DISCUSSIONS

I have been in my most recent role for 7 months.

Anonymous Image

Anonymous

Welcome to Fairygodboss!

We’re the largest online career community helping women achieve their career goals. Gain access to articles, jobs, events, and a supportive network of women and allies. Membership is free, always.

I have been in my most recent role for 7 months. At interviewing stage I questioned whether I was too senior for the role but was advised by the recruiter they raised my concerns with the hiring manager and the hiring manager was looking for someone with my level of seniority. On my first day I learned my predecessor abandoned her role and as a result I had no handover and had to resolve the issues affected by the abrupt departure of my predecessor and no one completed the work between the departure and my commencement. Over the course of the last 7 months my confidence has been affected due to ongoing conflict amongst the team, disrespectful staff and juniors lying about having approvals resulting in internal investigations after I raised concerns after observing a situation involving a travel booking at the company expense. These investigations then led to conversations to HR from the juniors there was no clarity about my role. I have been tasked by HR to write a scope of my role which will be circulated amongst the team. I feel the environment is toxic and would prefer to start looking for another job. Am I being too hasty in my decision considering I have been in my role for 7 months.

Why women love us:

  • Daily articles on career topics
  • Jobs at companies dedicated to hiring more women
  • Advice and support from an authentic community
  • Events that help you level up in your career
  • Free membership, always

Like

21 comments

Share

Share your insight

Join an authentic community that helps women support each other at work. Share your professional experience or ask for advice — you can even post anonymously.

21 Comments

Join the conversation
  1. Anonymous

    Save yourself. I've been in tech for 30+ years. I took a job in 2012 where I experienced something like what you are going through now, I was hired as the experienced person on the team to guide and implement best practices on a new team. It just never happened and I didn't have the needed public support from leadership. I stayed for 12 years trying to improve the team and my situation. It was frustrating. Progress was made, but it was so painful every step of the way. I was finally laid off this year and I found an amazing job at Sun Life Financials. I was hired because they wanted a new team member that was authentic and experienced. I feel respected and supported now. While I really wanted to make things right at the "old" job - I'm so much happier at the "new" job. It's comfortable working every day - no emotional stress from wondering and worrying about what's going to happen today. Save your peace. Keep looking for a new role where you will be valued for your experience and going to work every day isn't a new emotional battle.

  2. Tani Z

    I’m astonished the juniors are questioning your role. By questioning your role they are questioning the hiring manager as well. Not knowing all the details I feel you have pushed on regardless of your onset reservation’s. I’m concerned for your mental health at this point if you decided to stay on so I would suggest you start looking for another role. Unless HR discipline the juniors for lying unfortunately the behaviour will continue. Good luck please do look after yourself

  3. Anonymous

    I knew a role was toxic 5 months in. Trust me, it never got better. 10 months of regular 60-80 hour weeks later I was fired, while my team and seniors tell me I was one of the most effective people in that team they ever met. If the environment is not a good fit, it’s not likely to change on its own.

  4. Anonymous

    no, definitely not. If you think you cannot thrive and help to turn things around it is time to cut your losses.

  5. Anonymous

    I wouldn't move out of state but would quietly look for another job in city where you are now. You have a right to be happy and comfortable at work. If they exit you, they should provide severance, unless it is clear that it is performance. Hard choices indeed!

  6. Clydene Horrigan

    The manager should have provided the scope of your role before you started. Since that didn’t happen and you’re now seven months in, it should be a joint effort. Even if you decide to leave, at least the next person will have a defined role.

    The question is, will that do what you need to right the ship? I doubt it as the team is disgruntled and it sounds like they are deflecting blame for poor behavior and are getting away with it. Unless something is done to address that, the behavior will continue.

  7. Anonymous

    Learning the previous person abandoned the role is a huge flag there are internal problems that need to be addressed.

  8. Anonymous

    I’m trying to piece together your narrative. Your post leads with your seniority and how this role might be too junior. But when the team needed leadership and conflict resolution, your confidence waivered.

