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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To leave my ‘great’ new job after less than a year?

49 replies

Sanpellegrino454 · 01/06/2019 15:43

Seriously, does it look bad to have been in a job less than a year? It’s not what I expected, the culture is vile and I’m dreading going in every day now. I’ve decided I need to find another job regardless but slightly worried about how it will ‘look’. It was meant to be this amazing job and it’s just not! I’ve been there just shy of 8 months now...

OP posts:

Bluetrews25 · 01/06/2019 16:45

ALWAYS put your mental health first.
Start looking. Go to interviews.
If you get an offer, ask in your resignation letter if you can leave as soon as possible for the sake of your mental health as you are finding the work environment extremely toxic.
(Only say that if you are certain you will never want to return!)
I was able to leave in 2 weeks (3 month notice officially) with that wording - being bullied.
Good luck with your job hunting!

Horsemenoftheaclopalypse · 01/06/2019 16:46

5 years on the last place works strongly in your favour...and If it’s 3 months notice by the time you find something and do the notice it will be at least a year which will look fine on your cv.

Given your history and that you feel you can’t tune it out for a few months I’d say crack on.

Do be careful when job hunting it’s easy to find yourself jumping from the frying pan into the fire though!!!

DannyWallace · 01/06/2019 16:46

Honestly, my husband is military and I've never been in a job longer than 3 years. Sometimes I've only been in the job a matter of months before we've been posted elsewhere.

It's not ideal, but I've always managed to still find a job. Hopefully as a one off you'll be fine x

FriarTuck · 01/06/2019 16:47

I wouldn't mention mental health in resignation letter - they could mention it in a reference and it wouldn't go down well. Stick to the word toxic and nothing more.

MitziK · 01/06/2019 16:49

I'd explain it as 'I relocated and whilst this position has many benefits and I've enjoyed [an example that makes you sound good], I now feel that [your position/firm] offers me the opportunity to better use and develop my skills in [something they are looking for/to fit in with their company ethos]...'

Original poster

Sanpellegrino454 · 01/06/2019 16:50

Thanks everyone - work will have no idea it is affecting my mental health as I haven’t really wanted to raise it (due to culture I didn’t feel it would be worth it tbh) and have been performing fine apparently so I wouldn’t mention it in the resignation letter. There’s no way I’d be going back but equally I know it’s not good to totally burn bridges. I do want them to know though that it is the culture that has made me leave (when I eventually do!) in as professional a way as possible!!

OP posts:

Original poster

Sanpellegrino454 · 01/06/2019 16:52

General question - is it better or worse that I’m in a pretty senior management role? As in the roles I’ll be applying for are senior level - will the briefness look better or worse or is seniority irrelevant?

OP posts:

newjobnerves · 01/06/2019 16:54

It's different now, gone are the days of a job for life. Lots of people change jobs regularly to increase pay and opportunities, I left one job for another after 11 months, it was a big step up, I wasn't going to miss an opportunity because of how it might look.

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 01/06/2019 16:55

I would avoid using the word toxic, and focus on 'new job' being a better culture fit or whatever.

freedomer · 01/06/2019 16:57

You don't happen to be working in a school are you?

CoraPirbright · 01/06/2019 16:59

I left a job after 3 months once!! Thought it would be interesting and fun but hadn’t seen around the office and so didnt realise that I would be the youngest by a good 20 years. The only thing that anyone said over the course of a day was ‘good morning’. It was SO unbelievably dull!! Didn’t harm my cv at all. Go for it - as many pp’s have said, life is too short!

MitziK · 01/06/2019 17:02

I think being senior isn't a problem - I'd expect an 'important' member of staff to recognise this job is shit a position wasn't for them and do something about it, rather than try and stick it out until their sickness record includes 6 months off with depression.

I was told out in a year is fine (they'll assume the job was not for you, but you haven't walked straight out and left them in the lurch), out after two (time to progress) or out after five (next big move/avoiding dead man's shoes) are normal points to change.

I'd also resign nicely 'I am giving notice to take effect upon...' but save the culture and true reasons/specifics for the exit interview - after they've already given your reference and you've formally been offered and accepted the new post.

newjobnerves · 01/06/2019 17:08

@Sanpellegrino454 ask if for an exit interview if you're not offered one.

RevealTheLegend · 01/06/2019 17:09

My favourite way of assessing culture is to go and hang round the smoking shelter even if you don’t smoke.

Tell them that you are here for an interview and ask the smokers if they would take a job there. Ppl are way less guarded when hanging about getting a nicotine fix.

Ohwelljusttoday · 01/06/2019 17:13

F - sorry to be so rude - but am very interested in following this thread

Merryoldgoat · 01/06/2019 17:13

I knew after 3 months in my role before current one I couldn’t stay. I had a solid history so when I started interviewing and they asked why I was leaving so soon I was honest but professional.

Got a much better, much higher paid job about 6 months after starting.

Been there nearly 4 years.

When I’m interviewing I want to see a solid history so one/two blips wouldn’t bother me.

Snapandyourgone · 01/06/2019 17:14

My favourite way of assessing culture is to go and hang round the smoking shelter even if you don’t smoke.

I have done this. You can usual tell hy the look on their face.

GreenTulips · 01/06/2019 17:18

I knew after a week the job was crap.

You should ask to go for a tour of the office or what ever and meet a few staff.

I managed 5 months and fell straight into another job (temporary unfortunately) then did a year in another job that was awful.

I was lucky I found an opportunity in a company I knew was excellent and interviewed that’s ell they didn’t ask about previous jobs

ginghamtablecloths · 01/06/2019 17:24

If you really are very unhappy then you must find something else. Going to a job each day which you hate can make you very miserable and it isn't worth it. It doesn't matter what it looks like on your CV. Hope you find something better soon.

ThatCurlyGirl · 01/06/2019 17:28

I would just position it as you weren't necessarily actively looking but felt the new job was a great fit so couldn't help but apply.

ThatCurlyGirl · 01/06/2019 17:30

And i really wouldn't say you're leaving because of the culture or anything negative - you never know who knows someone elsewhere and it makes you sound a little indiscreet I think which may harm your application to a new job.

Rach182 · 01/06/2019 17:34

Don't stay start applying asap. I stayed in a horrible job for the same reason (so I didn't have a short stint on my cv) but by the time I started to apply for new jobs my confidence had been crushed.

Your confidence and sanity trumps your cv timelines every day of the week.

Original poster

Sanpellegrino454 · 01/06/2019 18:07

@freedomer No, not a school but similar sector!

OP posts:

freedomer · 01/06/2019 22:46

Sanpellegrino454 I was thinking it might the a university then!

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