It’s day 4 at my job and I hate it.

Anonymous

November 2,2023 at 1:02AM UTC

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It’s day 4 at my job and I hate it. My role is the exact same as my old job except at my old job, I was considered a senior (I have 9 years of experience) and able to take the lead on a lot of projects whereas at my new job, I’m under a manager who has much less experience than me and has a brash personality I don’t see myself meshing with.

It’d be a good job for taking it easy and coasting but I want to grow in my career and this place doesn’t seem to be it.

I was very close to quitting on the second day but my friend said that it’s easier to get hired while you already have a job.

I’m wondering if it’d be better to stay in this job while feeling like death or if it’d be better to just cut my losses early. I’m currently on unemployment as I got laid off from my last job, due to the company going under. And I guess I should be grateful to have gotten a new job but I feel so unchallenged and overqualified here.

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Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistNovember 2,2023 at 5:30AM UTC
How are you on unemployment and working a new job at the same time?
Julie HagerNovember 4,2023 at 12:27PM UTC
Yes.....they'll make you repay it for withholding information
AnonymousNovember 2,2023 at 7:07AM UTC
To clarify, I’m currently working in Asia and in the country I’m in, I was on unemployment until last week.
AnonymousNovember 2,2023 at 8:39AM UTC
I once realized a new job was a bad fit and started sending out resumes on day 3;resigned at the end of week 6 for a role I'd applied for previously and was really excited about.
No regrets. It was soul-sucking but I think sticking it out and job searching after hours was right for my situation.
AnonymousNovember 2,2023 at 8:57AM UTC
Thank you for sharing! Hearing how you went about it makes me feel motivated to do the same
Julia LewisNovember 2,2023 at 2:12PM UTC
I totally get working for someone that you don't mesh with. I have had a few in my career. It was always better for me to stick it out until I found what I wanted. That may take a little time. So, if you are serious about growing in your career, use this job as a steppingstone to do just that.
Changing your perspective about the job, might make it easier to stay while you are looking for a job that is a better fit. You hit the nail on the head about being grateful. Here's a few strategies to consider if you do decide to stay.
1. Look at the job as a learning experience. Go in everyday with the thought that you are going to learn something new and look for that learning each day.
2. Don't let your boss' energy control yours. We can't control the external environment, but we can take control of how we respond internally. Know that you have the power to respond, rather than react. If there are situations where you feel yourself getting frustrated or angry, notice it in you, stop, take a few deep breaths and look for the learning.
3, Find at least 3 things everyday related to your job that you are grateful for. True gratitude can elevate your energy very quickly. I hope that helps you. It may not be easy at first, it will get easier if you practice it every day Good Luck!
MislynNovember 3,2023 at 12:39PM UTC
You already hate it at day four. I believe you
should give it a little more time but if there are already red flags and you see them maybe start looking for something else.
AnonymousNovember 3,2023 at 12:54PM UTC
Be in the job, earn the money and start interviewing for other jobs. If you hate it on day 2 that means you are always going to hate it. You should trust your gut on this. I made this mistake and ticked to the job but my situation didn't get better and even after escalating to senior leaders nothing changed.
AnonymousNovember 3,2023 at 12:56PM UTC
It’s good to hear your gratitude for being hired. I understand how frustrating it can be having less experienced managers over you.
Manifest a positive relationship with them in the meantime. Keep a learning mindset and perhaps other doors may open at that company too.
AnonymousNovember 4,2023 at 12:41PM UTC
I have to agree. There is a reason you were attracted to this position with all your “experience.”
Maybe the lesson is to drop your ego and discover what you can learn from a less experienced manager. The brashness you feel could be your managers way of setting the tone. It could be they hate their job and are planning to leave. Who knows?
Another option is to discover your worth and not settle for an “easy” position. Either way the choice is yours.
AnonymousNovember 7,2023 at 3:00PM UTC
You stated “experience” is very disrespectful to the OP.
Less experienced managers often don’t make the best decisions and have a lot to learn hence low experience.
AnonymousNovember 3,2023 at 1:21PM UTC
I understand not being challenged; however, if you quit, you would not be eligible for unemployment. Good luck to you. And remember, sometimes we have to take bumpy roads to get to the beach!
uberkuhlgirlNovember 3,2023 at 1:43PM UTC
Find a new job. You are not far enough into this one to have it make a difference in your job search, and in fact it may hurt you because you have been in it for so little time. Don't try to make it work for you, you will regret it long term. At this point, you don't owe them anything and they don't owe you.
GirlBossanova934974November 3,2023 at 2:06PM UTC
After several decades in the workforce, I learned a long time ago that bosses come and bosses go! Please do NOT hitch your wagon to your boss as your way up the ranks or some guiding light for your career. You now have a foot in the door at a NEW COMPANY! You are free to look around that company, make NEW contacts, pick up new projects on your own, transfer to another group etc etc. Consider this. What would you do if the boss you hired in with, whom you had great rapport with, suddenly left for another company??? OR some complete dummy took over your group and all your good friends all started leaving? You have to be flexible these days and be prepared to make your own luck! Departing after a week or two is WAY TOO SOON! Start chatting people up and see what is out there in your new company.
