If like most people you’ve made a career decision based on how it will look on your CV, you’re not alone. Wanting to advance is natural and it usually works out for the best, yet in some cases the opposite happens and you realize you’ve made a mistake by joining a company that’s not a good fit for you.
If you are in this situation right now, you’re probably worried that no matter how much you hate this job, leaving it too soon will have an even worse impact on your career than staying in an unfulfilling environment.
What to Do
First off, try to improve your current situation if you haven’t already. Go talk to your manager or other internal representatives and explain what’s making you unhappy, giving them the opportunity to solve the problem. Sometimes it can be a matter of carelessness or lack of understanding about your circumstances that can be worked out through communicating. Approach them with an open mind but be prepared to have your arguments challenged or rejected.
If that happens, it will be easier for you to quit. But even if they listen to you and make some adjustments, you might realize it is not enough or that the issue is something fundamental that can’t be changed. Regardless of their reaction, it’s alright to leave if you’re unhappy.
No Job Is Worth the Sacrifice
Your career is surely an important part of your life, but it’s not the only part. If your job is threatening your emotional wellbeing, your self-confidence is plummeting and you’re constantly miserable, it’s time to stop caring about how it will look on your CV and focus on what’s truly essential. It might be scary at first, but you need to understand that damaging your health is doing you no favours in the long-term and it will eventually end up affecting your job performance too. Besides, it might not be as bad as you imagine.
Are You Really a Job Hopper?
The reason people are afraid about a sudden job change on their resume is the idea that they will be seen as a job hopper, a person who changes jobs frequently without settling anywhere long-term. Yet companies look for job hopping patterns rather than singular incidents, so it will be easy to explain your situation if you have a clear track record already. Just be upfront and honest about having made a mistake the last time, but avoid talking badly about the company.
However if you truly find yourself in a job hopping pattern where you quit new jobs after a few months of being hired, it might be time to look at how you’re making the decision to join certain companies in the first place. Think carefully about your expectations related to the team, the schedule or the remuneration. If necessary, go as far as your motivation for working in your field: maybe it’s not a matter of finding the perfect employer, but of switching to a different career path.
Key Takeaway: Do not sacrifice your mental health for a job, it’s not worth it.
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