    You have quite an opportunity in front of you to script this role and right this ship. If you want to stay at this job, then get aggressive and draft something that meets your professional needs and advances your career. Make it a more senior role in terms of responsibilities (something you sought during the interview stage). I’d also ask if you’ll have the authority to clean house on some of your team members if they’re no longer a fit for the team.

    If you’re not committed to the process, then move on.

  9. Anonymous

    I could have written this post as I'm facing similar issues. My predecessor made a hasty departure and didn't leave any handover notes. I've been trying to piece together the puzzle of what my role entails without any support. I recognize my level but for any job, you need to know expectations.

    There was so much work left unfinished or without any procedures that I'm playing catch up as well as trying to put plans in place.

    Now that I'm making progress, it's not good enough for the powers that be and it's becoming more toxic. I feel that I need to leave as I in a no-win situation but I'm stuck right now without another job option. I'm looking but I'm so mentally drained at the end of the night that even if I score an interview, it's so hard to emotional be ready for or due my schedule find time to get away. I'm already working through my lunch hours and into the night. You're not alone but if you can get out, please go to where they appreciate you. Wishing you all the best!

  10. Anonymous

    The Junior staff are questioning your role because it was not defined as senior role above them and if you are acting as a lead this is probably frustrating and confusing for them. I don’t know if you are supposed to be a manager/ lead but it’s really dysfunctional the way they would bring you on without making this clear to everyone involved. You should not have to create a document stating your role for junior staff or leadership. Very messy from the start. I would start looking for something else and get out fast.

  11. Anonymous

    Your management has not set you up for success in this role. It might not be malicious, but it definitely had a negative impact on your onboarding/first impressions with your new team.

    As far as your leadership goes, it sounds like you were told that you’d be an unofficial team lead, and that this was not communicated to the junior/existing team members. And that’s a HUGE red flag. It’s extremely difficult to be successful when you’ve been given the responsibility of a role but not the authority to act in that role. There may also be junior team members who’d been eying that role themselves, when you were brought in from the outside.

    I don’t think that 7 months is too hasty to start looking again, given the obstacles that you’re facing in this role.

  12. Anonymous

    No you are not. This is a toxic work environment and they are just trying to push out out for whatsoever reasons. Start looking for a new job

  13. Cindy Glover

    Did I just write this?

  14. Anonymous

    Thank you all for your support and suggestions. I was hoping to stay on until 12 months but I don’t feel like I can. I have updated my cv and started applying for jobs.

  15. Tom Reuland

    Tough spot you are in. My question would be how long do you want to have to put up with it? And can you find anything better?

  16. Dr. Fee

    You are 100% correct to leave…In today’s workplace being overqualified or over educated (my issue) is becoming an ongoing struggle. Toxic is working conditions are what they are, it is good that you have identified it early. Time to pick another sandbox✨

    Best of Luck!

  17. Mhairi Dunn

    Life's too short - just move on.

  18. Sir John McPoopington XVII Jr

    If you’ve come from a senior role I’d imagine your instincts are pretty good to get where you are, so if they’re telling you to get out I think get out - you spend too long in a toxic workplace and it’ll start eating away at your competence as well as your mental health

  19. Anonymous

    No way! I would get out of there too. It's a red flag when they make you write your own job description!

  20. Anonymous

    Simple : get out! It is not your job to fix the toxic environment enabled by this organization.

  21. Regina Brown

    I would go ahead and write them a scope of your job. Make sure that you include the fact that you were placed in the job position with no previous direction from any member of the company including HR. DO NOT let this shake your confidence. You take back your power!

    Remember HR asked you for your scope of work, which they should ALREADY have, if they are a good HR department.

    Let them circulate amongst your team, you are doing something that HR and the entire organization has FAILED to do.

Browse recent posts

Ready to land your next sales or marketing role? 🚀💜
Hiii everyone!
I'm. Current looking for remote jobs
The Great American Job Hunt is on. Despite advanced hiring technology, thousands of qualified candidate's report being rejected before a human interview.
I am looking for remote opportunities so that i can stay at home with my grandkids.
Empowering Business Women: Inspiring Women Leaders Making a Global Impact
See more
Fairygodboss VIP
Achieve your career goals.
Be part of the largest online career community for women to find jobs, advice, and support — for free.
Fairygodboss members