AIBU to quit a job after three days?

[Annabel43]

I’ve done the career thing. Reached my peak in a senior role and now wanted something less stressful part time while my kids are young. I got a admin / pa type role and so far I’ve done three days. It’s bloody awful. It’s not me and never will be. I think I’m going to drop off my security pass today and then email my (lovely) manager. Anyone ever done anything like this?!! I definitely haven’t before!!

It's very hard to go from a senior role back to being managed by others, where you will at times disaster with how they do things, see eats they could do things better but it's being your pay grade and station to do anything about it. I'd imagine especially in a role that's yes less stressful, but will also more than likely be less challenging for you given your experience. What is it about the job you don't like?

Why didn’t you go part time instead?

Id find another role or take a year out.

I have walked out of a job - it’s quite satisfying!

Personally I’d give it more time, I hated my current job and wanted to quit after a week. But it got better (arsehole member of staff I line managed left, I was given some more interesting things to work on) and 3 years later I’m still here and love it. So maybe give it a couple more days.

on the flip side, you reached your career peak previously and I suppose just want something easy you can enjoy now, and maybe it’s not worth putting up with it to see if it gets better. do you desperately need the job/money? If not and you know in your gut it isn’t for you, then I guess don’t stay.

sorry to advocate for both sides 😁

It's harder when your manager is lovely but of course you have to do what is right for you.

Number of people that leave a job within 90 days is something like 25% and something like 45% when there is no formal training/induction.

I left a job after one day. Was told it was flexible remote working. On day one they told me whilst it was remote their CEO liked to see people in the office three days a week and these were our team days.

I never went back. Not for me I’m afraid. If a role isn’t for you, and you don’t need the money theres no point making yourself miserable

I quit a job within a week and it was definitely the best decision. I knew once I started that I was going to hate going to work everyday and I couldn't face that. Sometimes things just don't work out

You’re not being unreasonable.
I saved some money prior to a course and then took a job in a deli because I was so used to working I felt I should.
they were lovely.
but it just wasn’t for me.
I left after a few days. Felt good to have a job I could leave without having to worry about another.

If you do need the job or the income is useful- I’d give it a few more days to see if you get into a routine.
I once swapped shops from a fast pace one to a slower one and it took me a month to get used to the slowness of working in the new one - they kept telling me to slow down 😂 - but it got boring after a few year so I moved when I could. But they were so lovely too.

Makes it harder when people are lovely because you don’t get that everywhere.

Honestly I wish I'd quit my current job after 3 days, but I'm still there 8 months later.
Theoretically I should love my job, it's close to home, I have no pressure on me (I have a supervisor and manager above me), and the job is easy. But I'm bored out of my brain. My previous role last have been faster paced and I've been able to make decisions if there are problems/how things were dealt with etc. Now I'm just a minion (for want of a better word). My supervisor speaks down to me and I know I could walk her job easily, And I know I'm capable of far more. I think I've made my mind up that I won't stay there, I'm just biding my time until the right opportunity comes along

I also wish I’d quit mine within the first week. Several decades later I’m still here and I’m pretty sure I have Stockholm Syndrome at this point.

I quit a job after three days forever ago! Started on the Monday, realised very quickly that the job was entirely different to the one I’d applied and interviewed for. I raised it with my manager on the Tuesday who basically told me that I was the one who’d misunderstood the role and that the job I was doing was the one I’d continue to do.

I went in on the Wednesday and when I woke up on the Thursday I just thought “nope!” So I went in, handed my notice in straight away and left!

I could afford to quit and look for another role so if you can, then do it.

YANBU if you can afford to do that.

I worked in retail for a few years, we had new starters not come back from lunch on their first day, and I didn't blame them.

If you can afford it, do it. DW once quit a job on her first morning. She knew it wasn't right for her and saw no point in prolonging the agony. Handed her pass in a lunchtime and walked out.

YABU if you decide to walk out without giving the required notice. If you give the notice required then it's fine.

I got made redundant from a senior banking job and took an admin civil servant job for similar reasons. I lasted 7 weeks before I went running back to my ‘old’ career. I thought I wanted something low stress, but the reality was I found it incredibly frustrating and boring. If you can afford to leave then do it.

I left a job after just under a month, people were awful, person who l did my job before had got a job elsewhere in organisation and hadn’t been happy in my job and one of the people I worked for was an absolute witch. My colleague who was inducting/training me was very rigid and strange and if I’d met her before I’d started I’d have thought twice about starting there.

But yes, quit if you’re not happy. I would say though, rethink your next career/what you want to do move carefully.

Thank you everyone. These responses are really helpful

My bf did this at day 2. He wanted to get out of the healthcare sector. Day two he told his boss its not his thing. Manager was very understanding and said he has been in similar situation before. So they agreed he doesn't have to do day 3.

Unless it was because they were being unpleasant or nasty (which does not appear to be the case), I would give it more time.

It takes a while to adjust to any new job and the culture. In your case it would seem particularly as you are taking less responsibility.

Consider how it will look on a CV too, when looking ahead.

Good luck and take care x.

Also, another thing. Trust your gut. I was in perimenopause at the time which didn’t help but my direct boss (who’d been lovely at interview) I really didn’t think had my back nor was that nice when I first joined yet when I decided to leave seemed sympathetic. That, combined with 2 other not friendly at all colleagues (lovely at interview) and the worker who’d done my job hadn’t been treated well when she’d been sick, all of that gave me a gut feeling that generally there long term I wouldn’t be happy.

Admin/PA is hard to switch to do unless you’ve done it before and you do get idiots who either aren’t good managers or the work isn’t great/structured. Maybe look at project management to retrain in.

OP doesn’t need to put it on her CV really, well I wouldn’t.

If your manager is lovely, surely it’s worth having an honest conversation with her first? She might be able to change some parts of the role to make it more palatable.

If you can afford it then do it. Life is far too short to be stuck in a situation that you know in your bones is not right for you whether it is a job, relationship etc. I stayed too long in a job that I was underpaid for, unrecognised by my managers despite clinical staff singing my praises, I stayed in a marriage for years that I should have left etc. As women we are conditioned to be 'nice' and to disregard our own needs/wants and as a senior manager, I am sure you got the macho 'no quitting' schtick that permeates management culture/theory. You only go around once, you earned your stripes, you have nothing to prove. Time to please yourself. Also, the company will prefer you to quit sooner rather than later as it costs them less!