This is an anonymous post from an Elpha member.

Leaving a new job before probation ends

Carol117·Sep 04, 2020

I just started my first full-time job out of grad school in June and was really excited to start my career by working on an exciting and impactful project. In my interview process, the panel glorified the status and goals of the project they were initially hiring me for, and have admitted to me about how they intentionally mislead me to get me on board. Since then, the project has almost gone nowhere due to internal politics and I also had some issues with my team lead who I feel undermines me and can be quite disrespectful. He tends to always disagree with me, shoot down my ideas/contributions, yet agree when a male colleague says the same thing reiterated in a different way. It's exhausting to talk to him and every team meeting just drags down my day.There are some new opportunities in my city, particularly one at a company I've been really interested in but I am not sure how it will look for me to move on from a role I've only been in for 3/4 months. I took this job before I graduated out of fear of being unemployed during a pandemic/recession but now I just feel really mislead and discouraged at my current job and feel like I'm wasting time in the prime years of my life where I want to work hard and learn so much. Any advice for me? Should I leave or tough it out for the next year?

saskiahill·Sep 04, 2020

I agree with @lita81gr - especially in the early days of your career it's entirely understandable that you might need to shift if somewhere isn't right for you. As you gain experience you learn what you value and how to look out for it, but sounds to me like you've got a good head on your shoulders and will be wasted staying in this role! Best of luck with the next role! X

S9·Sep 04, 2020

I left a job six weeks in because it wasn't right for me and it didn't align with my values, because five years into my career I don't think sticking around is worth it. If it's exhausting now, it won't get any better (in my opinion) and I wish I had left jobs sooner at the start of my career. There will always be a way to spin your short-term roles, but if you' confidence gets knocked that's much harder to rebuild.

jekaplan·Sep 08, 2020

I also left a job 5 weeks in for the same reasons! I was able to leave respectfully and honestly about how it was best for us to part ways because it was clear that this was not a good match and probably more effort to try to make it work when inevitably neither of us were happy with the circumstance. I have only received positive affirmation of my decision to make a move that is best for me. You begin to realize how much agency you have over your choices and ultimately will end up in a much better position because you see yourself as someone who won't tolerate mistreatment or circumstances that don't align to your values. Without knowing the full details of the situation, if your gut is telling you to do it, I say take the leap.

jennie·Sep 05, 2020

I think this year in particular, it's totally fine to have short tenure somewhere as long as you can talk to why. No harm in putting feelers out there before quitting, you'll quickly see what the response is to your situation. Referrals would help as they can give the recruiter or hiring manager a heads up about this yellow flag.Probation goes two ways and this is exactly why!