Took a risk and went to another company...not happy so far
February 23, 2012 7:48 PM Subscribe
I was at a fast growing, exciting company for over a year and half. I had started there right after college and after a year or so, had a yearning to go out, explore, and try something else. Don't get me wrong, I loved working at this company and they loved me. But I still left since I felt like I was young and able to take the risk. My new job is slightly higher paying and in the same industry but does not challenge me whatsoever. Although I have less responsibilities and less work, I feel like there is more I am capable of. Long story short, it is boring and unrewarding. I also don't fit very well into the culture. I am only two months in. What do I do? Stop wasting time and find a new job? Give it more time? Try to go back to my old position? What are the downsides to going back to an old employer?
It's only the second company you've worked for, and you've only been there two months. I'd give it more time. It's possible that your personality and preferences are more suited for the small, fast, exciting start-up environment, but I think it's too early to tell right now.
(Larger and more established companies also tend to be a little more cautious in how quickly they give important work and responsibilities to new hires. It's quite possible that after you've "proven" yourself over a few months, you'll start getting the good stuff.)
posted by kagredon at 7:58 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
(Larger and more established companies also tend to be a little more cautious in how quickly they give important work and responsibilities to new hires. It's quite possible that after you've "proven" yourself over a few months, you'll start getting the good stuff.)
posted by kagredon at 7:58 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
I would try to find people who have been with your current company for a year or so and who are a similar level to you. Maybe they will be able to tell you if there are more challenges in store after you "prove" yourself (to folow kagredon's idea). Otherwise, unless you are worried about maintaining a decisive reputation in your industry or burning a bridge, and if your current position isn't setting you up to get into an even BETTER position than your last one, I would look into switching back to your old job.
Which one positions you best for your next job? for what you eventually want to do?
posted by ramenopres at 9:17 PM on February 23, 2012
Which one positions you best for your next job? for what you eventually want to do?
posted by ramenopres at 9:17 PM on February 23, 2012
I recently took a much-less challenging job, knowing it was less challenging. Why?
First, it is a calmer, saner, atmosphere than I've had in a while. Sane people with sane schedules are nice to work with. Sane is not the same as boring.
Second, I fully expect to take my initial assignment and whip it into shape so I can scout around the department for bigger fish. By showing what I can do with a neglected corner of the business I have no doubt of garnering more interesting work.
And that's what you can do. Keep your ears open and your ideas flowing. Use some of your spare time to upgrade skills then find an opportunity to showcase them all while solving a problem most people didn't realize was a problem.
Also, what rhizome says. If you haven't made a dent by then, move on.
posted by trinity8-director at 11:05 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
First, it is a calmer, saner, atmosphere than I've had in a while. Sane people with sane schedules are nice to work with. Sane is not the same as boring.
Second, I fully expect to take my initial assignment and whip it into shape so I can scout around the department for bigger fish. By showing what I can do with a neglected corner of the business I have no doubt of garnering more interesting work.
And that's what you can do. Keep your ears open and your ideas flowing. Use some of your spare time to upgrade skills then find an opportunity to showcase them all while solving a problem most people didn't realize was a problem.
Also, what rhizome says. If you haven't made a dent by then, move on.
posted by trinity8-director at 11:05 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
I left the company I started at right out of college for a New! Exciting! Amazing! opportunity at a startup. A few months in I realized it wasn't for me, and I spent the next seven months trying to figure out what to do. Around that time my old company came calling, mentioning that they had an opening for someone like me again, and I was pretty unhappy at that point, so it worked out well. I've been back now for 2.5 years and it hasn't been a problem at all, other than the occasional joking remark about me being a "boomerang".
But when I left my first company I was very careful not to burn any bridges, to maintain open communications with them the whole time I was gone, and to maintain the outside-of-work friendships I had with people there. That made it easier for them to ask me, easier for me to say yes, and I think the transition was smoother for it.
posted by olinerd at 4:04 AM on February 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
But when I left my first company I was very careful not to burn any bridges, to maintain open communications with them the whole time I was gone, and to maintain the outside-of-work friendships I had with people there. That made it easier for them to ask me, easier for me to say yes, and I think the transition was smoother for it.
posted by olinerd at 4:04 AM on February 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Eh, life is too short to work in a boring, unrewarding place, especially when you are young and flexible! Being young, now is the time for you to take career risks and work hard and be around amazing people. If later on you decide you value a more laid back atmosphere or need more money, you will be positioned to make a change. But there's no reason to be bored now! In my experience, if the work culture isn't right, there is just no way to "make the job work." Some kinds of personalities can pull this off, but I am just too influenced by the atmosphere, and bothered by boredom, to do it. Maybe you are the same way.
You may want to give it a few more months just to look credible in your job search. But start looking now and don't hesitate to jump on anything better.
posted by yarly at 4:43 AM on February 24, 2012
You may want to give it a few more months just to look credible in your job search. But start looking now and don't hesitate to jump on anything better.
posted by yarly at 4:43 AM on February 24, 2012
Hey, I'm in the EXACT same situation. Left a company where I was liked and challenged and took a job with higher pay and less stress. But it's soooooo boring and I feel totally useless. The only difference is this is my 3rd company (both previous employers I was with about 5 years each). And it always took a good a amount of time to find my footing. I'm putting a year on the calender and if it still sucks I'll get the hell out of dodge.
posted by gpoint at 6:35 AM on February 24, 2012
posted by gpoint at 6:35 AM on February 24, 2012
Find a career coach and shell out for a session.
The question isn't necessarily "What do I want to do?" so much as it should be "Which of these two options is better for my career in the long run?"
posted by ErikaB at 12:38 PM on February 24, 2012
The question isn't necessarily "What do I want to do?" so much as it should be "Which of these two options is better for my career in the long run?"
posted by ErikaB at 12:38 PM on February 24, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rhizome at 7:56 PM on February 23, 2012