Quitting a job after two months, Still in orientation.

Quitting a job after two months, Still in orientation. Any input appreciated

Hello, I’m 38 y/o in nursing management. I am planning to quit my new job for about 5 major reasons, none of which I can spin to sound any better to a future employer and I don’t know how to go about this (for example, the company is very disorganized). I only just started using my voice in life and this is a situation I haven’t had to deal with so far. Now that it is here I’m just not sure how to handle it. Should I leave and then omit this job from my resume? How do I word my letter? Do I even need a letter? Should I try to talk to my manager first even though there’s really not much that can keep me there at this point? I got hired there through a recruiter and I told her how I feel, but she is not very experienced and wants to find me another job before I leave this one. I don’t want to wait for that because I also have a per diem job that prevents me from looking like I have a true resume gap as well as some savings to tide me over. Any words of advice for how to navigate this would be helpful.

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9 Comments

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  1. Gaby Cadena

    Hello there, this sounds like a stressful situation. In my experience, it is always good to consider all of your options before leaving a job. I'm a visual person so I usually write them down or discuss the situation with a mentor. A lot of times after making up our mind about leaving a job a sense of impatience kicks in but it's good to think ahead and make informed decisions. At the end of the day, you're the only one that can make this decision, however, make sure you think of all things possible to set yourself up for success in future endeavors. This could be a great opportunity for professional growth and begin practicing voicing your needs in the workplace. It can be daunting but once you begin communicating your needs, expectations, and goals with the right people you'd be surprised how much good can come from difficult situations in the workplace.

    I hope this helps and remember to trust your gut!

  2. Sharon Grehan

    You say the company is very disorganized - is this something that you can turn into an opportunity to show significant impact? It's difficult to know without any other reasons but if this is the main one, I'd give it at least 6 months before deciding to leave.

  3. Anonymous

    I would talk to your manager first. You have nothing to lose. Voice your concerns about the company and see their reaction. How they react will be a big tell as to whether or not what you are experiencing is the norm for the company, or unique to orientation. If it seems to be the norm and you aren't worried about money, quit and work more days at the per diem job or get a temp job somewhere. If it's not the norm, then you have to decide if it's worth it to wait it out or if you want to quit.

    I'd look at the employee handbook/contract and see if and how you have to provide notice. Most require it in writing, but it could be different if you are still in orientation. If a notice is required, just include the date and state that you are resigning and your last day is xx date as per the requirements of the employee handbook. You don't owe them a reason and don't need to state one in your letter. If you are in an at will state/area, be prepared for them to fire you on the spot.

    Whether or not you include it on your resume is your call. If there isn't any skills that you've been able to do that would be beneficial for a future job, I think you should be able to leave it off.

    Hope this helps a bit. Good luck!

  4. Anonymous

    Definitely trust your self.
    I find staying too long in places that are below your expertise and standards (or anyone's standards as the case may be :) ) is a bad career move. It's perfectly fine to handle it in future interviews as it "wasn't a good fit."

  5. Anonymous

    In my opinion leave if you can (with proper notice). An employer would much rather have a person who wants to be there. As for moving forward, if you are asked about the job you can simply say "It wasn't a good fit for me and I didn't want to waste any more of their time so that they could find a better fit for the job." Good luck to you and keep using your voice!

  6. Anonymous

    My advice is to trust yourself and not be concerned with what others may think. I'm sure you have good reasons for quitting; you're good at what you do (when you're in the right environment) and you're a responsible person. Things work out in the end when you follow your instincts and don't stay in a place for the wrong reasons.

    I also don't believe you should include that experience on your resume. Whatever you decide, in my experience, this is just another factor interviewers consider when hiring you. If they like you and believe you can do the job, they will gladly hire you even if you have a gap.

  7. Juanita Brown

    Do what is right for you.
    Life is way too short. Absolutely never say anything negative about your previous employer to the one your interviewing with. They don't need to nor should they know any of the negative reasons you are leaving. You have to spin the narrative into something positive. Just express excitement over the new opportunity and company.

  8. Anonymous

    It just wasn't the right fit. Now, YOUR organization is one I truely appreciate for X, Y, Z reasons.

    Never badmouth, it reflects poorly. Employ a career coach to learn the right verbiage, and stay away from the blueprints of your exit

  9. Carol Weber

    Keep this on your resume, explain your duties (or what they would have been) like you would with any other job, and if anyone asks just say it wasn’t a fit. Don’t go specifically into why it wasn’t a fit. “The energy/pace/structure wasn’t right for me.” I don’t think you need a letter of resignation, just go to HR and give them two weeks’ notice, then tell your manager. Good luck!

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