To think I am not a bad person!

[krispy6555]

I lost my job (redundancy) a few months ago. I was distraught and worried about having no income.

I found a job very quickly and of course I took it. It was in a different industry but i thought I'd try something different.

Well it's not going well and I miss my old career. I'm not very good in the new job and I feel useless every day. I'm trying but it doesn't play to my strengths at all.

I've been looking for jobs relating to my old career, but every time companies call me they ask why I'm looking for another job so quickly. I'm honest and say I was made redundant and didn't want to be out of work so I tried something new but I miss working in x. They ask me if I regret doing that, and I can tell they disapprove by their tone of voice. They clearly think I'm a job hopper and I should have been unemployed/going into debt for months rather than take a job and leave it quickly.

Was I so bad to take a job and then look for another within months? Can employers not understand the position I was in?

Why don't you just say you have taken a temp or consultancy position in a new area to extend your experience and are looking for your next challenge

I would do but just be always ask where you're working and for references etc so they lie would be exposed

I think it’s a positive thing. SHows work ethic? Or at least shows that you had bills to pay, so you did what you needed to do!

I think if you’re good in your normal career, then you can totally afford to be honest. It can make you stand out from the normal interview drivel. I don’t think there’s anything at all wrong in saying you got a bit nervous, had bills to pay, younlaunched into the new job quite quickly thinking it sounded good, but you realise it doesn’t play to your strengths and now you regret holding out? It’s logical and believable.

I once offered job to a woman who’s answer to my question about her below average degree classification was “I REALLY enjoyed university” pointed look. I thought she had character.

This a societal hangover from the days when people only expected to have two or three jobs in their life. In fact I think you've shown resourcefulness and resilience which are good qualities, but unfortunately a lot of employers and recruitment firms do have this prejudice. You do have to play the game, a bit but I don't think you have done anything wrong at all and should not hide what you've done.

I would just say you were made redundant, this opportunity came up, its been a learning experience and you've gained valuable new skills and perspective but its taught you that you may have been better off staying put. Spin it as positively as you can but also make sure your commitment to your initial career comes across.

I'm sure we all know someone that took a job and it wasn't as fulfilling/interesting etc as they thought. I hire people regularly and wouldn't hold it against you

I wouldn't worry about it too much. When I look over CVs of applicants I only get concerned if they've never kept any job for more than a year or so - one quick job change is just a bad fit, not a pattern. I would be asking why they wanted to leave their new role so quickly but you have a perfectly reasonable reason for that. Just expect the question at interview.

Contact National Careers Service, they will help you draft a CV and practise interview skills to cover this sort of issue, so next time it happens you can deal with it confidently and nail the right job for you!
You have done the right thing and I think it says much about your work ethic.
Good luck

YANBU, you're not a bad person at all.

You are being very hard on yourself. I would definitely go with saying you've taken on a temp position post-redundancy whilst exploring fully all alternatives, show how your skills transferred across (and could do so back again), and that you've seen it as a growth challenge.

Definitely spin the positives; too much honesty can be a bad thing.