To leave a job after 6 weeks

[tiredandstressed123]

I've been in a job for about 6 weeks now. It's a 'professional' job that I did before having kids. I have to pay my own registration each year, do CPD etc. it's only 2 days a week so I thought it would be perfect really. Works ok round the kids, 2 days, no weekends, holiday pay and pension etc. I get 11.20 an hour.
The thing is I'm just really unhappy. The girls aren't the nicest, aren't really giving me much time to learn things again and how it works, I'm expected to be there way before my paid start time.. I don't agree with some of their ways of doing things. Every night before work I feel sick to my stomach. And come home wanting to cry. I want it to work cos the hours are ideal and it's nice having weekend back but I don't know how much longer I can go on. My position seems to be one that has had a lot of people come and go, and I am starting to see why.

I was considering just being a SAHM for a while as my DD is only little and my eldest is only primary school. DH was more than fine with this as he's hating seeing me so unhappy.

I came across a job on indeed at a pub 5 miles up the road so went for a chat with the owner. She's offered me £12.50ph.. so £1.25 more than I get at this professional job, said she would work round me as it's zero hours, but I would have to work some weekends. Maybe a couple a month. No pension etc, it's just a low stress come, get paid and do your job kind of job.

What would you do? Give current job more chance, SAHM or give the pub a try?

Speak to the manager first before you quit. Then if you don’t get a satisfactory outcome you can leave.

You won’t be prioritising it now, but you will want, I imagine, to know that you’ll have a pension in the future and be able to progress through your career as the children grow and become independent.

Zero hours jobs won’t give you that, but it depends whether you’re thinking short or long term.

I said "oh right, can you tell me what I'm not doing then please?" Her response was silly things nothing to do with nursing.. like not putting instruments or the boxes where they like them on a night.
I said "I've been out of dental nursing longer than I was in it (over 7 years) I've only worked in NHS practises and some of the things you do are completely different and don't make sense to me why you do them, plus I only work 2 days a week then I'm off for 5 days"
She just said they need to show me at the end of the day, but they don't have time at the end of the day. But she would show me next time I'm in.
Another example is that I have to drop dd off at nursery in the morning. I'm always ready to start on my start time.
They all get there super early??
I was asked what time I'd get there the next day. I said "well just before (the time we start)" I got an "oh" I said what? They said "we normally get here earlier to set up"
It's not paid so even if I didn't have kids tbh I wouldn't do that? But then it's like I'm not pulling my weight for not doing so.

I would leave. I left one job after 6 weeks before; 6 weeks of being miserable was enough. Good luck! X

Frankly, there's a LOT to be said for the "turn up, do the work, go home and forget it" type of job. It's good honest work and I feel like people are really snobbish about it.
Like you, I had a professional job, and it consumed my life. I was working 70 hour weeks just to barely keep my head above water. It eventually broke me and I randomly quit one day!
5 years on, I have 3 jobs. They use the skills (and qualifications) I gained from the professional job, but are now the "turn up, do it, forget it" type of work.
It's been the making of me. I'm so much happier, and I'd never go back.

Fuck that, I'd leave. Life is too short for that shit, especially as it's hardly paying amazingly or is a big career step. You will find something else. I'd tell them exactly why I was going and point out the shitty attitudes of certain individuals as well.

If your professional job pays less than an unskilled job, it's no profession, long term. You are better off doing a job you enjoy (cafe and bar work, which I agree can be really lovely work, I did it on and off for years and really enjoyed it) and maybe using some of your free time to train in a better paid profession. You must have some valuable knowledge and skills that could be developed in another area. Or just see if there are any other dental nurse vacancies in other practises.

Meanwhile, politely confront the other girls. If they say, 'There is so much you are not doing,' say, 'Show me what to do and a schedule of work and I'll do it. This practise is very different from my old one, and I've been out for seven years. I don't want to slack, but I can't know things I haven't been shown, told and trained in.' Or let the dentists know this and ask them to create a specific training induction schedule for you.

It was in the end but how it started is how I seem to be spoke to a lot.. walking on eggshells all the time.
I was in my first staff meeting and they were all arguing.. the girl who works on reception started crying.. and I can see all the positives to this job on paper I really can. The better hours, the contract, pension, holiday pay etc.
But at the pub I would probably come home with around £100 a month more give or take, it would mean I would've have to put dd in childcare, low stress, closer to home etc.
I was thinking of giving up this job without another to go to anyway so urgh.. I just don't know what to do.
The other girl said she spoke to the manager several times and she sympathised and was well aware but nothing was ever done.

