INTHEBLACK October 2021 - Magazine - Page 67
STORY JESSICA MUDDITT
AT A G L A N C E
T
he first few months in a new job are often exciting,
with new faces, fresh ideas and a brand-new
challenge ahead. However, sometimes the initial
enthusiasm is fleeting and a sinking feeling replaces it.
Was it a mistake to accept the new role? If the doubts
grow stronger, a decision must be made about whether
to persist and stay, or cut and run.
First off, try not to panic, says Nicole Gorton, director
with recruitment agency Robert Half.
“Realising a new role isn’t what you thought it was
going to be is not uncommon, and it isn’t the end of the
world. The probation period is a two-way street for both
employer and employee to evaluate long-term fit and
has fewer obligations tied to a resignation.”
Unfortunately, sometimes promises made during the
recruitment process do not marry up with the day-today reality of the role.
“At the moment, good accountants are hard to find,”
says Yulius Santoso, director at Lucky You Found Me.
“Employers are making lots of promises and creating
expectations, and it’s a recipe for disaster. If a person
was promised nine-to-five work hours, for example, but
they are regularly expected to work until 9pm, they are
going to be disappointed,” says Santoso.
Gorton contends that if the actual role holds no
interest, is beneath your skill level or offers few
opportunities for advancement, it is probably best
to resign quickly, because such issues are unlikely
to be solved.
“At the end of the day, employers don’t want new
hires who would rather be somewhere else, so
resigning early prevents the company overinvesting
their resources in you. It may make it easier to find a
replacement among those who also interviewed for
the initial role,” she says.
your concerns have not been addressed or cannot
be resolved, resigning may be the right option.”
THREE MONTHS IS THE SWEET SPOT
GRACEFUL EARLY EXIT
Tracey Petrie, managing director of White Cloud
Recruitment, believes that, unless there are “screaming red
flags” such as being allocated no budget or bullying, it is
preferable to persist in a new job for at least three months.
“Three months is usually what it takes to get the hang
of a job – to understand not only the role, but also your
business managers, peers and the culture of that
organisation.”
Before you make your decision about whether to stay
or to go, all the experts suggest asking for a face-toface meeting with your manager to raise your concerns.
“Discuss your expectations and the skills you would
like to develop,” says Gorton. “This gives them the
opportunity to rescope your efforts or outline a
roadmap to take on more complex tasks. If you feel that
BEING A LABELLED JOB HOPPER
In Australia, the average tenure in a job is three years
and four months, according to 2020 data from the
Department of Education. However, this varies
significantly with age. Perhaps unsurprisingly, for those
under 25 years old, the duration is shortest, at one year
and eight months. It is highest among the oldest
workers – those aged over 45 have an average tenure
of six years and eight months.
Employers are wary of job hoppers, as they are
regarded as disloyal and lacking in direction.
However, the definition of a job hopper has changed
over the years.
“Twenty years ago, a job hopper was someone who
left within 12 to 18 months, because it was considered
proper to stay in a job for at least three to five years,”
explains Petrie. “Now people move on every 12 to 18
months. If you move jobs every six months, and that’s
a permanent thing, it is a worry.” Even an open-minded
employer may ask a candidate to justify recent and
frequent role switching.
“Be prepared to discuss why you felt the next
opportunity provided more growth, or explain what the
underlying issue with the role was – and how you’re
looking to proactively resolve this in your next position,”
suggests Gorton.
If resigning a job quickly is becoming a pattern, some
self-reflection is necessary. It may also be helpful to
speak to a career counsellor or a trusted colleague.
“You will be forgiven for making a mistake once.
Maybe even twice. But when it’s three or four times,
it’s no longer a mistake. It’s a bad habit,” warns Santoso.
If you decide to leave shortly after starting, serving out
the required notice period is a basic minimum to avoid
possible reputational damage. Should there be no
agreement in place, give at least two weeks’ notice.
Job searching and interviewing should be conducted
with the utmost discretion, outside work hours and via
your personal computer and email accounts.
Leaving an organisation after a short period is a
difficult decision, and one that is likely to cause a certain
amount of angst.
“I think it comes down to listening to your gut instinct,”
says Petrie. “If you feel that you are not being authentic
to yourself, or you are being told to do things that don’t
sit well with you, or being spoken to in a way that
doesn’t sit well with you, then you need to get out.”
In most cases, it
can take up to three
months to fully
understand a new
role and an
organisation’s culture.
Average tenure on a
job has been growing
shorter, meaning there
is less stigma
around moving jobs
frequently, but it can
become a problem if
resigning quickly
becomes a pattern.
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intheblack.com October 2021 67