AnonymousNovember 3,2023 at 2:20PM UTC
You won’t qualify for unemployment if you leave. I would honestly not put this job on any applications if you stay while applying. Just leave it as a blank space or if you leave don’t include it. It will raise more questions
AnonymousNovember 3,2023 at 3:27PM UTC
You should look, but also consider why you took this position considering that it is less than ideal. You should make sure you avoid a similar situation by not accepting a new role just to get out.
AnonymousNovember 3,2023 at 5:15PM UTC
Well if you quit you cannot go back to unemployment so best until you find another role if the money makes a difference to stick it out. Next time find a role where you up front ask about management style and expectations so that you are not so unhappy after such a short period of time. For now sit the manager down who clearly you are concerned about having issues with and let them know your capabilities and how you best take feedback and guidance. Some folks take the management track and others the senior IC. You being the latter have to learn sometimes to work with those who have less tenure than you but are hired to manage. That is hard but rise above and be the strong player you know you are.
AnonymousNovember 3,2023 at 6:08PM UTC
I’m sure the OP asked that question in the interview. It seems their manager didn’t trust in their ability & experience & even less management skills. It can easily turn into insecurity of employment from the manager & the OP can become targeted, because the manager may think the OP could steal their job. Some employers will use bait & switch tactics, which seems evident in this situation. The OP has a lot of risk & needs to be careful about bringing their concern to the manager. I say the OP deserves to be part of a team that trusts in their talent.
AnonymousNovember 3,2023 at 10:06PM UTC
ALL, please remember to have the lens to also interview your prospective leaders when they're interviewing you. The amount of drama and tension right off the bat is AMAZING! Why are we not doing this naturally? You can say, oh they didn't seem like this in the interview, you're probably right, but BUT that's why you to go to the interview prepared to interview them. THERE WILL be red flags, even if subtle. So many I'm overqualified for my job, my manager knows less, I have more experience. Own this and start feeling empowered to make better informed decisions. IMO, not looking for debate. YES, I know people are on their best during interviews and can be wolves in sheep's clothing, we need to go to interviews with our own questions.
AnonymousNovember 4,2023 at 12:36PM UTC
Maybe you're not as qualified as you think you are. 4 days isn't enough time to throw in the towel. You haven't even been there long enough to know if you mesh with anyone let alone know someone else's qualifications. How can you be working and still on unemployment?
catherine reccardiNovember 4,2023 at 1:08PM UTC
Regardless of your seniority at your previous firm, you're presently in a probationary period. Your attitude and aptitude is observed and tested at this time. Further, it is possible you were hired to replace the weak manager, or lead another team, or....Give it time and give it your all.
Simmons eNovember 4,2023 at 1:20PM UTC
If you can afford to quit this role without a replacement then do so if you are that unhappy. If not consider you options and move on when you have something new lined up.
AnonymousNovember 4,2023 at 3:05PM UTC
You're new. They don't know you well enough to give you projects to oversee or to even promote you. Leave and they'll definitely never be able to know you. You've also only known the manager for 4 days. You're as new to them as they are to you. Maybe they're overcompensating for the fact that they have a new employee that has all of those years of experience. Have you had a 1:1 with your manager to set/receive expectations? Also, why does someone's experience vs. your experience matter? Try shifting your mindset of 'I have 9 years of experience!' to 'I'm new here. I need to learn the ropes of this specific organization, so I now only have 4 days of experience'.
Liz MilneNovember 5,2023 at 3:09AM UTC
100% this!
AnonymousNovember 4,2023 at 3:26PM UTC
It sounds like what you will learn and grow here has more to do with difficult personalities than just "work". Stick it out for 3 months (while continuing to look for other employment) before you just quit all together.
JulieNovember 4,2023 at 11:33PM UTC
Keep working while you actively look for a job. Now is not the time to quit without another job in place (I know so many who have been unemployed for a year or more).
Chere EstrinNovember 5,2023 at 12:06AM UTC
You are between a rock and a hard place. You can continue to look while you are on the job but as far as it making you more marketable, if you have only been there 4 days - a month, it's not even worth putting on your resume. That type of short term employment is suspicious to some employers. What I would do is have two resumes - one with the job and one without. See what pulls best. In the meantime, it may be awhile before you get another job and you may regret going without the income if you quit.
AnonymousNovember 5,2023 at 12:33AM UTC
Cut your losses now. Mental health should be priority now
Liz MilneNovember 5,2023 at 3:08AM UTC
Day 4 and you're already claiming to know more than your new boss? Yikes.
You're no longer at your old job; your nine years of experience is useful, but nothing more than that. It sounds like you've put yourself into a power battle with your new boss.
