6 months into a bad fit - help!

[RoyalGalas]

I left my job in the civil service 6 months ago to return to a charity I worked for several years ago. I was wobbling over the decision before I started the new role, and I wish I had listened to my gut then - this job is a bad fit. I've got my end of probation review soon - all feedback so far has been glowing, so no reason to think I won't pass. But should I take this opportunity to say that I'm unhappy?

My line manager is lovely but overstretched and not very present. The internal political are a mess, and the whole place feels dysfunctional and ineffective. I'm not used to working like this - I feel bored and isolated, and there's clearly no career growth for me here. I didn't realise how much I valued the identity and purpose my old job gave me, and it's too late now!

I'm feeling quite low and really stuck. Does anyone have any advice? I'm personally very fond of my colleagues and I don't want to burn bridges by resigning so soon. I also don't have the option of returning to my old CS job due to a recruitment freeze. I just feel like such a fool for walking away from a job/career that I easily could have spent another decade or more in. I was frustrated in my former role, but I could (and should!) have moved internally. I just want to go back!

Has anyone else ever made a total judgement error with a new job? How did it pan out? I need some hopeful stories!

I work for the charity sector so I can complete understand how you are feeling.

The charity I currently work for is also disorganised, chaotic and too inward looking (lots of politics and time and money wasted on catering for trustees rather than clients). Also no career development opportunities. I think with the cost of living crisis many charities have less funding which means everyone is pressured to do more for poor pay and it is not going to get any better in the next few years.

It is demoralising to stay in this kind of environment.

I would just start applying for jobs to return into the civil service if you were happier there.

Don't resign until you get a new role. It is perfectly fine to say at the interview stage that you have realised the job is not what you expected and want to return to the sector you were in previously.

I am also looking for an alternative but staying in my role for now until I find something else to move on to.

Has anyone else ever made a total judgement error with a new job? How did it pan out?

I've done this and, like you I ignored my gut feeling when I took the job....I'd never do that again.

I stuck it out for 18 pretty miserable months trying everything and hoping that the situation would improve. It didn't, so I left. My only regret was wasting so much time there - a period in which I lost confidence, became more miserable and spent Sundays dreading Mondays). I could have saved myself that by leaving as soon as I knew it was wrong.

Could you try contacting your old employer? Who knows they might be desperate to have your skills back in some kind of consultancy/interim role? If not I'd bide your time where you are by distracting yourself with a concerted effort to get out and find something that will work for you.

Or leave an wave off all the unhappiness immediately and temp/contract/pick mushrooms whist you find the right thing. (That's what I did. Then, one day, my manager from the job I'd loved before I took the wrong 'un, called me up and offered me my job back). Who knows what good stuff might happen.....truth is, if you stay where you are you can already see how grim it's going to be.

It sounds like you were in your previous job for a while? As in, it doesn't sound like your CV is a list of short lived jobs? If so, I'd just start looking for something new.

Just job hunt again. One short stint on your CV is not a big deal. Stuff doesn't work out, jobs don't fit, it happens.

I took an offer my gut warned me about but I was desperate to get out of the frying pan. I was job hunting again at three months in, got an offer and gave my notice 4 months in, left after 5. The new job was a million times better. No regrets.

It's been such a culture shock leaving the CS and coming into it! The flat management structure, lack of decision making, no strategy and some big personalities - it all feels so unprofessional and ineffective!

Good luck with the job hunt - hope something better turns up for you soon!

I was there for 7 years, and previous job for 4. I've had one other short job on my CV - first job after uni, where I was bullied by a manager. I could probably leave that one off my CV though!

Have a look at the CS reinstatement procedure. Should a vacancy be permitted in your old role, you MIGHT be able to go back. Your dept head may be able to write a business case to bring you back in. It's a procedure where you're eligible for up to five years after you leave.

@JurassicPark4Eva oh really, I didnt know this was a thing! They definitely haven't filled my post, and they've actually lost one other person who graduated out of the FS, so they may be able to make an appeal to have me back. I left on very good terms with them, fortunately. It might be time to write a grovelly email!

@RoyalGalas definitely worth a look. Have a read of the procedure first so you're well armed! Lots of people talk about it on the CS topic on Reddit, might be a good place to ask a few questions ASAP as I'm not fully knowledgeable on it.

Ask to go back or if your old manager has any advice. Keep looking for something else.

Years ago I was offered two roles and I went for the one with a slightly higher salary. Not only did I not get the slightly higher salary the job was awful. I moved to the other job in 4 months and loved it.

Like a poster up thread I've left a job I loved and panicked and took the one I have now. It's awful. I'm hoping to move in a month or so.

I just want to do a good job and have headspace at home where I'm not fretting about it all the time.

AO jobs currently being advertised (were last week anyway, not sure of closing date). Recruitment freeze is thawing! I personally wouldn’t have left the CS, as if you fancy a change, so many internal opportunities for new challenges. Maybe just try and return!

I’ve been in the CS 24yrs and never knew this existed

Any joyb@RoyalGalas ?

The process has just been mentioned in to routine comms this week, so it's still active!