Do I apply for a new position after a short stint?
January 17, 2014 1:48 PM Subscribe
It's becoming fairly obvious from all sides that neither my employer or myself are happy with the current situation. Do I bail or stick it out until they fire me?
Followup to this question. Things have continued to go downhill and a new position has opened up with another company doing pretty much exactly my job now. I like my job, I believe in it and it's challenging - however, I don't like my company's culture and the disorganization. I'm constantly stressed, worried about daily about being fired, and constantly have emails regarding basic mistakes CCed to my boss's boss. I feel as though I'm just counting down the days until I get pulled in for a formal review and given 60 days. A new position has opened up at a competing company who I interviewed for before and was very excited to work for them. The job offer didn't pan out and I accepted my current position as I was working a contract that was set to end shortly then starting fearing unemployment. So I jumped on the first opportunity to come along, and I'm grateful for it. It's in the field I want to be in, working with the software I want, and I like it. The same can't be said for my company, I feel like I have very little support, idiotic because I lack the extensive business knowledge (I was hired with the understanding that I was IT then that manager was suddenly fired leaving me in limbo but everyone else on my team has been here 5+ years), and constantly stressed since I have very little feedback from my manager. Since I've been here, I've forged my own relationships and have attempted to excel at this position but am constantly beaten down by the lack of communications between teams, the lack of standardization, and overall frustrated.
I want to apply for the open position but need to put this job on my resume since it's very relevant experience. Do I apply for the new position, attempt to make the best of this situation, or just accept that it's a bad fit and do the best I can til they fire me? If I apply, what do I say with why I'm looking so soon? To complicate matters, I also have short term gigs on my resume where the first position I was at for longer then a year ended since I moved out of state, had a terrible 2 jobs after moving and then moved into IT contracting for the past 3 years. So it looks like I've had a new job every year at 28, not good...
Followup to this question. Things have continued to go downhill and a new position has opened up with another company doing pretty much exactly my job now. I like my job, I believe in it and it's challenging - however, I don't like my company's culture and the disorganization. I'm constantly stressed, worried about daily about being fired, and constantly have emails regarding basic mistakes CCed to my boss's boss. I feel as though I'm just counting down the days until I get pulled in for a formal review and given 60 days. A new position has opened up at a competing company who I interviewed for before and was very excited to work for them. The job offer didn't pan out and I accepted my current position as I was working a contract that was set to end shortly then starting fearing unemployment. So I jumped on the first opportunity to come along, and I'm grateful for it. It's in the field I want to be in, working with the software I want, and I like it. The same can't be said for my company, I feel like I have very little support, idiotic because I lack the extensive business knowledge (I was hired with the understanding that I was IT then that manager was suddenly fired leaving me in limbo but everyone else on my team has been here 5+ years), and constantly stressed since I have very little feedback from my manager. Since I've been here, I've forged my own relationships and have attempted to excel at this position but am constantly beaten down by the lack of communications between teams, the lack of standardization, and overall frustrated.
I want to apply for the open position but need to put this job on my resume since it's very relevant experience. Do I apply for the new position, attempt to make the best of this situation, or just accept that it's a bad fit and do the best I can til they fire me? If I apply, what do I say with why I'm looking so soon? To complicate matters, I also have short term gigs on my resume where the first position I was at for longer then a year ended since I moved out of state, had a terrible 2 jobs after moving and then moved into IT contracting for the past 3 years. So it looks like I've had a new job every year at 28, not good...
Is there a downside to applying for the other job and seeing what happens? I can't see one. I see a whole lot of upsides, however, and the best case scenario sounds pretty awesome.
It's one of those things where you would have few if any regrets for trying (even if you don't get the other job), but you'll probably have many regrets for not at least giving it a shot.
posted by SpacemanStix at 2:14 PM on January 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
It's one of those things where you would have few if any regrets for trying (even if you don't get the other job), but you'll probably have many regrets for not at least giving it a shot.
posted by SpacemanStix at 2:14 PM on January 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
I had a similar situation. I put the job on my resume and when I was asked about it, I said it just wasn't a good fit for me or the employer and I was looking to move on. People were sympathetic.
posted by anotheraccount at 3:16 PM on January 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by anotheraccount at 3:16 PM on January 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
It's great to be employed while you look for work, as long as you don't let the current job tempt you into being lazy about looking. Look away, leave, and don't look back.
posted by davejay at 3:22 PM on January 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by davejay at 3:22 PM on January 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
If you're asked why you're making a move, have a pat answer avaialble, "I have interviewed here before and I really love the culture and environment. While my current position is interesting, I belivee that working for X company is a much better fit for me."
As for changing jobs, welcome to the modern world. Most employers aren't going to blink twice, ESPECIALLY if you're in software.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:52 PM on January 17, 2014 [3 favorites]