So You Want to Quit Your New Job

Amazing how the article I read this morning (written by Rebecca Knight) https://lnkd.in/eypngp5s which talked about new employees finding out that the reality of their new roles was nothing like the ‘recruiter sold them’ and how to make sure it doesn’t happen to them really hit a nerve (struck a chord) when I re-posted it and commented on it.?My phone is ringing off the hook!

First of all, I take issue with the implication that a recruiter ‘sold them’ anything.?I’m of the mind that no one can sell you anything you don’t want.?The job of most recruiters is to match candidates to open positions.?From there, internal recruiters and hiring managers and others within the organization take those candidates through the interview process, hopefully enlighten them as to the role and the responsibilities and the organization, team and culture.?If anyone is selling anything, I think it is the businesses themselves as they move the candidates along the progress.?But the onus is on the candidate to do their own research and due diligence.

But I digress.?Again I go back to, no one can sell you anything you don’t want or need.?Come on people, we are stronger than that.?We have backbones for more than just holding us upright.

I was surprised to learn that a new survey of 2,500 millennials and Gen Z employees fond that 72% of respondents said they started a job and felt a sense of regret or the role or company was different than they were led to believe.?Did they not do their own research??Their own due diligence??Did they just go along on their merry way and believe everything they heard or perhaps hear only want they wanted to hear??So many people listen with the intent to speak vs. listen with the intent to really hear and understand.?Were their attention spans so short that they just tuned out, got an offer and accepted??Maybe they missed the part about what the responsibilities were.

As someone who has been hiring people both as a corporate recruiter and as a headhunter with my own consulting firm for many, many years, here is what I will tell all job seekers:

1.??????Take the time to conduct a self-assessment (or self-reflection if you will) of who you are, where you’ve worked, what you’ve done and learn more about yourself and what you want to do.?Think of your strengths and where you don’t excel.?Think about the industries that might be a fit.?Think about the roles that might be a fit.?Think about the organizations and culture at the places you worked.?It’s important to understand yourself and what you want before you even begin your job search.

2.??????Once you have a better sense of yourself, talk to people about their companies.?Reach out and conduct informational interviews or meetings.?Learn about the different industries, companies, teams, roles, etc.?Get a better sense of what will be a fit for you.?Understand what different roles entail before you think you are right for one of them. These are the first stages of your job search.

3.??????So now you have a few interviews lined up either through your network and perhaps through your informational discussions, or from applying to roles on line (good luck with that), through a search firm or some other means.?What’s next??Do your research.?A lot of this research can take place on-line.?Google the company.?What are people saying??Who do you know who works there who can give you good insight into the company??Find out on LinkedIn who might have worked at that company or even in that specific role and since left.?Reach out to them to get the lay of the land.?Read the Glassdoor reviews.?Research, research, research.?Then research some more.

4.??????And now you have your interviews.?Are you just going through the paces and letting the interviewers ask all the questions??Interviewing is a two-way street and any recruiter, interviewer or company that doesn’t allow you to ask questions is not the place for you.?Any place that rushes you through the process is not the place for you.?Do they have something to hide??Don’t roll your eyes when you find out you have a series of three or four or five interviews.?Be happy.?That shows the company takes the time to ensure they are hiring the right candidate and gives you the opportunity to ask questions, meet staff and learn about the organization.?

5.??????When they ask if you have any questions, don’t waste the opportunity by asking template questions you got off the internet.?Think about what you’ve learned already about the company or the team or the hiring manager and ask specific questions that will help you determine if this is the right place and role for you.?What does success look like in this role??What is keeping the hiring manager up at night and how can you – in this role – help him or her get a good night’s sleep??If you are sitting there with the hiring manager in a year, what will you have accomplished to have exceeded his or her expectations??It’s a long job description (aren’t they all?) but what are the top 2 or 3 priorities for the first three months in this role??Why is the role available??What happened to the incumbent??What is the turnover rate on that team, in the department and in the company overall?

And, if two or three months in you are not happy, think about why that is.?What is it that is making you unhappy in the role??How is it different from what was outlined during the interview process??Talk to your manager.?Ensure you are both on the same page in terms of the role and responsibilities.?Get a sense for what your manager expects from you and what you need from him or her to be successful.?Don’t throw in the towel just yet.?Sometimes it all comes down to communications.?Of course, other times it pays to cut your losses and move on. What will you have learned??Hopefully the importance of conducting research before accepting that role.