New job not for me

tinker45

Hi All,

I am sure I am not alone in this...

I started a new job just over a month ago now. I was happy and stable in my former role but it had run it's course and I was looking for a new challenge. This company found me via CV search and they made the initial contact. I did my research into the company and all seemed great.

I had 2 interviews (after which I was very impressed and quite sure that I was a right fit for the team and the role) and a good offer came along so I decided to accept.

Within my first few days, alarm bells were ringing. I ended the week feeling stressed and deflated and my wife knew something was wrong. I wanted to quit, but felt that only after a week would be silly. I put it down to new job jitters, but these jitters were unlike anything I'd experienced when starting other roles in the past and I had never ended the first week feeling in another role like i'd make a huge mistake.

Now, the direct team is great, I get on well with my colleages and the work is mostly interesting but I really, really don't like the environment. I work in IT as a Systems Admin, and this was stated as a standard 9-5 with the provision of needing to work the odd exrta hours, which is totally fine and what I am used to.

Within just a few days alarm bells started ringing. People bickering in the office, 'blame game' between teams. Then, despite the fact I had barely been shown round the systems, recieving unreasonable requests to complete tasks and then being somewhat lambasted when asking for help despite having had no induction into their processes.

That however is not the main issue...what they have now come along and said is that I am now on call basically whenever...this was NOT mentioned in my contract and I will recieve no additional pay or time in lieu for this. I have been contacted several times at weekends and some evenings end up working past 10pm (with approx 40 mins drive to do after) and I am really fed up already. What annoys me is that I specifically asked about the hours (I had it good in that regard in my old role) and they said it was 9-5 with the odd bit of out of hours.

There are other issues, but that is the big one.

I left my prior firm on very good terms and they did say that if it didn't work out I could come back.

I am out of probation (just..) and I have a 2 month notice period which they could well hold me to and I suspect they will do as it's a small team.

I guess my question is...how long do I put up with it? The enviroment won't change and nor will the on call etc (or at least, I can't see it changing). I haven't spoken with my manager yet, as I don't want to raise the alarm unless I'm very sure.

I'd like to leave, but don't want to make too rash a decision, so your advice is appreciated.

Also just to add some context, I have over 15 years experience in this industry and prior to this role the shortest time I have been at any one firm is just under 3 years so this is very much a first for me.

Thanks!

ERICS_MUM

Personally, and I appreciate that some won't agree, I would get out. Sounds like poor management - without knowing the size and ownership of the company it's impossible to say how widespread this is. Is it a local problem that needs to be addressed at a very senior level, or is it a company-wide deliberate strategy cascaded down from the board ?

If the former then I suppose it could be challenged and changed but it takes a strong person to kick it off and not something I could or would want to do. If the latter then clearly only the board could initiate the change.

Do you feel you could approach your old employer without your current one finding out until you tell them ?

Good lucky, it's a toughie.


That's why I would get out

Detroit

Putting aside the issue of the work pattern for a moment, because, possibly if this doesn't change after you've spoken to your manager, your decision will be made; I think it's helpful to separate the issues that are due to company ethos and culture, from those due to a natural need to adjust to a new environment.

Few of us find change to be without challenge, and, while you're very fortunate that you have the option to reverse your choice, I wonder if this isn't contributing to the difficulties.

Most people in your position have taken a one way street, and therefore have no choice but to put their old job behind them and make the new one work.
I wonder if the open door at your previous company is holding you back from this a little.

You chose to leave your old job for a reason. Are these reasons still valid?
Similarly, are the opportunities you perceived at the new company still present?

A good guide to the culture of a company is the morale of your colleagues.
Are people generally positive and enthusiastic?

A pressured environment is not necessarily a bad thing, but where this looks like it is making people stressed or unhappy, this is a warning signal.

Are people positive about the managers and colleagues? Does there seem to be a mutual respect?
Bickering is not necessarily a huge problem, being quite common between teams engaged on different aspects of the business. However if this seems malicious, or people seem to be becoming upset, this can indicate issues with the culture.

Talk to as many colleagues as possible.
Without sharing you own concerns, get them talking about their role and the company. You'll pick up a lot from a few open questions.

I think the fact that you're considering this and asking for advice rather than going straight back to your old job shows you see reasons to stay. Many people think they've made a mistake in the first months in a new role, but change their mind after a settling in period.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Leave. Why do a job you don't like? On call at weekends all the time and 10pm finishes as a norm is just a no for me, and you'd never have taken the job if you'd known about it.

