What to do when a new job isn't working out

Starting a new job should be an exciting time of new experiences and opportunities. However, sometimes a new role might not live up to expectations.

Whether it's a mismatch with the company culture, unclear expectations, or difficulty in settling into the role, it can be disheartening when you feel a new job isn't working out. While “teething problems” can be expected, how do you know if it’s something more?

Signs of a poor fit

Starting a new role can feel very overwhelming, especially if you were previously in the same job for a while. “You have to meet new people and learn new systems, ways of working and technology,” Leah Lambart, Career and Interview Coach at Relaunch Me explains. “It might take three to six months to feel settled, or even longer, particularly if you haven’t experienced much change before.”

One sign that you’re in the wrong role, rather than just going through a big change, is not meshing with the company culture and the people. For example, your values might not align, you could clash with team members or find yourself in a toxic work environment.

In other cases, the role may not be as described or you might not have been set up for success with good onboarding and training.

Here’s what Lambart suggests if you find yourself in this position.

Consider what’s fixable

It’s helpful to think about what can be fixed before making any big decisions. “Something that can be changed is upskilling in certain areas,” Lambart says. For example, if you’re lacking confidence with a certain skill, you could do a course to feel more capable. External training or coaching might also build your technical capability.”

Do a sense check

Before leaving a role, it’s always worth speaking to others to get an outside perspective. Lambart suggests doing a sense check with someone you know and trust, such as a partner, family member or peer working in the industry.

“It’s worth getting a second opinion on what’s ‘normal’, particularly if you’ve been with the same organisation for a long time. This also helps you work out what is in your control and you can change, versus what’s out of it.”

Speak with your manager

It’s better to have important conversations early on rather than let issues become a bigger problem. “I’d always encourage people to meet with their manager if things aren’t working out or if the role isn’t what they were expecting,” advises Lambart.

Raising concerns early on, particularly in the probation period, is critical, she says. There might be things your manager can do to change the working environment or what you’re currently doing in your role, rather than you just leaving without a discussion. They might have even experienced something similar when they started in the organisation and be able to share advice.

Plan your exit

If you do decide to leave, take some time to plan your next steps. Lambart says it's ideal to have a job lined up before you resign, as the current job market is quite competitive and you need to weigh up if you can afford being out of work. This does depend on your situation though, she says. “If a job is really affecting your mental health, that can be a reason to perhaps cut ties a bit earlier.”

During this time, still try to do your best and be as productive as you can, to leave on a good note. Plan and follow a proper resignation process to leave without burning bridges.

Take time to reflect

After leaving a role, reflect on why this job didn’t work out, whether alone or talking with a family member, peer or a career coach.

“Was it the job itself, the work environment, the size of the organisation, or the industry?” says Lambart. “Try to work out the ‘why’ and, more importantly, what criteria you need met in your next role, to make it more fulfilling, and make it more likely you’ll find a role that’s right for you.”

Remember that sometimes jobs just don’t work out – it’s not the fault of you or the company. “In some cases, it’s just ‘square peg, round hole’ and you need to put it behind you and focus on what you want out of your next role,” says Lambart.