Changing jobs after around a year in role

[Kernowgal]

Just after some advice really as I don't know anyone in my industry who might be able to advise.

Started a new job in March 2013. Changed roles within organisation late last year; new role has not turned out to be the challenge I wanted - I am scrabbling around for things to do and starting to feel resentful.

I am also seriously struggling to make ends meet on the salary as this is an expensive part of the UK. I took the job because there was a possibility of accommodation being provided at low rent; however it now transpires that this is probably not going to happen. I do not want to carry on struggling financially as it is starting to make me feel depressed and like there is no way out.

I am feeling very disillusioned with the place but am worried that my relatively short time here will look bad to future employers. I was in my previous role for nearly two years, and at college retraining before that. My employer offers great training opportunities but then no chances to put that training into practice. I'm used to fast-paced roles with loads of responsibility, but frankly I'm bored.

Any advice? Should I just stick it out for another six months and then try to move?

How is your job history before ths role? Changing jobs after a year once is ok but if you do it regularly it can look bad.
I think as long as you present the reasons behind it positively - show what you have learnt and how you can use this in your new role then as an employer I wouldn't have an issue with it .

Thanks for responding! I was self-employed prior to retraining, doing long- and short-term contracts. I suppose it is a case of applying for things that look suitable and seeing if I get an interview, and then crossing that bridge when I come to it. I would hope I would get a positive reference from my current place, as my appraisals have been excellent so far.

I am also a little bit stuck because to move up a level I need line management experience but I am not likely to get that in this job any time soon. We had a rush of supervisor vacancies last year but I didn't feel I'd been there long enough at that point, nor did I have the relevant experience, and so didn't apply.

Since being here I have got involved with all sorts of things, offered myself up to take part in public events, put myself up for training where I felt I needed it and so on.

When I moved departments I left a team with a very dynamic, forward-thinking supervisor. My new supervisor is lovely but tends to hide himself away and I've ended up having to teach myself a lot of the job, which is frustrating. I suppose this is something I will need to bring up in my next 1-2-1. It doesn't help that it's a quiet time of year and so most of the team are struggling to find things to do, which is very demotivating.

I think a year is fine. I'd be spending a bit of time on getting my CV into tiptop state and then getting it out there.

If it's a quiet time of year, then it's an ideal time to ask people about how to do things you're less sure about, and updating documentation and so on.

Thanks EBear. I think I will start looking for other roles but only apply for things that are definitely going to be a move in the right direction, rather than a way out of here, iyswim. I think it's telling that ever since I made the move to this organisation I've been checking the jobs boards for other opportunities.

It's a relatively small industry where people tend to stay put for several years, hence my worry at being seen to move on 'too soon'.