Hey Elena...I took a job at a company but realized I made a mistake. If I leave, will it look bad on my CV since I’ve only been there a short time?

Welcome to the next edition of Hey Elena... answer me this! This is the space where I take time out from running Elemed and recruiting to answer YOUR questions relating to your Career, Jobs, LinkedIn and anything else you want to know!

Oh, the classic “Oops, I shouldn’t have done that” moment. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Like when you swiped right on someone who seemed perfect until they started texting exclusively in emojis. Or, in this case, when the “dream job” turned into a bit of a nightmare.

But don’t worry—your career isn’t doomed. In fact, I’m here to help you navigate this awkward dance between “I want out” and “What will people think?” Let’s dive in.

Step 1: Figure Out What Went Wrong

Imagine this: you’re baking a cake. You’ve just mixed the batter, but it tastes awful. Before you toss it, you ask, “Wait, did I forget the sugar? Or is this just not a good recipe?”

The same principle applies here. Is the problem the company, the role, or the way it aligns (or doesn’t) with your expectations?

• Is the culture a mismatch? Maybe everyone in the company loves chaos, and you’re over here trying to implement ISO 13485 with Post-Its and hope.
• Is the role unclear? Perhaps you signed up for “Regulatory Specialist,” and now you’re doing more admin work than actual regulatory strategy.
• Is it you? (Brutal, but still...) Did you jump in without fully understanding what the role entailed?

Before deciding anything, identify the issue. It’ll help you avoid making the same mistake twice.

Step 2: Have The Chat

Schedule a conversation with your manager. Something like:

“I want to better understand how my role fits within the team and align expectations to ensure I can deliver effectively.”

Translation? You’re subtly saying, “This isn’t working for me, but I’m open to fixing it.”

You might uncover an opportunity to course-correct. Maybe you’ll get the support you need, or at the very least, clarity about whether this job is salvageable.

Step 3: Build Your Exit Strategy (If Necessary)

Okay, so the chat didn’t go well. Or worse, it did go well, and you still know in your gut this isn’t right. What now?

First, let’s tackle the elephant in the room: Will this short stint look bad on my CV?

• Honestly, as long as you don’t have a history of job-hopping every six months, one short role isn’t going to scare off future employers. When companies look for job hoppers - what they are looking for is a pattern of hopping and multiple short stints.?
• Be honest, not defensive. If it comes up in interviews, frame it like this:

“It was a valuable learning experience, but I realised early on that it wasn’t the right fit.”

Step 4: Learn, Adjust, and Move On

What did this experience teach you about what you need in a job?

Maybe you thrive in a smaller company where you can wear multiple hats. Or perhaps you need clear SOPs and a structured environment to really excel. Whatever the lesson, take it forward into your next role.

So, take a deep breath, regulatory rockstar. Remember, even the best medtech innovations go through testing, redesigns, and pivots before they succeed.?

Elena Kyria

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