Hate newish job - coping strategies please

codemonkey

Hoping you guys can offer some good suggestions. I'll give some long and boring general background to the situation and then see if anyone has any ideas.

I started a new job a couple of months ago and, well, I hate it. I knew from the first week that it wasn't for me. At first, I put it down to being the new person, but despite trying so hard to like it, I've grown to hate it more and more to the point where I just don't want to go and have to fight the temptation to walk out at lunchtime and just not go back.

I'm in quite a specialised role. I was unsure about the job, but they offered more money, it is a shorter commute and was told it was a really great opportunity and that I'd get to use all this new technology. Between the interview and being offered the job, they restructured, and moved all the interesting work to another team. I've subtly looked into moving to the other team, but that's not an option. The great new systems I was promised turned out to be nonsense and it's actually further behind in technology than anywhere else I've worked. I spent the first couple of months asking for work and getting nothing.

My new team aren't the friendliest. Nobody chats if the managers are around and when they do, we have nothing in common. Due to personal circumstances my line manager hasn't been around much. I have spoken with her and expressed my concerns, and she says that interesting work will come, but so far, it hasn't. Anything I've been assigned has been sandbox stuff but it's just been thrown at me without explanation and I've been left to it, or told that I'd be talked through it, only for the person who is meant to be showing me, deciding to just do it without me.

The biggest part of the problem is me, I'm afraid. Because I spent the first couple of months with no work to do, and feeling unsupported, mentally, I've checked out and I don't want to make the effort. I don't feel engaged, I just feel bored and angry and I find it really hard to get motivated to do the work I'm assigned. I'm aware that's not helping matters. It's actually making me depressed and anxious.

Sadly, as much as I'd love to, I can't just leave with nothing to go to. I've applied for other jobs but with the Christmas period coming up, and the specialist nature of my job, there's not much out there at the moment.

I've been using some of my time to brush up on some of my other skills, doing online training to learn new skills and I try to get out of the office at lunchtime when I can.

I'm not sure how much longer I can tolerate this.

Kicks up the bum are welcome.

Masomnia

Apply for more jobs.

No other answer that I can see. Sorry. But I hope you find something new soon.

If you're feeling stressed and anxious the only answer really is to focus on the next step and keep going. But do see a doctor if you need to.

Keep going at work and try to stay positive no matter how hard it is. I imagine you're still in probation, and it will be far, far better to leave on your terms than them dismiss you.

amandacat

It sounds like they've promised you the world to get you to work for them but it wasn't necessarily true. I've been in that position myself once, started a job I'd been told would have very little travel to find upon starting that I was expected to travel to the other end of the country most weeks and stay overnight.

What I can't understand is why they're not giving you enough work, it seems pointless that they took you on. I think it doesn't help that your direct manager isn't about as they should be the one supporting you to settle in and feel valued. The fact they've been off with 'personal problems' is an indication that they may not feel happy in the company either.

Would there be any opportunity to return to your old company? If not then keep searching, post your cv on the job sites and you'll eventually find something else. I've had some jobs in my life where I've felt the same and wanted to walk out but couldn't afford to. But things do always work out in the end one way or the other. You won't feel like forever and either things will improve at work or you'll get a new opportunity!

cavework

Have you had any reviews since you started? This is the perfect opportunity for you to explain your concerns .Don't give up just yet x

fiisch

Wow. I am in exactly the same position - so much so, I had to double-check I hadn't written this in my sleep....


In terms of coping strategies, it is important to keep your days productive - if you have nothing meaningful to do for work, I turned to personal tasks - Blogging; Grocery Shopping; Job Hunting.


Keep badgering your manager for more inspiring tasks, but I think the situation you (we're) in means it's curtains for the role you're currently in - it'll never make you happy, and you're now in a demotivated mindset which will be nigh on impossible to shake, even if there was a complete overhaul in your office.


Sometimes jobs aren't a good fit and you need to accept it and move on, ASAP. It feels awful when you're stuck in a predicament at work, but afterwards you'll look back and wonder why it was such a big issue.


If your role is quite specialised, could you consider contract work perhaps? This is what happened to me - I inadvertently ended up contracting, having said previously I needed the security of a permanent role - it was only when an interview for a permanent job became a contract offer that I was forced to consider it, and given the potentially accelerated start dates, might give you an early way out before Christmas.