Well, we have all felt the excitement of landing a new job – after all, it takes a lot of effort and determination to get a position. Whether it’s your first job ever, or you have left your old job for this one, the feeling of starting something new is euphoric. But, after some time, you notice that you’re unhappy with your job – unlike what you have expected at all. What should you do about it?
The first thing to do is to relax. It’s not unusual to be excited about something and it turns out to be unlike your expectations – it’s something we have to endure throughout our whole lives. I mean, the grass looks greener from the outside.
It happens to all of us, and it doesn’t mean that you’ve wasted your time and energy. On the contrary, you now know what you don’t like – which brings you a step closer to what you do like. It’s completely normal that you feel frustrated: how come I’m unhappy with something I have been wanting for so long?
Well, during the interview process, it’s not only you who’s trying to show your best, the company does that as well. Therefore, it’s normal to discover that things inside the company aren’t like what you expected – or what they showed you during the interview process.
But no worries. If you’re unhappy with your job, here’s what you should do about it.
Don’t suppress what you’re feeling and be honest with yourself
Change is scary, even if it’s for something better. When you start a new job, you’re also changing to a new location, a new manager, new coworkers, new rules, new softwares, and overall a whole new routine. You might even need new clothes! After all, your work is a huge part of your life which means it has a great effect on it.
Also, starting a new job means that you’ll be met with new challenges: adjusting to your boss’s attitude, figuring out how to deal which each coworker, testing your skills, trying to get used to the new environment, etc… and the list never ends. This could confuse you on whether you’re actually unhappy with your job, or are you unable to deal with these challenges.
So, here are some questions to ask yourself: Are you unhappy with the job or does it leave room for self-doubt? Are you unhappy or can you not stand not being good at your job instantly? Do you feel the pressure of having to prove yourself but aren’t unable to?
If you chose the latter in these questions, it might be that you’re still adapting – and it’s not about the actual job. Give it some time and effort, and you’ll thank yourself later for holding on.
Think of a plan before taking any action
It’s not a smart move to quit your job if you don’t have a plan B. As tempting as it might be to just throw everything off your shoulders, it’s better to think it through before making an impulsive decision.
If you have reached a final decision that you want to leave the job because it’s not a career path you want to pursue, it’s hurting your mental wellbeing, or/and you don’t like the company’s culture, find ways to push through until you find something else.
Reach out to your network for a new job
If you look hard enough, you’ll surely find someone you know (or someone you know who knows someone) who’s looking for someone with your expertise and set of skills. So, reach out to your former employers, colleagues, and contacts and start applying.
If you’re unable to stay at your current job any longer, consider freelancing or project-based gigs until you pass through the long interview process. As long as you’re doing something, looking for better opportunities, and reaching out to people, you’re good. Just don’t make an impulsive decision without thinking the consequences through.
Consider returning to your old job if possible
You’re probably thinking: I have left my old job for a reason, why the heck would I return to it? Well, although it might feel like a step backward, it might be your best bet until you look for something else (if your current job is completely intolerable).
For many entities, having an old employer back saves them (and you) from months of training and mistakes. But remember that if your old job is toxic and as intolerable as your current one, it might be better to stay until you find a completely new one altogether. Otherwise, going back to the place you’re used to and were comfortable in is a good move until you figure things out.
Realize that you have gained experience
An experience you go through, whether it’s good or bad still serves a purpose in your life. If it’s good, great! If it’s bad, then you know what you don’t want. After all, the days will pass and you’ll be glad you went through it.
Think of all the things in life you didn’t like, do you still regret them? Even if there’s a part of you that does, but you know what they taught you something. You also learned that what’s on the outside is completely different from what’s on the inside – that we don’t know what we want until we fully experience it.
You might have noticed a few red flags during the interview phase that you ignored because you were too excited to take on the new role. Some of these red flags could be that the company’s culture doesn’t compensate their workers for overtime, they encourage an unhealthy work-life balance, they don’t care about their employees’ wellbeing as much as their productivity levels, etc… This teaches you to not ignore red flags later on and take them seriously.
After all, it’s a lesson learned that will surely help you make a better decision later on. No experience whether good or bad is a waste of time.