Have you ever left a job after 1-2 weeks?

[Freak12345]

I'm considering it. In interview I asked what the shift patterns would be, they said 'you can do X to X, or Y to Y'. X to X suited me better, I can do Y to Y on certain days but not most of the time.

It turns out there are two of us who've started and the other person has instantly said 'I can't do Y to Y most of the time because I have children'. Which is fine, but that doesn't mean the onus is on me to finish late every evening just because I don't have children- this should've been discussed with the other person during interview stage.

The 2nd issue is that the role isn't really as I thought/or was advertised. I thought it would be more of a leadership/supervisor role but it's actually more quality assurance.

The work itself is fine but just not the direction I wanted to go in as I am aiming to move into management roles rather than compliance/QA.

I've got an interview tomorrow for a role which is closer to home, different hours and more aligned with my goals. I feel so awkward quitting job 1 because they've set up all my IT, lanyard etc. And I don't want to leave them hanging. What would you do? I've never done this.

And they've said 'we need a person doing Y to Y shift pattern every evening.' I just think the other person having children isn't my problem, it doesn't mean I'm not entitled to finish earlier, that should've been discussed with them at interview.

I left a job after a day. I knew immediately that it wasn't for me, and the company wasn't for me. I did have an alternative option so was lucky.
I think it's fine as long as you don't make a habit of it. Once in a career and you can probably get away with it.

It’s fine. You took the role in good faith, it’s not the right place for your better to leave now and explain than several months in.

Go to your interview and do your best. If you get offered the job then hand in your notice at your current one. The fact they've set up your IT and lanyard is unfortunate but just one of those things.

I'd bring in some biscuits or a cake on my last day as a sorry and thanks token and then think no more of it.

They have clearly moved the goal posts.

I think you are totally within your rights to leave.

But in your shoes I might wait to see if you got the other job.

Tell them immediately that you can’t do Y to Y most days. But yes it’s ok to quit, the sooner the better.

I see your 'leaving after a day' and raise you 'leaving after half a day'.

Many years ago, as a graduate, I took a job as a data analyst. Turns out they actually meant data entry officer.

I turned up on time on my first day, all bright-tailed and bushy-eyed, and essentially ignored for two hours. Somebody finally showed me to my desk, but couldn't log me in (that took another hour). By lunchtime I thought 'fuck this', handed in my pass at reception, went home and sent a polite email to say I didn't think it was the role for me. Never heard from them.

OP, go to your upcoming interview and if you're successful and the role is a better fit for you, take it and hand your notice in - it should only be a week at this stage in your employment.

Probation works both ways and you're completely within your rights to say 'thanks, but this isn't working out'.

No need to be dramatic about it - they may ask and you could raise the point about the change in expectations around shifts - but they'll probably just accept your resignation and you can move on with no fuss.

Make sure you get paid for the hours you've done, though.

I started a job when I was 16 and walked out at lunchtime without saying a word.

They rang my mum when I didn't return because they were worried about me.

She rightly gave me a proper bollocking! 😁

I gave notice to a role with a well known charity after 3 weeks (but I knew from week 1 this was not going to work out) as the role was not what I was expecting, I was expected to report to two managers who made conflicting demands and everyone seems to spend their time having pointless meetings and doing zero actual work. No regrets. I don't even have it on my CV as I don't want to be associated with them in any way.

Yesterday I gave my notice to a freelance client I have been working with for less than 4 weeks again because the role is not what I expected, the payment system is a nightmare (she gets money through access to work) and she wants me to work on site more than expected but the hourly late does not justify me spending so much time and money on travel. I started having doubts on my first week as well.

I think when your instinct tells you that something is just not going to work out long term and it is best to leave it behind and move on to the next opportunity.

I once worked in a day nursery (I'd been a nanny before that)

I was about 17 and adored childcare

40+ brain numbing hours for pennies

I lasted a week-i couldn't take the bitching,not being told to do a job and then getting into trouble for not knowing,the conversations that went quiet when I walked up,not being allowed to use the loo and forever getting into trouble over nothing

It was fine for staff to have their favourites but if I glanced at a child,I'd get into trouble

I once called a child by his name and got shouted at because 'it doesn't sound right'

It's my fucking accent!

I walked out,they phoned my narcissistic mother,who in turn made me go back (with my aunt in tow,who was taking notes) to grovel and have the manager tear strips off me-from my looks to my personality

Aunt fed the whole lot back to my mother,who tore more strips off me and refused to listen to me

I walked away from childcare after that

I started a job on my birthday once.

The people I was working with were really grim. Lots of innuendos, bad language, telling me I had to be there a year before I was allowed to sit down.

My mid morning I was out of there and treating myself to a coffee and slice of cake in the nearest cafe.

It easier to loose a day or two in your work history than have to explain away longer.

I was made redundant after two weeks. TBH I had niggling doubts and felt that they didn't really care about their staff enough, I've never worked for a company before that didn't give you long term sick leave if you had for example cancer or something. All the way through the interview they talked about hybrid working. I get there and it turns out after I have done my 6 months probation I can work from home, oh and my boss would be working from home two days a week so its it not even like I would see her on those days.