Blimey this sounds like the dental practice attend.
I only go every six months for a 10 min check up but I can feel the atmosphere between the female support staff whilst in the waiting room, I wouldn’t want to work there.
Find another job at a different practice, they can’t all be like that.
The manager sounds inept !

I’d leave and not even bother putting current job on my cv. Pub job doesn’t sound great either though. There’ll be other part time jobs that come along, I’d leave current job (providing circumstances allow) and keep my eye out for something better.

I think it's quite usual for them to get in early to set up. They do where I work too. Set up for the day, have a cup of tea before the official start time. However they also often leave earlier than the time they are paid until so it works out. Is it the same at your practice or are you working until your set finishing time.

It also sounds like they have set ways of doing things which works for the practice. They need to be showing you, not expecting you to just know. Groups of girls can be very cliquey unfortunately.

It sounds like this job is making you miserable so I would quit. You are still in your probation period and can just give them a week notice and leave this out of your CV all together.

It seems there is a demand for your skills so you should be able to find work in a better practice. Someone mentioned agency work and that might be more lucrative and might lead to a permanent position.

In the meantime you can enjoy doing a few shift at a pub or similar while you work out your next move.

Life is too short to do something that makes you so unhappy.

Also the rate of pay sounds appalling for a professional...

Start the pub job see how it goes and plan to go back to Uni and become a hygienist. Ignore the haters at work. It’s hard but you are with the dentist most of the time.

Soon as I read that I knew it would be dental nursing! The whole turning up 1hr before you are actually paid to is a cultural thing within the industry and I just don’t get it. Even worse when you’re at a practice that won’t even let you take that as time in lieu. £11.20 an hour is less than you’d get in many jobs without the pretence of being a professional. What I mean by that is because you are s “professional” you are supposed to suck up shit pay, shit working conditions and arsehole micro-management (speaking from experience!), and be grateful for it! Either find a practice with better pay and better conditions (I did) or get another job. Otherwise, honestly it is just not worth it.
Also it is attitudes like where you are working( and the shit pay) that are causing a shortage of qualified dental nurses.

@Creditscoredrop really! It's such low pay isn't it. And I think at £11.20 I'm actually on more than one of the girls who has worked at the practice a few years.
I don't understand the getting there really early either, it's basically volunteering to do an unpaid hour/45 mins or so a day. I don't get it. They always finish either dead on time or 5-10 mins late so it's not like they make it up then.
I can now understand why so many have left the industry. Yes a contract, pension paid holidays etc is good as is no weekends, but is it worth the stress, upset, low pay, having to do CPD and pay £125 a year just to be able to work.. when I can get over £1. an hour more serving some Sunday lunches? 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Startingagainandagain Thank you, that's really good advice. All the pub just would be is a means to an end so I had some money coming in with Christmas coming up. I mean if it worked out that I really liked it then that would be a bonus but I'm aware it's nothing more than a means to an end. I'd love to study to be a hygienist when the kids are older.

This is another thing I'm wondering.. in probation does anyone know what the usual notice period is!? They gave me the contact but I haven't got my copy back after I handed back the signed one 🤦🏼‍♀️

Get yourself down the pub!

for goodness sake, jobs that want you to start early annoy me, i know it is standard but you should have been told properly not just insinuated

I knew this was dental nursing just reading your first post. The getting there early to start setting up is such bull, i hate it. It's so bitchy now, I'm considering leaving the profession myself.
Find it to be very petty and people get stuck in their way and if you don't adhere to their way then you are wrong.

Try some trial shifts at the pub, more money and hopefully less stress for you. Best of luck

I always found that keeping my CPD up to date was the same as having a small part time job that I didn't get paid for. With that, and the fact that your arriving early and not being paid and only getting £11.20 an hour which is barely above minimum wage then I'd be a SAHM.

Spend a few years at home with your kids. We have to work until we are 67 so there is PLENTY of time to pick up careers/refresh qualifications/pay into pensions. Kids are small for a short time only.

I think women have been fed a myth that they will suffer if they take time out of work.