Don't listen to people who tell you to stay, and stick it out. This would be good advice if you'd been unemployed for a long time, but you have good experience and are in a role where you'll more than likely get another job easily.

Tell them you're not prepared to work those hours and it wasn't what you signed up to, so if they need you to do that, here's your resignation letter. Then start looking for something else; and I say that because I have been in your position and done just that.

Whether you approach your old company is a separate decision; only you really know whether you'd be happy going back, and bear in mind that if you do go back you'll really have to stay at least a couple of years or be taking the !!!! a bit.

robatwork

OK if you need advice from internet strangers then I think you have already made your mind up. But try this.

Picture yourself back at your old job on Tuesday. Is it
a) Relief
b) Depressing

Pick a box

tinker45

Thanks for the views & advice folks. A valid point about asking people on the Internet but worry not, I'm not leaving the fate of my career to the hands of strangers

Detroit, you make some excellent points there. I left the old role on good terms and it was down to the fact it had run it's course and it was getting a little dull as I couldn't really progress any more and it was just a case of keeping things ticking over.

Plenty of new things to do in the new role.

Generally morale seems decent. I got that impression during the interview as I specifcally asked to be shown round the office when it seemed things were going well (if I am going to sit there every day it's a must!).

But yeah it comes down to the hours and on-call. It's sometimes good to write things down. Decided to tackle it with my mangaer and they understood, so we will see.

But, I'll give it a few more months - don't want any red-flags on my history by jumping out too soon.

robatwork - the answer is certainly A! But tere was a very valid point about only doing so if prepared to stay for a few more years otherwise it would be taking the you-know-what.

Thanks again everyone

Snakey

If you have always stayed in jobs for several years before now, I see no "red flag" in having made one wrong move.

Obviously you don't want to look as if you walked out before you'd got the full measure of the place ("I only lasted until lunchtime" won't wash unless you got there to find everybody being whipped for not working fast enough), but at senior levels such as yours you can make a positive out of the fact that you recognised that there were issues and identified the key ones, did what you could to change things (communicating, negotiating, being proactive), and then made the decision to cut your losses (coming up with a Plan B, departing on good terms). All of those things demonstrate high-level skills.

What you don't want to do is find yourself having to explain that you knew from the start that it would never work, tried to change things and got told no, and then... went back and sat at your desk for six or ten months being miserable and putting strain on your marriage because you were too scared to try to do anything about it in case it went wrong.

sangie595

I agree - one bad decision and welcomed back to your old job is nowhere near a red flag! If your old employer wants you back then don't delay because that offer may not be there in two months. Go back now. Then think about the future when you are back in a place got are happy with. It may be boring. It may lack challenge. You may still want more. But think about that later. Two more months in a job you are unhappy with isn't sensible.

vegasvisitor

I agree. You sound fairly sure already. I would suggest you find out if you would be able to go back for sure, sooner rather than later.

20aday

OP it sounds to me as if your mind is already made up but you left your previous job for a reason.

I started a new job earlier on in the year and my previous employer said the door would be left open for me if it didn't work out.

Like you I had my doubts in the first few weeks (hopefully it hasn't gotten to the point where you contemplate climbing onto the roof and throwing yourself over the edge like I did) and I really did wonder if I'd made the right decision.

It didn't help (in hindsight) knowing I could've gone back to where I'd spent 10 years of my life. But after talking to my colleagues and voicing my concerns I also spoke to friends and family.

They reminded me of what I'd been through in my old job and when I sat down and thought about it I realised I'd made the right choice by moving on.

paddyrg

Don't rely on the old employer, being welcome back may have been offered in the most honest of faiths, but now they've replaced you and may not actually have your role available. If you're going to move, move forwards.

Talk to whoever told you 9-5 with a diary of non-hours impositions. Say it wasn't what you signed up for, and give them a chance to sort it out. It may be that the job was misrepresented and HR weren't told, or it may be a case of salespeople thinking they're rockstars and that you're their slave. What's your ideal resolution? A call-out fee? Overtime? On call retainer? An assistant to do the out of hours? Know before you go into the meeting. Obviously you don't mind the of emergency, and agreed planned hours for weekend upgrades, maybe, but calls at 10pm would not get a friendly response from me, nor my own time not being my own to do and be as I chose.

As for getting yelled at for not knowing their business on day 1, clearly an idiot, don't take it personally. They have no idea how complex your job is