When did you know new job wasn't right?!

[Sunshinekim]

Please be kind, I'm really struggling with my new job and it's affecting my mental health. Only 4 months in, but it is really pressured and more than what they described in the interview. It's a new role too, but they aren't listening to my feedback so nothing will be changed.
Feel so disappointed.

I hate it! It's making me so anxious all the time and am dreading Monday already.

Has anyone left within their probation period? Did you find something quickly to go to?

I was so bored in my new job. Was meant to be more responsibly but there were no other permanent staff at the time I was meant to be managing. I was so so bored and realised I was bored whilst they were understaffed. Couldn't imagine staying there. I was about a month in when I know this. Only did 3 months in today and got a promotion at my old job to go back to

2 days absolutely awful was so toxic . I never went back . Luckily I had a part time role in a different department so I just went back there

In previous years, I use to realise pretty quickly and move on so I’m not judging at all.

Last January I had less job interviews than this January so I’m trying to keep positive.
I do wish in a way I hadn’t listened to an ex work colleague who advised give the new job three months, got terribly stuck in a job looking back which started out very well but became a nightmare last summer. I’ve used up a whole years holiday entitlement in 8 months (mix of taking days off to cope with the situation and trying to attend interviews under the misguidance it’s easier to get a job when in a job) I’ve nearly drank myself to death and I’m beginning to see how I should make it clear I’ll be refusing any more extensions to contract. In the time that I have left I’m just going to use it to save up. Sometimes I wish I had my younger self’s bravery I wish I did.

Have you explored how easy it would be to get out, could you go back to an ex employer?

I’m sure another door will open soon again.

I’m 4 months in and starting to have big doubts.
Very little hand over, complicated systems with little training. Fragmented conversations so we all have a different take on things, or getting updates about things I should already know about.

The only thing that’s keeping me going is I know I’ve felt like this in previous jobs that I’ve ended up bossing- I just hate this learning curve bit 😭

About 3 hours in on day 1, after the obligatory office tour and on-boarding welcome gumpf, upon realising that they were so unprepared for my expected start date that I didn't have a desk (admin role) and they encouraged me to sit and read my book 😆 I read 3.5 books in that first week (and got paid for it)!

I lasted about a month by the time I'd given 1 week notice.

Literally day one. I’d been made redundant from the best job and this was the one that came up first - and I had bills to pay. But I’d kept my ears open for other opportunities and had contacted someone about a possible position. I ramped it up once I realised the new job was a no for me and managed to get an offer very quickly. I had a holiday booked for the third and fourth week and once I had the firm offer, I handed in my notice as I left on the last day before my holiday. I’d been there two weeks. Longest two weeks of my life. Best decision I ever made though.

First couple of days/week. I had to keep asking my boss for work to do and literally twiddled my thumbs with nothing to do. It was painfully boring. Naively thought it would take time to build up the role but it never did. 6 months later I left. Looking back I can't believe I stayed so long but I was nervous

I once did some temping and started at a firm of solicitors. They were so rude to me that I left at lunchtime and didn't go back.

Yes, got a new job that I’d longed for. One week in and I’d taken on far more that they said in the interview. Then I’d listen to the other employees and they’d all had diciplinaries over things beyond thier control and other stuff that was just laughable. It was a small company with no real HR. Luckily my old job hadn’t been filled so I just went back. I’ve been there ever since, ten years.

OMG OP I could have written this post.
Almost 6 months into a new job and I have hated it since the end of month 1.
I too already feel sick about the prospect of going to work on Monday.
I am not in my probation period as I transferred from another council and have continuous service, but this weekend I have applied for 5 jobs and have two interviews on Friday. I just never settled - it’s remote apart from bimonthly office visits so I never built a relationship with my co workers….. and I cannot stand my manager.

Having stayed in a role that my intuition knew wasn't right for a number of years I can hand on heart say I wouldn't hesitate to start looking.

My first day… hostile colleague who clearly felt threatened handed me an impossible project on day 1 with no help to locate files etc and he’d squandered half the budget (consultancy) and produced nothing. I spent long nights working in my own time to avoid having to bill against a small budget. Obviously incompetent manager with a big ego but little knowledge of the area we worked in who failed to earn respect and I took an immediate dislike to.
I stayed for 6 years thinking I could progress based on their promises but left last year due to bullying.

End of the first week I started having doubts. I didn’t dislike my boss exactly, but he radiated anxiety and was dedicated to the company to his core.

It was an American multinational company so the culture was very different to my previous UK-company roles. It didn’t suit me.

