Author Topic: How long into a new job do you decide if it’s the right job for you?  (Read 2884 times)

GeorgeWood

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After five years in two high-stress, long hours jobs in finance, I got a new job two months ago. At a new company, but in a remotely related field.

Let’s just say things haven’t turned out how I expected them, and there is light (pay, colleagues, bosses) and darkness (high stress, lots of overtime, insanely inadequate tools and personnel). I’d also say that if things at the new job stay the way they have been so far, I’m out. The only thing keeping me from quitting is the hope for positive change, which might come in the next few months or even years due to new hires, and due to my bosses (themselves having been at this company for less than a year) settling in and implementing badly-needed changes, which they have outlined already. It also might never come, because my bosses get frustrated and quit within a year (like many of their predecessors) , or whatever. I’d give it a 50-50 chance things improve within a year.

Now, I’ve been offered a job at yet another company, which might or might not be better than my current one.

On the one hand, I feel pretty confident in my judgment about my current company and my current job. It feels like I’ve been there for years, not two months. On the other hand, objectively two months are only two months, and you can learn only so much about a new company and a new job in two months.

So, at what point in a new job would you reassess and be confident in a decision to stay and “hope for the best” or pack up and move on – to an even more unknown newer job and company? How long do you stick it out? Is two months enough? Or put another way - is hope a reason for staying?

I know there is no one size fits all-solution. I know I’m a rather impatient person, but I feel this should be well thought over. I’d appreciate your input.

Mikila

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Re: How long into a new job do you decide if it’s the right job for you?
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2018, 02:42:43 PM »
A month or two.

If I hated my job after two months, I would start looking for another immediately.  The time it took to find a new job would be the time I would allow my current job to impress me and change my mind. 

Long stressful hours are abhorrent to me.  Been there, done that, and never again. 

AnnaGrowsAMustache

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Re: How long into a new job do you decide if it’s the right job for you?
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2018, 03:25:57 PM »
I'd go, if I were you. You have to judge your current job on how it is NOW, and not how it might be "if".......

Ryland

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Re: How long into a new job do you decide if it’s the right job for you?
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2018, 02:28:56 PM »
The second you start to think about doing something else is the first symptom something needs to change.

With you posting in a forum... I think it's 100% time.

There's nothing wrong with keeping an eye out on new jobs that are coming up. Part of Mustachianism to me is living a wholly, fulfilling life that benefits humanity as soon as possible.

Figure out why you would stay at the current job, then look for new jobs and see if they check 80% of those reasons. Once one does, it's time to jump ship!

Hope this helps!

Lanthiriel

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Re: How long into a new job do you decide if it’s the right job for you?
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2018, 05:40:37 PM »
I posted something similar here and got some good replies: https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/how-long-is-the-settling-in-period-at-a-new-job/msg1787307/#msg1787307

Different situation, obviously, but I got some good advice and tools.

Gone_Hiking

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Re: How long into a new job do you decide if it’s the right job for you?
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2018, 10:20:52 PM »
Do you know anybody at the new company who would tell you something about what is it like to work there?  Have you researched the company reviews?  There are always dissatisfied people, but low ratings across the board and dearth of positive reviews indicate possible problem.  Keep in mind that even excellent company has its dark secrets, and a mediocre company has some great office groups.


Regardless, it seems to me that you are ready to move on.   I would not count on improvements.  Those rarely materialize, unless someone higher-up is found guilty of gross abuse of power and replaced with a saner executive.

GeorgeWood

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Re: How long into a new job do you decide if it’s the right job for you?
« Reply #6 on: January 24, 2018, 01:25:25 PM »
Thank you so much, everyone.

The new job I got offered doesn't seem like too good of an improvement on a second thought.

I have decided to stay for now, but to apply for other jobs in the meantime. If one of them convinces me, I'm gone. Otherwise, I'll probably quit after six months have passed if things at the old job haven't improved until then (events today point to another sharp deterioration in job quality).

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!