For at least the first month, you should be observing and learning the new company's ways of doing things - only after that will you have the data to decide if she's a poor manager or if you're a poor employee...
AnonymousNovember 5,2023 at 10:44AM UTC
You’re experiencing “change” for sure and sometimes, it’s easy to instantly compare and say you don’t like something because it’s different. Give it time, At a minimum stay for 6 months to truly assess. from my experience, often as a manager with new hires, the first week is often just getting people up to speed. No, I would not give someone in week 1, a new big project. Most people in week one are learning processes , learning about current projects, meeting others on the team, learning about/meeting people from the different departments, they may interact with, etc.
Unless there is an extreme or dire situation, no, never quit a job until you have another.
AnonymousNovember 5,2023 at 1:51PM UTC
I understand. I found myself in a toxic job one year ago. I tried to give it time, but it never got better. My manager was definition of toxic and I got sick after just 4 months. I am in a better job now. I have not read all responses, but I recommend from my own experience, keep going, but keep your eye out for something better. We never know if a job is good or bad until we actually start working in the job.
LORI-ANN BURLINGAMENovember 5,2023 at 6:18PM UTC
When you accepted your nw job, what were your expectations? You could be an asset to the manager; however, you would need to change your attitude. Because you have more years of experience, did you think that you would take the manager's job?
That's arrogate and shows that you have an exaggerated sense of self-importance. So, you may have more years of experience than your new manager, but that doesn't mean that you have their knowledge.
AnonymousNovember 7,2023 at 2:56PM UTC
They knew the OP deserved a higher role, let’s be honest here. It’s the classic bait & switch.
The question is, how will this new company perceive the OP worth promoting when they’re already overqualified? They didn’t see their value.
The Williams WeddingNovember 6,2023 at 10:56AM UTC
I would just coast in this new role while looking for a more senior position. I wouldn't quit after 1 week esp. since it seems like you need to have income coming in. In the meantime, get to know your new manager better was having weekly "relationship building" meetings. You may enjoy working for this person and not having a ton of stress (which adversely affects health).
JSanNovember 6,2023 at 2:03PM UTC
The answer is obvious to me. Stay in the job while actively looking for a new one. Sometimes we aren't or the new job isn't a good fit. Not the end of the world though. You are employed with income coming in and you found this job...go get another one!
AnonymousNovember 6,2023 at 4:13PM UTC
Depends if you need the income or not.
If you need the income, stay, coast, and job hunt.
If you don’t need the income, leave and job hunt. The new boss isn’t likely to improve on additional acquaintance. And you’re unlikely to shine in the role under the circumstances you describe.
When asked why you left your prior company, you can cite your desire for career growth and your wish to devote your time to a thorough job search.
Crystal HarrisNovember 6,2023 at 8:30PM UTC
I'm in the same boat and feel stuck. It's only been the second week for me.
AnonymousNovember 8,2023 at 11:07AM UTC
Hang in there... you have to preserve and build trust and rapport with your coworkers and management, they will learn what you have to offer and build trust in you to let you fly. If someone has a pet project, they may not be willing to let you fly with it yet as they don't know your capabilities, etc. They may also be sensing your frustration and assume that you don't want to be there, you aren't a team player or you won't be there long enough to finish a project. It's your job to instill confidence in them that you are there to be a team player. On thy flip side. If they never give you the same opportunity as your previous employer, there are still things that you can learn and ways that you can make a difference in the company. Utilize every opportunity to learn and grow professionally and your circumstances could change.
AnonymousNovember 7,2023 at 3:06PM UTC
Less experienced or low experience?
If they are making less than the best decisions & have caveman processes/procedures that they set, then that’s low-experience. Or even in a completely different industry 2-3 years ago, then definitely low-experienced & probably should’nt be in a leadership role.
less experienced could be based on skill for certain system/software but are great in another.
im guessing they have low-experience but with very manual processing and procedures.
AnonymousNovember 8,2023 at 11:04AM UTC
If you preserve and build trust and rapport with your coworkers and management, they will learn what you have to offer and build trust in you to let you fly. If someone has a pet project, they may not be willing to let you fly with it yet as they don't know your capabilities, etc. They may also be sensing your frustration and assume that you don't want to be there, you aren't a team player or you won't be there long enough to finish a project. It's your job to instill confidence in them that you are there to be a team player. On thy flip side. If they never give you the same opportunity as your previous employer, there are still things that you can learn and ways that you can make a difference in the company. Utilize every opportunity to learn and grow professionally and your circumstances could change.
I had to make a move from a mid management position to one company to another company in a non management position at one point. Even though the management saw me as threat and made my life miserable, I would ask questions, give insight and suggestions, and found a way to impact change and unofficially mentor my coworkers. You are there for a reason and it might not always be the reason you think.