It was a standalone role in a largely remote team and I was very, very lonely. My boss, while right in recognising he needed someone new in a new role, did not choose the right person in me. He needed a digital transformation project manager crossed with an Internal Communications Manager essentially, and I am PR Manager.

While there was some definite crossover and I have a very can-do attitude, I largely couldn’t do. I couldn’t do the work.

Three weeks in I was trying to go back to my old job. A month in I was applying for other roles. Four months in I quit with nothing to go to. I was so desperately miserable there and decided I’d be much happier pulling pints or hotel cleaning until I found another professional position. I did fortunately, the very day after I handed my notice in!

About two years ago I quit a new job on day two or three I think. I knew immediately it wasn't for me. I stayed longer to help out, but leaving was 100% the right decision. It was really depressing at the time though to be out if work having left an OK job before that which I couldn't easily go back to. It took about a month to find a new job which meant I was living off my savings, but it was worth it for my sanity.

I now have a job I truly love and my whole life has improved because of that.

First day for me. It was the one I really wanted. Nice enough team, just the work a terrible fit.

Nothing bad happened but I knew it wasn't for me straight away. I held out a while and got some good stuff on my CV but honestly, you probably know the difference between 'this isn't for me' and 'im still new and overwhelmed '.

Make the best of it but start looking for a worthwhile move.

I've recruited a lot of people and never asked 'why did you leave your last job'. If I did, I would respect 'good organisation and team, I've learnt XYZ skills but if I'm honest, it's a bit different to what I was expecting so I'd prefer to move on to a better fit'.

Oh I really feel for you :(

I started a new job Jan last year. I think I knew from the very start but 3 - 4 weeks in I was 100% sure and desperately wanted to leave. I have managed to stick it out until now and will be starting a new role soon - praying it’s better than my current one!!
I would say start looking straight away, nothing suitable came up until October for me and thankfully I got the job! Don’t feel guilty or worried. I felt like this the whole time, I was so worried and felt like I had to wait out and get to my 6 month probation and even after that I was worried. Wish I had been able to leave sooner but really grateful to hopefully be out of there soon! Put yourself first op, you are just a number (not to be harsh) and nothing is worth your mental health x

Pretty much day one. Poor training and onboarding. Overwhelmed and silenced team of juniors who were being overworked and, at times, micro managed. They were defensive, aggressive, and had their confidence and decision making ground down. Chaotic team lead. Far too much work. First day there I ended up working, on my own, way beyond contracted hours to complete a task that had been handed over late in the day and in a half arsed manner. Never again.

Within 2days. My boss laughed when I asked for a full schedule of details required for my job. The legal team head was defensive and claimed that I was trying to take over his job ( totally ridiculous) and when I walked in in the morning and said hello or good morning I was ignored. It was dire.

I knew the job wasn't for me after a few days. I was advised to stick it out and give it a year, but I just couldn't stand it. I hated it, it made me feel ill. In the end I staggered through my notice period and left without another job to go to. It all turned out ok in the end, I found anther job that I felt completely different about.

I lasted 9 months in the only toxic job I have ever had. I should have left after a month.

OP, if they aren't listening and you don't think the issues are just teething problems and learning curve, start looking for a new job now. Don't let them make you ill.

Thank you so much for all your comments.
I have applied for loads of jobs over the weekend, so hopefully I'll hear from something! I wish I could leave now, but can't really afford to do that sadly.

How did you go to interviews while still working?

In the first hour on the first day. Poor on boarding.
Rushed induction, lasting approx 40 minutes, with no opportunity to ask questions.
I was asked to organise my own shadowing timetable.
It quickly became apparent that the interviewer had been dishonest in terms of use of software, technology, practices, and workload.

I ignored a fair few red flags in the run-up to my start date.
If it doesn't feel right, then don't continue.

Worked for a husband and wife - proper dodgy but l needed job. She called in early one day to say he had beaten her up the night before and was in police custody - not been there very long and knew l couldn't work for someone like that. Nasty bastard who l believe is serving tine at his majesty's pleasure now.

Shortest time I spent in a job is when I went for lunch on day one and decided not to go back! 😂 It was decades ago and I had got it through a job agency when I use to work in London. The man I was working for was so rude and obnoxious I knew it was a waste of time. When I informed the job agency it turned out I wasn't alone as others had done the same. Luckily there was lots of temp work around so I did that until I found another place. Work takes so many of your waking hours, you need to be relatively happy somewhere in my opinion.

Absolutely! It has made me so stressed and affected my mental health, no job is worth that!