I have been employed with a company for less than one year.

I have been employed with a company for less than one year. The work is enjoyable, however the work has become too much having to be completed in a short window of time. Yes, deadlines are set, and for many employees to meet deadlines, they are working during their time off. This is not how I envisioned working: with no pay. There is very little space to voice concerns and address issues accross the board to do things better. When inquiring about how things work, other managers noted my observations are spot on and it’s just the way it is. While I admit, there are something’s that I could do better, the job is not rewarding. I’m feeling as if I’m not a good fit anymore. If I apply for another position in the company, I feel as if the experience in that position would impact my ability to move to another position. In most cases they want to know why you are leaving. How do I market myself in the company?

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6 Comments

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  1. Lisa Marie

    If you are seeking to transfer in the same or even different location, be sure to do your research to see if the goings on is operating the same way how things are going in your current department.

    If yes, why transfer?

    Sounds like you need to start looking externally for other opportunities that you may find fulfilling, since you are not feeling fulfilled from the work you're currently doing.

    If you do leave, and in a new role you begin to feel the job is again not rewarding within a short period of time (and especially if this had happened prior to your current job), then you'll need to start *looking within* to find out what's going on within yourself.

  2. Holly Nunnally

    Are you a salaried employee?

    What would happen if you didn't work off the clock and the work wasn't completed?

    Is this temporary (even long-term) due to being understaffed?

    If you don't know he answer to the second and third questions you should inquire about it.

  3. Anonymous

    Reality is that when you are getting established in a professional career, you will work many hours for free in order to keep up with others who are doing the same thing. If you do not envision yourself working for free, look for work where you only work when you are on the clock. Factory work, waiting tables, construction trades, cleaning services, and temp clerical positions are a few examples of where you will clock in, do your job, and clock out with nothing to work on during off hours.

    But if you are in an office environment and competing with others who are aspiring for promotions and higher paying managerial positions then the game is to meet and beat those deadlines even if it means working for free. When I started at a Fortune 500 company I was in a position that paid overtime. But I was told privately that they expected two hours a day of "comp time". That meant I did not clock in for overtime until I had worked ten hours that day. Eight paid hours and two free hours.

    I got ahead by taking work home and doing it for free and by taking a lot of training on my own time and at my own expense.

  4. Jessica Hill-Knudson

    I don't know what industry you're in, so it might be a trend for that industry. But not every industry/career/employer is like that. You don't have to stay at that particular company if you don't like it.

  5. Anonymous

    This sounds very similar to how I'm feeling in my current role. I switched companies 10 months ago and it does not feel like a good fit anymore. I'm starting to network with old colleagues and friends who are at companies or in roles of interest to me.

    While it can depend on the industry, I know there are teams out there who respect a work/life balance and do not expect employees to work overtime for free. My last company used to give awards/kudos to employees who worked hard to see a project through. It was a nice way to show appreciation. My current company barely expresses gratitude for overtime.

    I suggest talking it through with a friend or mentor! Usually when I can be blunt with someone and express my complaints/dissatisfaction out loud, they can help me reframe it to something positive. I would focus less on explaining why the role did not work, and more on explaining what you are looking for in your next role and why.

  6. Farah Bajwa

    Always trust your gut! If you feel you're no longer fitting in, move to something new. Depending on what new position you are targeting, the easiest is to say you want to try your hand at something new to broaden your skillsets, or if you already have the skillset, pitch how it will benefit the open position.

    Keep in mind you don't have to explain why you want to leave the current role, you can always rephrase their question into why you want in on the new role. Good luck!

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