Resigning tactfully from new job after less than a month and giving reason.

[ComtesseDeSpair]

I started a new job recently and was already considering resigning from very early on (having joined and seen things on the ground, I don’t think the culture or the role is quite right for me); but have recently received an offer and contract from another job I interviewed for when hunting.

I’m wavering between being honest and telling the current job I’m resigning for another offer; or making up an excuse about personal circumstances which mean I’m not going to be able to commit and think it’s best I resign.

Maybe it’s just my awkwardness fighting inside me, as resigning so early on is going to be terribly awkward however. Everybody is nice enough, and whilst I won’t be using this job as a reference, I also don’t want the bad feeling of them thinking I wasn’t even committed when I joined (I was, until I realised it’s not for me); and I don’t want to explain why I think it’s not for me and essentially criticise a workplace based on my subjectivity. And “personal circumstances” seems a bit more understandable, somehow. I’m relatively senior, and it’s financial services if that makes a difference.

Resign
We owe nothing to any employer.

It happens all the time. Just say a better offer has come up and you apologise for the inconvenience

Just be honest , why do people always advocate lying ?

Hardly flighty. Your new job isn't right for you and you're lucky to have another opportunity to go to. It's a v tough job market right now. You're better off at the other company if you think it's a better fit and culture. We're all allowed to make an error of judgment and at least you know now rather than months down the line. Probation works both ways so don't feel bad

You don't need to lie or come up with an excuse, just give no more information than necessary.
Resigning due to a change in personal circumstances is truthful.
You don't need to expand on it to state the change in personal circumstances is that you have now received a better job offer.

This is all you need to say. Resign soon as possible. I can promise there are many others like you and also lots of firms who have to do lays including to new recruits.

It’s just a job - employers don’t think twice about reducing head count. Neither should you if the role isn’t right for you.

Men wouldn’t even give this a second thought.

I'd love to have a new job - how on earth did you manage to get two job offers?!? lol

Be honest, I would. Good luck at the new place!

I'll be honest, I don't think it actually really matters what you say - you want to leave, this sounds like the right decision, these things are undesirable for employers but are hardly uncommon. The inconvenience is the same to them either way in real terms.

Speaking for myself I would probably prefer to tactfully explain that I am sorry for any inconvenience caused but having put boots on the ground, feel sure I am not the right fit for the role and that this wasn't something I foresaw during the interview process but nonetheless is the case. Thank them for the opportunity and move on quickly to discussing leaving dates/concluding any work still pending if relevant.

Just tell the truth, it's fine. I remember one of my bosses leaving after six weeks because he'd received a better offer.

And last year someone was meant to start with us on the Monday and changed her mind on the preceding Thursday as she'd had a better offer!

Employers will do exactly what is right for them. All that matters is that you are polite and professional and don't burn bridges as a pp said.

Good luck in the dream job!

I really like the "I don't think I'm the right fit for the role at this time" approach, then a brief explanation of what you mean "I think my skills are better suited to (something the job doesn't offer)"
It's always a good idea to leave a job on the best possible terms as you never know who you might encounter at some future point. Show appreciation for the opportunity, be positive where you can, and try to frame it as an unfortunate mismatch between an otherwise great job and a great person, rather than one or other of you being at fault.

Be honest. You're leaving for another job and it's one you applied for before you said yes to this one. Your current workplace should also hear what you think about the culture. If it had been an amazing place to be, they'd have been more likely to keep you. I've told jobs I'm leaving because I need more flexibility that they'd rejected, that I needed a larger salary that they had no capacity to provide, etc. It's so much more helpful as an employer to know the reasons for losing talent and having low staff retention. Recruiting is expensive so they need to know what they need to change or improve or be more honest about in the future. You can do this in a professional and constructive way in your letter of resignation or if you have an exit interview. You have the security of another job.

This. You are not there long enough to give feedback so your instincts to keep it light and breezy are spot on.

