Pressured into taking a different role a month after starting with new employer.

[theworldsbiggestcrocodile]

I recently started work at a new employer. The new role is a ten grand pay rise from what I was on before and was a it more senior so a bit of career development. Started a month a go. My boss is now pressuring me to take on a different role in the company as they are struggling to recruit to it. The role is similar to my last post but they will keep the salary the same as that which I started on.
So essentially more money but less career development. I won't like the role they want me to take as much at all.
They are putting me under loads of pressure as it will solve a big problem for them.
I'm worried that if I say no it will be held against me. Really don't know what to do.
I was so excited to start my new job and now it feels a bit rubbish

Could you suggest a secondment, so you do the new job (on the same money!) for 6 months then return to the original one? It gives them time to recruit and you look like a problem solver.

There is a risk that they don't recruit and you get stuck there though...

I would hold firm. But nicely. Acknowledge that they have a recruitment challenge, and say you understand their thinking, but you moved for the new role and are excited to get on with that, and aren’t interested in going back to [whatever the job is]. Say you’d be happy to help with the recruitment if that would be useful.

Ultimately, as you’ve not been there long, they could dismiss you and then immediately offer you the different role, thereby forcing you to take it, but that would be unlikely as they’d probably destroy their relationship with you. So I think you’re fairly safe to refuse nicely.

I would hold firm too. Explain you moved for the new role and aren’t interested in going back to the previous role.
I’m amazed they can’t find anyone though - surely it’s just a case of offering more money/better conditions.

Do you get the sense they can do without the job you were recruited to originally? If so it does make you vulnerable of being let go of in the near future. You need to be realistic about the relative values placed on your original role versus the role you don't want, from the company's perspective. A lot of companies are taking tough decisions based on very tough trading conditions.

Could you fulfil elements of the role you don't want in addition to your own role and suggest to your employer that you take on the responsibility of recruiting a direct report to assist you.

They might be finding it difficult because it's is not an appealing role. Could you say that you are not interested in it for the following reasons (and joined the company to do the role you were offered which is much more appealing)? You could perhaps suggest changes to the other role that would make it more appealing and therefore easier to recruit into? This needs to be done very diplomatically obviously

It's tricky as they originally interviewed me for the role they want to give me, and decided I was a better fit for the role they eventually offered me.
Subsequently they failed to recruit to the original role, which I wouldn't actually have taken (following the interview I went for a visit and the thing I will be managing is a nightmare-which is why they can't get anyone to do it).
I said yesterday after a lot of pressure from my boss that I would do it for 6 months then go back to my substantive post. She refused to put a time limit on it but said she would move me back to my role as soon as they recruit. I don't believe that really. Feel like I've got to take it as she is putting me under so much pressure to do so, plus there is always the possibility that they will find a way to say the role I actually took isn't working out I guess which would leave me jobless and I can't afford that.

Will start looking round for a new post on the QT-doesn't look great to have only been somewhere a month though

I’m sure you could explain one bad job move not working out if it is clearly an anomaly.

I would hold firm.

You've offered to do it for six months. How bloody long do they need to recruit a replacement? Alternatively, you could use it to your advantage and sort the issues out/get involved in the recruitment process/advise them.

I would actually start looking for another job though. It doesn't bode well.