and thanks for updating us. It's always interesting to find out what decisions people make in the end.

I had a temp job where I just didn't turn up to the 3rd day. Got half way there and just turned round and went home. It was a physically unpleasant job next to an oven in a factory, two busses from my house and obviously low paid.
Also quit a teaching job 6 weeks in. The notice period added another 6 weeks. I'd been out of teaching for a few years and it had changed for the worse. I was lucky enough not to need the money and did a master's instead and changed career.

Do not regret either of these!

And congrats on the new job x

Lunch time. Didn't go back

About 6 months.

Hello1290 I was wondering just today how long I wasn't really happy in the job and then remembered I had asked MN but didn't realise it was only the first week in when I wasn't happy. It's a bit sad really that I've been unhappy in my job for so long.

I went to 2 other interviews before I got my new job just now as have been applying for months as finding a new job takes a while.

Good luck with your new job, I hope it works out for you!

I knew after the first day that I'd made the wrong decision. I handed my notice in at the end of week 3. I then started a new job and am still there 20 years later...

HeartZone thank you! I hope so too!