I resigned from a job after a fortnight. I’d gone there directly after being made redundant from one of their competitors, which was a job I really enjoyed and envisioned the environment would be much the same.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t. The person who was my line manager was on long term sick with a serious illness, and so two very junior team members had been tasked with teaching me the role but it became apparent very quickly that they simply did not have the capacity to do this amongst their own duties. After a fortnight I felt as though I hadn’t learnt anything and it was just a weird vibe, a big open plan office that was so quiet you could hear a pin drop which was a far cry from what I was used to. I basically just had a gut feeling it wasn’t for me and decided whilst I had some redundancy money to tide me over, it’d be far easier to leave and be available for interviews elsewhere, and I could also just leave it off my cv as the gap would be able to be reasonably explained away by post redundancy job hunting.

I didn’t give a reason, I just sent a generic resignation where I offered to work the weeks notice required in the probation period but also expressed that I’d be happy to leave at the end of the day and not return the following week (it was a Friday). A friendly person from HR did give me a call to ask if there was a reason, and I was upfront and just said I didn’t think the role was the right fit and the environment was different and she agreed I could just not return after the weekend.

3 days later I got a call from a headhunter saying they’d found my cv on a job board and would I be interested in interviewing with them. 2 days after that I had another job that from day one I knew was a better fit. Don’t regret it at all.

don’t say you aren’t the right person for them, it’s opening up a negotiation you don’t want. It’s not the right fit so I’m handing my notice in, it doesn’t matter how many nice words you use the outcome for them is the same, just cut to the chase, the extra words are for you not them. Don’t be rude obviously - so don’t say it’s a bloody shit show! Less words it sounds like you think you are in the wrong if you over explain.

This happens a lot.
The key point is that you weren't interviewing once you got there. You were committed to them. The other offer came from when you were interviewing prior to taking the role (which is fair enough). I would make that point.

I left a job after 20 years without giving a reason in my letter of resignation. You are not obliged to say why you resigned. Just give the date and work your notice.

Thanks again all. This is all really appreciated, and has helped me put it in context and narrative. Yes, I will feel awkward but it’s completely true - it’s better for them that this is just a recruitment blip and not anything more extended, as much as it is for me.

I think part of how I’m feeling is connected to this being the culmination of a very sudden exit from my previous company in early March due to global restructure followed by a month of non-stop talking to recruiters and interviewing; and it’s fair to say I probably panicked a little and agreed to interview with a number of companies I might not have chosen to if not under pressure. This offer seemed the best of several I had at the time, but in hindsight I should have given myself a bit of grace and some more time to think about what I really wanted.

I like the suggestions of emphasising that there’s no real fault, just mismatch, and I feel my skills are a better fit elsewhere with something not offered here. I’ll probably also offer to waive my notice period if they would prefer to terminate with immediate effect - I’m not currently adding value as am mainly just shadowing and relationship-building across the global business, so there doesn’t seem much point to either side in me hanging around.

If you cite personal circumstances they might think you need to work part time, or are not well and try to accommodate you. Best just to be honest, not the right fit, am taking something more suitable.

This basically, with a dusting of LInkedIn-style waffle, but brief. Enjoy your new job, OP!

If someone at an industry event sidled up to you and said, "Look at that woman over there. We offered her a job and two weeks after starting she left for another company." Would that really make you think badly of her?

I would just be honest and say you don't think the place is the right fit for you and you have another offer which may suit you better. Are you sure that the other job really is better? @ComtesseDeSpair

Well, if it's not right for you it's probably not right for them either. In your communication just say that due to a change in circumstances you are tendering your resignation, thank them for the opportunity, and wish them the best. That's all that's needed. You can verbally tell them that a job that's actually a better fit has come along if they probe. And TBH the person who came second in the interview process to you is going to be delighted that now they'll get the chance :)

Be honest. Some things don't always work out.

I also think panic-joining somewhere was perfectly understandable in the circumstances. Plenty of people can't afford to be between jobs.

Also if you've only been there a short time you might only have to give a week's notice or something.