I’ve just started a job and I hate it. How long you should stick it out?

Your new job sucks. It’s definitely not what you expected and now you’re wondering ‘what next’? Here are 6 questions to consider before walking out the door. 

Could it get better and when might that be? 

This is a really important question! Sometimes the start of a job can be really difficult as you’re learning new things or trying to find your tribe at work. If there is a good chance that it could get better soon and you think you can wait it out, it is probably worth staying. If a range of the things that your disliking are not going to change any time soon (for example office atmosphere) it could be worth leaving now. 

What is the cost of the job on you? 

It is normal to find certain parts of your job frustrating. It is another thing entirely to hate every minute of it. If you are finding it completely unbearable, the personal cost of staying in the role might make it worth thinking seriously about leaving.

What are the benefits of staying? 

Why did you move to this new job in the first place? Did they offer you a special level of flexibility or some other perks. Before walking out the door, is it worth considering whether the benefits of the job makes it worth bearing a range of the frustrations you’re experiencing.

What other options are out there? 

Getting a new job is not always easy. Before you decide to call it quits spend some time thinking about your next plan and even a possible back up plan for that. Where possible you might even want to wait it out in your current role until another job comes up. This will lower the financial burden of leaving your current role.

Where does this opportunity lead and is it a necessary evil? 

For some career pathways there is a necessary challenging period where you have to undertake either long hours or frustrating tasks. Is this job one of those? In leaving this job, are you actually making life more challenging down the road to get to where you want to go? Your future career aspirations are definitely worth considering before you head out the door.

Every context is different – the answer requires you to spend time reflecting

There is no ‘one size fits all’ answer for when it is the right time to leave a job. Certain themes stick out. It’s worth considering the long-term and short-term impacts of both staying and leaving your current role. This also includes considering what you are going to do next and how you can start to open up job opportunities for your next job. It might even be worth thinking about how you might explain to a future employer this change of heart, as they could question your short stay at the job or the gap on your resume.

Good luck with your decision making and if you’re looking for support in exploring what’s next for you, you can take the CareerHQ Compass. The CareerHQ Compass with its 6 interactive modules will help you to explore your strengths, skills and to match these to 3-6 career options that suit you. To get started now, follow this link: http://www.careerhq.com.au/