Should I start looking for another job?

[Ripthevivienne2025]

I left my old job for a promotion, I didn't entirely leave the company just transferred to another department.
I didn't dislike the old job, I just wanted more money as I've bought a flat. I used to rely on overtime there, they kept threatening it was being scrapped and confirmed it would be on x date, now I'm hearing from ex colleagues it's still on after all.

I wish I hadn't left. I've asked about going back but they've said there are no vacancies which is fair enough. In my new role, I havent made any friends yet. People get to choose their office days which is great in terms of flexibility, but we're never all in on the same days and also people sit all over different floors.

I'm still in touch with my old workmates but I know it's just not the same sadly. I hate this job. I've never felt like that about a job before, I can't explain it but I just know I will not enjoy it. I'm usually fairly competent in jobs and can grasp what I'm doing but this is something else.

Every minute of screen time is monitored too. We're called apprentices and will be for 1.5 years but won't be gaining any qualifications from it. There's a lot of e learning and I've just been pulled up for apparently going through it too quickly. I was told there were no core hours then I was pulled up for not starting by X time.

I'm scared ill be sacked. Feel ashamed to consider walking away but this job and the situation is making me very anxious. As I say I bought a flat, all my savings went into the deposit, fees and furnishing so I'm living month to month until I can build them back up. I don't know what to do, but I don't see this getting better.

I know people will say stick it out, but I'm not sure how long for. There's hardly any support, I don't have a clue what I'm doing, I wasn't aware i would be on a glorified apprenticeship. I've started to apply for other jobs, I'm just scared of ending up unemployed.

Keep looking, and make sure the old place tell you if anything comes up. Although I’m not a fan of going backwards, I firmly believe things happen for a reason. This may be a stepping stone into something else. Keep your eyes and ears open, and opportunity will come up but while you are there make it look like you want to be or you’ll rub people up the wrong way and then they’ll be pulling you up on everything. Good luck op

I just wanted to challenge the assumption that an internal candidate has the edge. For managers, often employing and internal candidate just means you have another vacancy to fill (and you might not get approval to fill it) and that if you have multiple internal candidates, promoting one over others can result in really tricky dynamics if not managed well. So sometimes an excellent external candidate is maybe what you are hoping for.

With your current role ask for a meeting with your line manager to go through core hours as what you were told is X and now they are saying Y so you want to double check what else you have been told. Is there a handbook btw?

Same with the E-learning, ask if they think you are making too many mistakes and if so could you have some extra support. Ask if there are any other performance concerns.

Yes keep looking for another job because you aren't happy.

Perfectly reasonable to schedule an informal 121 with your new boss and raise the issues above - told no core hours but been reprimanded, asked to do training but reprimanded for speed etc and ask for clarification on things that do not meet the previous description of the role. Explain this difference in expectations is impacting your integration to the team. Whatever the verbal response is mirror it back to them in writing after the meeting so you have it in writing so it is on record as an issue and you having raised it.

Then based on the answers work out if you need to start job hunting or not.

If you’re not happy then go. There is no point in hanging around a job where you’re dealing with pettiness and nonsense.

Thanks all. Can confirm I've started looking elsewhere.

I think you're doing the right thing looking for another job.

While you're still there I would focus on completing projects or gaining skills that would look great on your CV.

You can also look at JDs of other jobs and see if you have any skill gaps, and try and focus on filling those gaps as much as possible while in current role.