Torn - chuck new job or stay?

[ShakespeareInTurmoil]

Hello all. I’m feeling so torn about what to do regarding my working situation and I just don’t know what to do.

Earlier this year I had a job I really enjoyed with a company I really liked. I’d been there three years. I left because there wasn’t much chance of advancement or much more money. I saw another job with a £10,000 salary increase a great bonus structure and a fancy job title with a huge consumer brand and got it.

Problem is I don’t enjoy it and the work isn’t as I thought it would be. I’m essentially doing project work, not day-to-day stuff and I feel very alone - it’s a standalone role in a remote team so I don’t cross over with people very much. I feel out of my depth to be honest, and I don’t have many people I can turn to, and no friends.

I’ve only been there three months. I think they’re happy with my work and progress, and I’ve impressed senior leadership (I’m good with people) but I just don’t feel I’m the right fit.

I have form for hating new jobs and taking a few months to settle in but this is the first time I’ve not known how to do stuff. The work is related to my role but not my area of expertise. It’s very digital transformation focussed and that’s so not me.

Last month when super low I started applying for other stuff. I’m not hating the job as much now, even though it’s still not right. I had a final interview today and it went well I think. I’ll find out shortly if I’ve been successful. If I am, I have a big decision to take. The salary is around my old salary so a step down. I really liked the people and the look of the job, and the duties (which I explicitly checked) look up my street.

What to do if I’m offered it though? Have this blip on my CV and take a MASSIVE salary drop, but potentially be happier in my role? Suck it up and think of the money and just bumble along and do my best to cover up the stuff I’m really not good at? A year or two there would really sort me out financially, look great on my CV etc.

I feel (should I get offered it) whatever I do I’ll regret it.

The application form for this new job had a field for suggested salary on it; I lowballed as I was really hating work that day and wanted to be in the running. I regret that now as I’d rather a few grand more given the role’s responsibilities and my experience. I was thinking if I could negotiate exceeding my old salary by a couple of grand at least it would feel I was ending the year earning more than I started.

What does everyone think? I just don’t know what to do.

I've done almost exactly the same this year and haven't regretted it. At my new workplace I refer to it as an interim role in casual conversation and I left the previous place just being honest about not being right for me. The advice I got from recruiters is that you are allowed one mistake and although I don't see it as a mistake as it was a good idea on paper, the role I'm in now is perfect

Honestly I’d stay. What you’ve described makes it sound like the issue in your current job is more your own confidence levels rather than any actual performance issue. 3 months is still very new. I’d give it longer to settle in and see how you feel.

Really loantopil?

That makes me feel better. I wouldn’t mind so much but the work I’m doing just isn’t my skill set. They didn’t deceive me - they told me they didn’t know what this new role would look like; it’s just not going in the direction I want.

Did you take a salary drop too? The new company is very similar to my old one (industrial b2b, with similar challenges) so I can see myself fitting.

I guess I just feel like a failure. I can explain away the blip sure, and a recruiter told a lot of remotely onboarded people have had buyer’s regret in the past few months!

@TheUndoingProject

I do recognise I have imposter syndrome. I’ve just felt so at sea the past three months doing such unfamiliar work and feeling out of my depth. I’m not used to that - I think I’m good at what I do but here I’m winging it.

I would suggest that if you get offered the new job, before you accept it, you should immediately investigate whether there is the possibility of an internal transfer/role change at your current place - to a role you’d like.

Since they like you and you have impressed senior leadership, they will want to keep you if they can. And if you can stay at your current place that looks better on CV and more likely to keep higher salary too.

Obviously this doesn’t work if your preferred kind of work just doesn’t exist or if they already have enough people for it.

@minipie yes I have considered this. I just don’t think there’s the scope for me to do that. It’s worth exploring though, you’re right of course. Thank you