Help!

Question

I've just accepted a new position (one week in) and my boss is a nightmare!  I want to move out of the Assistant role, and I don't think I have made the right choice here.  In addition to the deep sense of dread I have coming into work each morning, it feels like a totally lateral career move.  What should I do?

Lady Pele · Answer

I'm sorry to hear you're having a difficult time adjusting to your new position.

What caused you to accept it and how is what you expected different from what you're experiencing?   Do the reasons you accepted it still exist?    It's hard to offer advice when we don't know what the problem is, but I agree that the first week on the job can be difficult and make you question your decision.

I would probably attempt to focus on the positives and learn as much as you can about the new business/area/role.  Even if this job doesn't turn out well, learning more can help in the next job search.

Anonymous · Answer

I'm so sorry! Have you accepted a new role within your company, or have you moved to a new company for this position?

If you're one week in I might recommend noting the areas your not happy about (current boss, the role is different than you thought, etc.) and see how things progress over the next month or so. The first week of a new role is often getting to know the team, workplace, and some basic tasks, and will hopefully ramp up from there and offer you challenging growth opportunities.

Donna Macdonald · Answer

This happened to me once!  Unfortunately in this business climate, I believe the only way out is to begin networking and searching for a new job vigorously.  It won't be easy but it can be done.  This will also be a challenging time because you will need to deal with your new unpleasant boss, learn the new job, and search for a new one but it can be done.  The important thing is to look at it as a challenge.  Get enough rest and keep plugging away.  It's important to leave this job smiling if you can as well as quickly.  Prospective employers will understand about your 'mistake'.  Be honest and focus on the lack of challenge, etc. and don't say anything negative.  It will be a difficult few weeks but I'm sure you will land something better!!!!  I did....

Anonymous · Answer

Maybe give it a little longer? That’s a tough call. Either way, start looking for new opportunities in case!

Lady Pele · Answer

It sounds like it's going to be a challenge.  Perhaps you can use the next few weeks to meet and network with other people in the office; possibly offer to help out when you’ve got your own job down.  You can update your resume and include any new skills you learn, while you keep your eye on what’s available in the marketplace.

You can also learn from this experience.  You now know to ask more questions when interviewing, such as more about the hiring manager.  I would suggest:
1.	What is your management style?  You want to find out if you are compatible or whether it would be another difficult position.
2.	What are your expectations of this role?  This will help you discover what the highest priorities are from the hiring manager's perspective.
3.	Can you describe “a day in the life” of this position?  Would this have helped discover you would spend most of your time booking travel.
4.	Why is the position open?  Or what happened to the last person in this position (were they promoted or did they leave the company).

michetique · Answer

It's an executive assistant position to the CEO.  I accepted it in haste because I thought the people were nice, and I thought I could potentially do some cool/challenging work that would help me foray into a different type of position (non-Admin).  And while the people in the office ARE nice, my boss is very unpleasant.  Apparently he has a reputation to match, and is not going to change.  And it appears all I will do is book travel and print things (and get my head chewed off).

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