I've decided new job isn't for me but leaving will make my cv look even worse - what to do??

[SassyS89]

So I started a new job in the civil service 3 months ago and have now decided it is not for me. I had a change of career in 2019 so need all the experience I can get but my current role is quite tedious and there's no variety. I want to look for something else but my last few roles haven't been for long so I won't look good to employers. My last role was 9 months (contract) and I was meant to be kept on but then covid struck and messed everything up. My role before that was 4 months but I learnt the role very quickly and wanted to do more challenging tasks but this never happened (this was my first job after changing career) and I was headhunted for a higher position in a different company so I went for it and got it. I'm still in my probabtion period but I don't know if it's best to wait till it's over or try and find something now. I'm not in a rush to leave so I won't leave until I find something else but I'm not sure if I should look for something now?

Also, do you think I should mention how I feel to my manager (we have a good working relationship)?

Sorry for the long post!

Bump

I don't know anything about the Civil Service, but I do know I'd have big question marks over your CV if it landed on my desk. I'd say you need to stick it out for a year.

I would have a discussion with your manager, but think carefully about how you frame it. What did you think it would be, and what's missing? Is it you that got the wrong end of the stick before taking the job, or is it genuinely not as it was billed.
They liked you enough to employ you, so they are unlikely to want to lose you (and go through the time and cost to replace you), so the chances are they would want to work with you to resolve any issues. But the chances of that are less if the job is exactly what was 'sold' to you and you have just decided you don't like it! Either way, I'd say you need to stay a while for the good of your CV in the longer term.

If you find another job before quitting the current one then it shouldn't be a problem since they presumably won't have an issue with your CV. It does sound as if you struggle to find a role you're happy with though and you're maybe a bit impatient. Do you hate it, or just not love it? Unless it's making you unhappy I would suggest you stick it out for a while and try to make a good impression.

I would advise to spend some time thinking about what you really want. You went for a career change, you took a job and moved after only four months because you learned everything and wanted more challenges (was there really nothing challenging you could have held out for?), now you've done only three months and want to move again. This all suggests you are working in the wrong area. Rather than keep going for short stints and moving on, think about what you enjoy and want to spend time working on.

Thanks all for your replies. Just to confirm, I'm happy in the line of work that I changed to. A bit of background about my last few roles...the role I was in for 4 months, it was a very junior role as I had just made the career change. I learnt the role very quickly and I spoke to my manager at the time and asked if I could learn more secretarial based duties as I felt the role was too junior for me and I wanted to learn something more challenging. My manager agreed but nothing came of it. I was approached by another company regarding a higher position (I wasn't actively looking) and I thought there was no harm in applying, and I didn't think I would even get an interview due to my lack of experience but I just happened to get the job...so at the new job I was working a 9 month contract and I was very happy there and wanted to stay (and my manager wanted me to stay too) but covid happened and they couldn't keep me on so I was out of work for 9 months...Fast forward to now, I originally applied for and was offered a different role (I'm doing an apprenticeship) but at the last minute that role couldn't be offered to me due to staffing changes so they had to find me another role in the company, which is what I'm doing now. My role isn't very varied so I'm finding it quite tedious.

Why not discuss it with your line manager in a tactful way? They might be able to adjust the role.

Hi Mugsen - the role wouldn't be able to be adjusted as there is already someone in the team who specifically does the tasks that I want to do, so they would have to leave in order for me to have a more varied role. I spoke to my manager today and she was very supportive and said if I still feel the same in a month or two, then we'll think about next steps

Are you intending to stay in the civil service? If so then I wouldn’t worry too much about your cv. Lots of civil servants move on after a short time. For instance I started my current role at the very end of April and I will be moving on at the end of July - i realised after a few weeks this role isn’t for me and one came up that I reeeeeaallly wanted. My cv over the last couple of years looks not so great like yours, so I’m making a deliberate move back into a work area where I felt the most comfortable and productive, albeit on a promotion.

However: I think there comes a point where you become simply unreliable - after 2 yrs bouncing around whitehall in relatively short jobs I feel like that, so I’m determined to keep my bum on my seat at my new job for a decent stretch regardless. Luckily it is a job with lots of challenge.

With regard to the tasks you want to do, it isn’t about what you want to do it’s about what they need you to do. If you’re finding it tedious and unchallenging I suggest you look at the next grade and see if that would offer more opportunity for you - and get on civil service learning and access the mentoring offer to help you find your way to the next “best step” for you.

If you are looking outside the CS then yes, your cv will be a concern to prospective employers!

It's probably a better idea to work with your manager than leave after so short a time. Sometimes jobs are a stepping stone to a better one.

I think I misunderstood the situations when I replied, sorry. Re the current role, you applied for something that then didn't exist because of covid so they gave you something else that you don't want to do? In that case you could describe this time on your CV as a temporary role while you apply for something more relevant. So it looks like you are active and working, but looks less unreliable, as in, less like you are leaving after only four months.

@doorhandleghost yes, I'm planning to stay in the CS. It's frustrating because I was at a job that I really enjoyed and could have seen myself staying there for a while but covid messed it up. It's unfortunate that my current job isn't living up to what I hoped it would be. It's not that I find the job unchallenging, it's just not varied enough for me (my role focuses solely on one thing and I've lost interest) and this is what I'm struggling with as my previous roles have been quite varied

@viking so my current role was not the original role I applied for or was offered. I could no longer do the original role due to staffing issues, so they found me the role I'm doing currently. The original role was more admin based and my current role is more decision making and not admin based.

All CS will have had those boring AF jobs - either move on, or explore other opportunities such as corporate contributions to make things more interesting. Honestly - get a mentor through CS learning, it will really help you get your bearings.