Yes I have when I was about 16/17. Started a retail job and was immediately spoken to like absolute crap by the manager. Also shoved on a till with 0 training and expected to know how to use it. All the other employees said they just had to put up with it. Not me, I told her what I thought of her and where to put her job.

Not my finest moment but even as a teen I have never been scared to speak up for myself.

I’ve done it a few times and leave them off my CV. One was for the council supposedly doing a specific role and I walked after 3 days when it turned out all I was doing was shredding documents. The others were for similar reasons, job not as described. The last one was for a housing company who had the most dreadful training person. She wouldn’t allow anyone to take notes, everything had to be committed to memory and she was dreadfully rude to anyone who tried to question anything. I lasted a week at that one.

Life is too short to be somewhere that makes you miserable any longer than you have to be.

I have a couple of never went back after lunch stories, but I think several posters have them covered already 😁.
When you know it's not right, you know - trust your instincts.

Yes, I did so a couple of months ago. Joined and quickly realised that the culture and the role weren’t the right fit for me, and at the same time received an offer from another job I’d been preferencing from the start. Resigning was a bit awkward, but they were perfectly professional about it and ultimately it was better for both sides that I did so quickly rather than wait until more time and resources had been invested. It’s what probation is for.

If you only have an interview so far, I’d not hand in your notice until you actually receive an offer with a contract - unless you absolutely know that you can’t do Job A regardless.

Did one full day and left 10 minutes into my second day. Was there to cover maternity leave but she barely spoke to me let alone train me in. First day I basically sat staring at a wall all day. Second day I went in and knew it was going to be the same so I said I was going to my car to get my water. Drove home and never regretted it. They manager rang me but I ignored him.

Yes, I did, after 3 days. I was appointed to a role which didn't match the job description. It was far more technical with high expectations far above my abilities. I took the coward's way out and emailed them. Never went back.

Yes. A school position. Had I been younger I would have stuck it out miserably. As it was I just told them I wasn’t coming back and found my current role straight after.
Turning stuff down is as important as finding new opportunities.

Why on earth would you feel guilty?
Don't.
The job is not as advertised.
It really is as simple as that.
The other person having children and saying she can't do Y to Y, is NOT your problem.
I wouldn't dream of apologising.

In fact you have every right to be very pissed off at how this has turned out.

It has been a complete waste of YOUR time.

You can write this and that you would NEVER have accepted their offer if you had known that neither the job description, nor the hours were infact as advertised.

Don't be on the back foot.
Polite but firm.
"I will not be continuing with this position due to neither the job description nor hours being as advertised."

This is not uncommon.
They were chancing their arm.
Good luck with the new interview.

People often do short term temping/contract work between roles.
This is the best cover for these types of situations.

Same here, one shift, too hot and not enough to do. Didn’t go back

I've quit not one but two jobs after only FOUR hours OP, admittedly they were only part time, and were supposed to work around my DD's school hours. The first one was a door to door sales job, and after 4 hours of getting wet through to my skin, I decided it wasn't for me. The other was working in a toy factory. I worked the 4 hour shift, and at the end was horrified to see all the other women tucking the soft toys we'd been making into hand bags, down their trousers, etc., and decided I didn't want to work somewhere where stuff like that went on, so didn't go back.

Then there was one where I lasted a week working in a shop. On the 5th day we had a delivery, which meant spending several hours in the stockroom, and while I was in there, I saw several mice, which I have a real phobia about. I ran out screaming and told the manager, that I couldn't work with mice running around me, and she said 'Oh don't worry about it, they're always in there'. At that point I knew I wouldn't be going back, and was quite happy to sacrifice the week's money rather than come across another mouse!

Sadly I never really found my niche in life until just before I turned 40, when I found a job which I loved. Only trouble is, that I then became disabled after 18 months of working there, and haven't been able to work since.

Life is too short to be unhappy in a job OP, and if after a week or two your gut is telling you it's not the right fit, then find something else and then quit. NEVER the other way round though, as it's always easier to find something while you're already working, as it shows that you're employable.

I feel so awkward quitting job 1 because they've set up all my IT, lanyard etc. And I don't want to leave them hanging.

You can't stay in a job that isn't for you because they've set up an email address and printed out a lanyard!

As for not leaving them hanging - a friend of mine quit a job after six weeks a few years ago. They were very unhappy and said they didn't think she was giving it long enough; that she couldn't possibly be sure yet that it wasn't right. She asked them what she'd prefer - for her to go now, or for her to stick around for a year while they spent time and money onboarding her, while she knew full well she had no intention of staying long term.

If you get this other job, go for that instead. Your employers won't be happy, but you can't live your life for them - and at this stage, they might be able to go back to other candidates on the list.

I think it's the kids thing that's annoying me most. What if I had them? I can't work until late 5 nights a week, that restricts my life.