How do you know when to quit a new job or to stick it out? What if you immediately realized you made a mistake by taking the job? Don’t worry—even though you did your homework before accepting, there’s no way to be 100% sure what you’re getting into until you start the job.
You’re not the only one to suddenly want to quit a new job. Studies show this happens to approximately 33% of all new hires within the first six months. So, what do you do? Should you wait it out or jump back into a job search?
The HT Group’s CEO/Founder Mark Turpin advises, “Don’t wait it out if the writing is on the wall or if you have other opportunities available.” If you’re in this situation, you might find that the best thing to do is cut your ties and move on. But before you do that, we have a few things to consider before dusting off your resume (again).
Have You Really Given It A Chance?
Think about it…change is hard. Anything new—new office, new relationship, new house, new haircut even—takes adjustment time. When it comes to a new job, a longer acclimation period might be needed as the transition is multifaceted and can cause a lot of anxiety and uncertainty. You must adjust to new procedures, new people, new corporate culture, or even new job skills before you decide if you just got off to a rough start or if you really do hate your new job.
A recent survey showed that the most common reason people quit a new job quickly is poor onboarding. More specifically:
23% of people did not receive clear guidelines on what their responsibilities were.
21% would prefer more effective training.
17% said a friendly smile or helpful co-worker would have made all the difference.
If it’s a matter of not getting along with your colleagues right off the bat, other team issues, or if you need additional job training, Turpin suggests trying to work it out with your manager.
Jobvite reported that 43% of employees quit a new job within the first 90 days because their day-to-day role wasn’t what they expected. Defining clear responsibilities, expectations, and metrics to measure success with your manager within the first week of your new job will help. Request extra training or team bonding exercises if you think that’s also needed. If that doesn’t work or your manager is unresponsive, a new job search may be warranted.
Culture Shock
With only 6.3 million people unemployed in the U.S. as of December 2021, the fight for candidates is fierce. It’s common for companies to oversell the organization and the role when first engaging with a candidate. If you breezed through the interview process, passed a cultural assessment, and were sold on an amazing culture but notice culture-related red flags as soon as you’re hired, stop and reassess. Look at the company’s core values again and compare them to your firsthand experiences during the interview process. Do they line up?
“Two of the most common red flags in this case are a hidden company culture that leads to a toxic work environment and the job fundamentally not matching what was ‘sold’ to you,” adds Turpin. “If you feel duped in either of those areas, that’s hard to fix.”
If you worked with an outside recruiter, discuss your concerns with them. They can help you identify why you want to quit. Maybe the company as a whole is a great fit, but the manager or the team isn’t, for instance. Your recruiter can help you decide whether it’s worth staying or if it’s time to move on.
Get Your Resume Ready
Keep in mind your resume is a summarized marketing tool, not a complete work history. Its purpose is to make you look like a rock star. Glassdoor advises that jobs lasting six months or less can be left off your resume without negative repercussions. Of course, consult a recruiter with any questions about your specific situation.
If you fear you made a mistake and have the urge to quit a new job, contact us. We can help you determine a course of action and, if you’ve already taken the steps above, we can help you find a position that truly is a dream.
