I've made a huge mistake changing jobs!

Hi Carrie
Yes, that's my plan. Do some temping and take my time over the new perm role, even on less pay! As long as something is coming in to keep things ticking over.
Hazel

I'm sorry to hear it hasn't turned out the way you want Hazel.
I walked out of a job after 2 weeks because it was just awful. I knew I would never be happy there, it just wasn't worth the stress.

If it makes you feel more confident about you decision, remember that the probation period is there for you to decide the role is right for you. It isn't just the company that needs to make the decision on if it is working well!
I personally wouldn't see someone badly if they told me they left a role quickly due to it not being what was offered. Especially if their previous track record was 'normal'.

I hope you find something better suited soon!

Absolutely! It's just that you always feel that the company has the upper hand when it's yourself in the situation. It's a standalone role, so I really have nobody I can sound off to. I feel empowered again after all of your posts, I really appreciate it!

Hi Hazel,

I did exactly that myself 3 years ago. I left my old job because I felt it was time, among other reasons & I also wanted something closer to home. A job came up, which on paper was what I was looking for, I had a slight niggle about it at interview, but ultimately accepted the offer. One month in and I was still shadowing the outgoing HR manager, I had no computer of my own and I was still referred to as X's replacement. The outgoing HR manager left, and suddenly I was on my own, in a job that I really didn't like and figured out very quickly that I didn't like it. I barely saw my line manager, who was the FD, and I had no guidance as to what was expected of me. Ultimately I was job hunting by the end of the first month with the aim of being out before my probationary period was up when , the same as you, my notice period would have jumped from 1 week to 2 months!. Luckily I found my current job and I've been here 3 years this year and I'm pleased to say, currently no thoughts of going elsewhere.

I do believe, as my friend often tells me, that things happen for a reason & that if I hadn't of gone to my "middle job" as she calls it, I may not have ended up in my current job. So my advice is go with your gut feeling. If it's not right then it's not right, look for something else and move on as soon as you can and don't stress the "blip" on your CV. It's easily explainable and fair - after all probationary periods are supposed to be for both employer and employee in my mind, it has to work for both sides.

Hi Hazel, I did the same back last year, I really needed a change and wanted to develop and so I left my role for a HR Administrator role with a slightly higher salary. I was excited at first, the interview went very well, and as always I asked a number of questions (after all it's about the role being a right fit for you too!). After my first day I really did not know what to do as it turned out that the role involved me working on a reception desk within a HR department. There was no mention of this at my interview or the Job Description. I came home really stressed out about the whole situation, and as confused as I was, I went back the next day. I had an open discussion with the Senior HR manager there and addresses my concerns. He asked about the role I did previously, and when I informed him of this, his response was 'why did you leave that job for this?' I could tell by the time of his voice that I had clearly taken a big step back. I was lucky enough to get asked to go back to my previous job and I accepted this without a second thought. I contacted the new employee and explained why I was no returning, and that the role had been entirely mis sold to me. I didn't feel bad for doing this, in fact I felt proud of myself for dealing with the situation professionally and following my gut instinct.

Hi Kimberley
Wow! That really was a step back for you, that is awful! What were the company thinking? I'm assuming that you were interviewed by someone in the HR department, they should have surely been more up front about the position and what it entailed! That's awful. I'm glad you managed to get your old role back.

I was interviewed by the CEO, so I don't blame him entirely, he just doesn't understand HR and what we do, so I wasn't really misled deliberately. I knew the role would be slightly different, but not drastically different. Because the CEO doesn't understand the role of HR, he wouldn't have known to point the differences out - the major one being no access to data! He would have had no way of knowing how important this is to someone in HR.

I've resigned since posting, so am now working my notice and have effectively made myself unemployed. I shall put it down to experience and will certainly probe more during the interview process in the future.

It's all a learning curve I suppose!

Hazel

This was the thread I needed today!
I made a move just under 6 months ago and whilst I can see huge potential in the organisation the Directors and I have very different values and ideas about what it is to manage people. There is a very negative and mean spirited attitude towards wellbeing, development, reward etc.
Needless to say I just needed the reassurance that its ok to cut my losses. Thanks Community!

It's great isn't it Victoria. You can feel very isolated and even like you're losing it! But then you come on here and get the support and reassurance you need. I'm slightly fearful, as I'm not really in a financial position to be able to not have pay coming in, but I feel so much better now that I've made that decision. Good luck!

Hi Hazel, I'm glad to hear you made the decision to resign, as I know myself how being in that situation can really affect you. As you can imagine I was absolutley distraught because at my interview I asked so many questions about the role, what it involved etc yet it was not ever mentioned that I would be 'manning a reception desk'. If they had mentioned this to me I would have definitley not accepted the post. I knew after the first day that it wasn't right, I was being referred to as 'the new one on reception' and also I was told that it was my responsibility to go around the building and stocking up tea and coffees in each meeting room! I do basic tasks in my role now such as stamping, sorting and distributing post for example, but the reason I applied for the post was because it appeared to be a step in the right direction. I was actually interviewed by the HR manager! I think after meeting with the head of HR I think he too knew that I was too advanced for the role. Can I ask, have you told them the reason why your resigning? And if so, what has been their reaction? I found it difficult after two days to be honest with them about why I wanted to quit. I then realised that I was not doung wribg to put myself first. If they had been more clear on the job role, they wouldn't have wasted my time or theirs.