To consider leaving a job this soon?

[BeBe32]

Hi everyone

I have posted this on the employment board but thought there may be a few more responses here and any advice would be welcome.

I started working at a university a few years ago. I loved my job and the people I worked with. The department I worked in was quite small and there was no real potential for progressing so I started to think that I would need to look for a better paid job as I needed to earn more and also wanted to progress. I started looking out for other jobs at the uni at the end of last year and completely unexpectedly got the first one I went for. I was so sad to leave my job but knew I was doing it for the right reasons. I started in my new department in February. I have found it really difficult, I feel out of depth and even though the people are nice I don't feel I fit in and really miss my old department. I have just found out that there may be a new role created in my old department which would be the same salary as I am on now. On the one hand I would love to go back. I loved it there and was so much happier and if I hadn't left when I did I would have definitely gone for this new role. The trouble is I think it looks really bad, if I were to get it, to leave a job after only a few months. Also I worry that it would be awkward working with that department in the future or if in years to come I ever decided to look for a job in that department again (I want to stay at the uni in the long term and the department is one of the biggest so in years to come this could happen). I have been so stressed and unhappy lately and I would love to go back to my old department and colleagues but feel like it might make me really unpopular, it would be easier if I was going to a completely different organisation, at least I'd never have to see them again after I'd left!

Any advice welcome

xx

BeBe - similar to you but no other job for me to go to. Have been in my current job for 2 months and I hate it. I can do the job - and if I had enough time to actually get on with things then I might even enjoy it. But the workload and pressure is ridiculous and it is literally making me ill. If I had another offer on the table I would go without a second thought because I believe that life is too short to be so unhappy. My situation is a bit more complicated though so if I was in your shoes I would go without hesitation.

BeBe - I work in university admin in a traditional university. It seems that people change jobs frequently and move around departments, and while there might be the odd raised eyebrow generally everyone accepts that it happens. I've noticed that different schools have different levels of support, so even at the same grade some depts have a lot of support and training for staff, while others just seem to expect staff to get on with it. Also recruitment can move really slowly, so if you applied for the job in your original department it could well be October before you leave your current job.

I would apply for the job in the old dept, but at the same time focus on what you can do to improve your current job. Would a mentor or more training help? Could you have lunch with someone doing a similar job to talk through the things that are stressful - sometimes just knowing that you are not alone helps.

Definitely apply! It sounds like your dream job. Hope you walk it.

I was recently in a similar position; offered a job at my old place whilst having tough time at my new job. The thing is, I left the old place for a lot of reasons that remain valid, and I think it was familiarity i missed. I decided to stay in my new job (I was only 2 months in). I was experiencing awful bullying and realised that was the reason I wanted to go bavk, not because I actually wanted to work there again. I've addressed the bullying which had been scary, and am going through hr process now to raise official grievances. Only time will tell if I made the right decision but for now I'm glad I stayed.

You might be experiencing something simililar. You must have left the old job for a reason, remind yourself of what that reson (s) was. If there is something making you unhappy in your new position address it - I know how tough it is. It's easier to take a step back than to move forwards but often it's needed.

I would just apply. As long as you keep it friendly and professional at work I doubt your employer would think anything bad of you. People do move around quite a lot, some employers like it.

There is a lot to be said for job satisfaction. Sticking with a job you are not happy in will add to your stress over time and impact on your whole life. Follow your heart here. Everything happens for a reason.

Some really helpful advice here, thank you. To those who mentioned that the reasons for leaving would still be there, I understand what you mean but the reason I left was essentially to earn more money. I don't like making decisions based on money but my rent had gone up and I felt I had to try to get a higher grade job and there were none in my current department. I certainly didn't leave because of the job or the people, I loved both.

The job hasn't actually been advertised yet so nothing I can do at the moment. I just wish I could click my fingers and be back there, the prospect of the interview and of the whole process of applying etc feels so stressful. In meetings today people were talking about how we can start to make plans now the team is in place and I felt terrible knowing I'm even considering leaving. They are not horrible people or anything, it just doesn't feel like a good fit.

Sorry to hear that some of you are going through a similar thing. It's horrible!

xx

A job you have always wanted has now come up in your old department. If you apply and get it, that's a perfect reason for leaving, you don't have to say anything other than that. It wouldn't look bad, things like this happen all the time. Provided your old manager wants you to apply, go for it! You have nothing to lose! Good luck

Lovewineandchocs thank you for such a positive post. I have been focusing on the fact that I am unhappy in my job but actually I think I would still want the job coming up even if I was happy, I loved my old department and really miss the people and the job sounds really good so maybe that should be the focus. I always feel it's best to be honest and wonder if I should speak to my manager about this when the job is advertised but equally I might not get it so not sure it's worth saying anything unless I do. Very scared of saying anything, feel like it will cause such a lot of hassle.

xx