How to resign from a new job?

[Polarbearflavour]

I have my two month probation review on Tuesday and I’ve printed out my resignation form! It’s a civil service role, my line manager is a military officer.

I don’t fit in to the (military) environment. I have my own office and feel pretty isolated. I was meant to be taking over from the existing person in post (military person) but instead they are keeping him on as he is due for retirement in the next two years!

We are sharing an office and one computer. For the first 6 weeks I had no IT access. Most of my days are spent watching him do work on the sole computer. He does work from home a couple of days a week and like the rest of the military staff here, leaves early most days.

Since I’ve started I have done very little work. Apparently it’s one of those jobs where there isn’t much to do. I am so demotivated that I cry before and after work and have started to bring my kindle in to read.

Do I tell my boss how I feel or just keep it brief and say it’s not working out?

Can't you look around internally for a vacancy rather than resigning. There are always plenty of vacancies in mod (if that's where you're working). They invariably try to redeploy people as they need the staff, esp experienced people.

If you want to leave and think that’s the right thing to do, then keep it brief and factual. You probably want to feel like you’ve been understood and listened to but in reality that’s unlikely to happen. At best your boss will nod, at worst they will get defensive. Just hand in your notice, thank them for the experience and move on. Then never give them another thought!

why did they keep you if the other guy ended up staying?

When you say Military is that what you actually mean? Or is it his style of management?

There aren’t really any internal jobs going. My line manager is literally a military officer. They kept the other guy as it transpired after they hired me that I don’t have a specialist qualification needed for the role. They knew in the interview and by the application form that I don’t have it yet and I’m working towards it.

It transpires that I was only offered the job as two former military personnel were offered it and then as they couldn’t negotiate a higher pay rate, they declined it. Apparently I was the only other person they deemed semi-acceptable to interview.

DH is a military officer so I do “get” somehow how it all works but it’s just not for me. I’ve been sitting in my office with no IT, no heating and a water logged carpet this week reading my Kindle!

Didn’t you post about this when you first started the job and there wasn’t enough to do?

Just be factual and professional, let them know you are giving them the appropriate notice, that’s all you need to do. Have you got another job lined up?

Shocking waste of money though for the MOD to employ someone and not give them enough work to do.

Yep I posted when I first started. I don’t have another job to go to but as I’m crying before, during and after work I don’t think I can stay.

True, it’s a waste of money but then the goverment wastes billions of pounds outside of defence.

Ex civil servant here - sadly I've come across this before. Meanwhile other officers in the same department will be working their arses off for the same, or less, pay.

If you need the money it's better to have another job lined up before leaving, plus it's easier than explaining gaps in your cv, but if you're really demoralised and want to get out as soon as possible, just be honest and say you don't think it's the right fit for you.

There is absolutely nothing to be gained in spilling your guts in an exit interview. It's a paper exercise, nobody cares.

My manager was extremely awkward and uncomfortable in my two month probationary review! I said I wasn’t happy because xyz and I was thinking of resigning.

He has sorted out another computer for the guy I’m shadowing so I can get on with stuff now and suggested I give it until Easter and then decide.

I guess an extra month of salary would be useful before I resign!

He’s also extended my probation period for 3 months because I had two weeks signed off sick and two weeks on pre-booked holiday! He said this was to give me a chance to perform well in the role.

I said I’ll stay until Easter but my resignation form is still on my desk and I’m applying for other jobs still. DH is a military officer and should find out his next posting next month! Hopefully to a much nicer city so I might just temp/work part time/not work until we move.