Feeling burnt out because your new job wasn’t what you applied for? Maybe you were excited about all the responsibilities the job posting listed, but now that you’ve got the position, you aren’t being entrusted with any of them. Or maybe they either underestimated or overestimated the qualifications that were required to do this job. Regardless, it’s just not a good fit, but you’ve already signed on – what do you do?
Give It a Shot
It’s a new job and you’re still finding your footing – maybe getting the job you dreamt of is only a matter of waiting it out. “First, try to stick it out,” suggests Style Nine to Five Founder, Christie Lohr. “Keep in mind that you’re new so you might still have to prove yourself. Go the extra mile, voice how eager you are, and see what happens when you give it some time.”
This is the first thing you should attempt to do in such a situation – stay at the job and be the attentive employee you would be if the position was exactly what you wanted it to be. While powering through the responsibilities you don’t want to do, stay optimistic and make sure everyone’s aware you’re ready to take on the duties you’d initially wanted when they’re ready for you. Be calm and be positive!
Voice Your Concerns
Don’t be afraid to have an honest conversation with your new manager. Be respectful and professional, of course, but let them know that the position doesn’t seem to be what was advertised in the job posting. Explain why with tangible examples – are there different responsibilities than it suggested you would have? Have you not been given as much free reign as promised, or on the opposite end, is there too little guidance for a newcomer?
Hear your manager out and listen to them explain why the job isn’t what you anticipated. Maybe you just need more time to settle into the position, or maybe you’ll see the beginning signs of a toxic workplace trying to take advantage of you. It depends, but you won’t know unless you open up this dialogue.
Incorporate Your Ideas
Just because you aren’t the boss doesn’t mean you can’t take charge of your own position. “Try to remember what attracted you to the job in the first place and see if you can create the role you want yourself,” suggests Christie. “Talk to your manager or team members about how you can take on new projects.”
Look for places where tasks you’d like to take on could be implemented. For instance, are you a digital marketer passionate about video creation and working at a company with no online video presence? Suggest to your boss that you’d love to be in charge of that task. Taking the opportunity to create your ideal position might just prove to your boss that you’re an independent go-getter who’s more than capable of taking on new projects and responsibilities.
Look Elsewhere
In some cases, you’ve stuck it out for a while and tried to make the position work for you through conversations and creating tasks, but it’s just not the right fit. That’s okay! Not every job is going to be great, let alone exactly what you imagined. You shouldn’t be ashamed of quitting and moving on from a position if you feel that it’s what’s right for your career journey. Just remember to start looking for a new gig before you quit the current one, and have something lined up for when you leave.
It’s not worth putting your all into a job that isn’t what you wanted or won’t help your career journey. So, in the end, it comes down to two options, one you should only implement if the first fails: try and make the best of it or leave. Do your best to turn the position into what you want it to be, and if it doesn’t work out, there’s no shame in moving on. Good luck!
Need some further guidance? Ask Style Nine to Five’s Founder, Christie Lohr, One Career Question!
Emily Morrison is a media professional with passions for writing, film and popular culture.
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