Hate new job - do I tell my boss?

[Sarah557]

I started a new job at the start of the year and I hate it. The team I work with are nice enough but the work is a lot more technical than I was expecting. As each week goes on I dislike it even more and it’s definitely not something I see myself working in.

I have a monthly review meeting with my manager at the end of each month to discuss how I am getting on and my second one is Monday. Do I be honest and say I’m not enjoying? I am on probation for 6 months - ideally I would like to find another job in the same organisation (public sector) but would need managers approval before applying. My other option is to apply for jobs outside but I don’t really think I should be saying everything is fine on Monday when I want to leave? If I was to stay a year or so I feel I would be wasting their time as any training they give me will be pointless. Anyone been in a similar situation please? I am full of anxiety worrying about what is the right thing to do :( thanks in advance

Honestly, having seen a similar situation I’d hold off and say nothing at all. Nod and agree. In the background look for something else and then make your mind up.

if they know your not happy they will start to think of looking for someone to fill your roll so they are one step ahead of your resignation.

would it help you to tell them? If not then I’d say don’t. I have someone in my team that complained about the job early on so we sort of mentally went ‘ok, they won’t be here long’. And they’re still here almost a year on. Maybe they didn’t find anything else they liked/ weren’t successful etc. but I wish we hadn’t known.

@Walkingwithdinosaurs thank you so much for your advice. Yes I guess if I don’t say anything I will have to look for jobs outside of the organisation which isn’t really what I wanted to do but maybe that is for the best!

@Butterbeanbutterbo thank you so much for the reply, helpful to see if from a different point of view. I suppose it wouldn’t help me really and could make it a more awkward environment. Do you think you would have felt better if that person hadn’t said anything then just handed their notice in out of the blue? I’m just worried they will be annoyed with me for not being honest but I suppose that wouldn’t really matter if I was leaving.

I wouldn’t say anything. Especially if you want to stay with the company, plenty of internal opportunities in big companies! Get through the first 6 months and see what’s available. Is it that you cannot physically do the job or you don’t like it? I guess if you’re struggling to perform that might make it harder!

Can you say something like "it's more technical than I thought it would be I was wondering if there would be the opportunity to do x and y from the job description " and see what they say, as they maybe able to give you more x and y and less technical and then you may enjoy the job more and if not it won't be such a surprise to them if you see something advertised internally as requested there permission to apply.

Thank you @Chairwoman well I’m doing ok at the moment but I don’t know how long that will continue - they have said it would take a year to 18 months to be fully trained / understand the role well which I did not expect when applying / accepting the job!

Thank you @1willgetthere yes my husband and I had a similar discussion. The only thing is, everything seems very technical, it’s just the job spec was very unspecific if that makes sense. I can’t actually see any work in reality that I would like but of course I could be wrong and might be worth asking / using that approach.

Are you new into the civil service?, if so you might find you cant transfer whilst on probation. In which case I would knuckle down, pass probation and get applying asap!. I would be half honest and say of theres bits you are struggling with explain that its not what you were expecting. I joined the civil service 2 years ago and my job description was very vague so I understand where your coming from!

I wouldn't tell your boss, they could get rid of you and you're left without work or money, I would be looking for another job

Thank you@Ilikewinter yes that would very well be the case. I was thinking about speaking to someone from HR but then they will probably tell my boss which will be even worse if I haven’t already spoken to him. Yes I think that’s a good idea then, I’ve done two months now, hopefully I can get through another 4. If anything outside comes up I think I will apply as I have nothing to lose

thank you @Takeitonthechin yes I will just keep any eye out I think!

Why do you need their go ahead to apply for another role in the organisation? I’m public sector and have never heard of that. Not sure it’s legal, but it’s not ethical.

@TeenLifeMum I’m in the public sector and one of the questions you tick is ‘have you spoken to your line manager?’ - you don’t need permission for a permanent role but do for a secondment

@Chairwoman ah I didn’t see it was a secondment. Depends on their approach. I was utterly miserable and was offered a secondment but my director refused because they wouldn’t have been allowed to backfill. It’s worked out okay now but this was the same guy who told me I needed “experience in other nhs organisations” yet refused to allow it when offered.

Don't say anything unless laying the ground for your definite departure.

@TeenLifeMum I have no idea but in our organisation we need their permission for secondment or a permanent role. It’s really rubbish 👎🏼

Are you not enjoying it because you’re not enjoying it and you don’t think you ever will?

or would it become more enjoyable if you had more support/training with the technical aspects.

if the latter I’d say that to the manager (in that you’d want more support/ training on aspects of the job or that the jobs not quite what you expected and is there any way you could do more of x rather than y and z.

If the former keep quiet and look for something else. If you tell them they’ll put less into you, tell you your attitude is wrong , could say and do anything tbh.

I wouldn’t say anything.

Either just start applying outside now or wait till an internal op comes up and then explain why you’d like to move.

They aren’t going to be interested till it’s relevant and it’s only going to put them off you.

Have you seen other jobs you’d like to apply for? If not there’s little point in telling your manager. If an internal move does come up you could speak to them then, explaining the new role has x, y and z you’d like to gain experience in or skills that play to your strengths.