So, you have started a new job and don’t like it – what do you do?
Starting a new job in a new company with new people is difficult. It’s difficult for junior employers, senior executives and the most senior hires, like CFOs and CEOs.
Its human nature that we find change unsettling so take comfort in this and do your best to throw yourself into the uncomfortable. The world of work is changing more than ever before so if you can succeed at embracing change, rather than shying away from it, you’ll be acquiring a valuable soft skill.
It takes time to get to know your boss and coworkers, learn the ropes and understand how the business works. Be honest with yourself, are you simply finding it challenging adapting to your new company, or is your new role really not a good fit?
Figure out what’s bothering you
Still feeling a bit uneasy, after getting involved and waiting out the “newbie” phase?
Make a list of what’s making you unhappy and be proactive about what you can do to fix it. Is it the people? The company culture? The systems you have to use?
Once you’ve made your list have a look through it and see if these problems are fixable.
While assessing your list another important thing to keep in mind is if your new job will be beneficial long term.
Are you learning new things? Are the difficult systems you are using complicated, but a good skill to have in the future? The more honest you are, the clearer your situation and feelings will be.
Talk to your manager
If you’re finding things tricky, talk to your new employer. Prepare your key points and arrange to have a meeting to talk things through. Have an informal chat about how you could make things better – for both yourself and your employer.
Do you have suggestions for how things could be done better? Is there some internal training you think would be beneficial to you? Are there any social groups or activities within work that could help build your circle of work friends?
Before you start to think about leaving the job…
It is much easier to find a job when you have one. If you decide this job really isn’t for you to try to secure a new job first.
If you regret leaving your previous job and left on good terms, contact your former employer to let them know that you’d like to return. You never know, they might not have filled your position, or they might have something else suitable.
While some companies have policies in place that limit hiring previous employees others are more than happy to accept “boomerang” members of staff.
Whatever you do, don’t just take any job to get out of your current job or you’ll end up in the same stressful situation again.
Naturally, we believe that the fault is in other people but it’s important to be self-aware. Think about how you interact with your colleagues. If you are honest with yourself, you could find areas where you could improve and help yourself settle in.
Remember, starting a new job can be stressful and daunting. It might take some time to get used to your new role and the company culture or you may realise that the job isn’t right for you. Either way, always remain professional and don’t act hastily.