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Leaving a job right after starting??

I was working in a good job recently, but then an administration change came and changed the whole dynamic of my job and the atmosphere at our agency. So I left that job after I was offered a job with my alma mater. I have been at my new job for about 2 weeks now. Right after I started the job at my alma mater, I received a call on a position that I had wanted previously and (because its with the government) was slow to be called back for. My new job is fairly easy and pays well, and I've always wanted to work for the school that I graduated college from. But the other job position, the one that I wanted in the first place, is in project management, which is the direction that I wanted my career to go.

So, to make a fairly long story a bit shorter, here is my dilemma:

1) Project management isn't an easy field to get into with just an education but not a lot of work experience (especially in my state), so this could be my only shot for awhile

2) My current job pays well, is easy, and will offer me a chance to finish another degree at a reduced rate because its a university

3)  I don't really feel terribly enthusiastic about being here in my new position. The work may be easy and the pay might be good, but the atmosphere is very different than what I'm used to, and I'm feeling no real connection to this place, other than obligation

The very thought of leaving my current easy and well-paying position so soon after starting gives me hives because they were really in need of someone in this position and I JUST started. But project management is where I want to end up, and this other position could be my shot. My feelings of disconnect with my new job may subside after some time, but what if it doesn't??

Should I stop wasting everyone's time and resources and move on from this position so soon after starting, or, because my job is easy, pays well, and is with my alma mater and I've always wanted to work here, should I stick it out for a while longer and see if I feel better?

Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to give as much back story as I could!

Re: Leaving a job right after starting??

  • You should stay with your job, it will look really bad just quitting after two weeks of working. 
  • imagebuttercup1958:
    You should stay with your job, it will look really bad just quitting after two weeks of working. 


    I don't know. Sometimes it is just not a good fit.
  • Is this for the government job?  Would the new one be long-term and your ultimate goal in your career??

    How small is the industry that you work and would you be burning a huge bridge?

    Do you have the actual job offer for the job you want to go to?

    Personally,....I would (as gently and nicely as you can) leave.  There are NO guarantees and this current job can fire you or the company can go bankrupt or someone can decide to get rid of the department or...you get the picture. There is really no loyalty left IMO.  Many times I feel bad or have made decisions because I felt bad, but at the end of the day business is business.  And I agree that sometimes you KNOW when I job is not a good fit.  

    If this is truly the way you want your career to go...go for it.  After just two weeks, you wouldn't even really even have to have it on your resume later on.

    BUT, I would ONLY do this IF you had that second job lined up and ready to go. 

     

  • Life is too short to stay at a job you know you won't be happy at, especially if you think you can bag this new job. As PPs said, don't say anything until you know for sure that you have the new job lined up. If possible, see if you can extend the 2 weeks notice to one months (if you don't want to feel as much nagging guilt). Also, just be honest with your current employer. Tell them you feel really bad about the situation but that you have to do what is best for your career. Help in any way that you can with the time you have left once you give your notice.
    Anniversary
  • I have somewhat of the same thing.

    I just recently started part time nannying for a single mother of two girls, while I adore the girls and the mom is about my age so we get together very well, I was offered a position with a company that would get my career up and started. As silly as it sounds- is it wrong to tell the mother that I will no longer be working for her only a week in advance. She has the ability to telecommute so she could stay home, I just feel bad for her but it's my life and my career... I guess I answered my own question but any thoughts would be helpful.

    Thank you.

     

    xoxo

  • imageMintTulips:

    I have somewhat of the same thing.

    I just recently started part time nannying for a single mother of two girls, while I adore the girls and the mom is about my age so we get together very well, I was offered a position with a company that would get my career up and started. As silly as it sounds- is it wrong to tell the mother that I will no longer be working for her only a week in advance. She has the ability to telecommute so she could stay home, I just feel bad for her but it's my life and my career... I guess I answered my own question but any thoughts would be helpful.

    Thank you.

     

    xoxo

     

    If at all possible, you should try to give at least two weeks of notice. One week would probably put her in a bind. 

    Anniversary
  • Has an offer been made from the government job?  Everything in government is slow, especially now.  When I worked for the government it took three months for them to reply to my application, and then another two before I had an interview, a month after that for the second interview, and I was offered the job six weeks later. 

    Unless an offer is on the table I would stick it out with your current position.

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • that is very true! my mom works in government and everything goes really slow. Also you should factor in costs because you will be losing 20 % of your paycheck because of the government's sequester. good luck whatever you end up doing!
  • My rule of thumb is to try to give any position I accept at least one year of commitment- but there are always exceptions. If you had a great offer for your dream job and this government job really is it, and you had the offer in writing you would have to do what feels right for you- but I wouldn't take that lightly because you did make a commitment to the job you have now- and seeing it through for a little bit of time is important also.
    Me-27- DH- 38 -Moved to New York* TTC since August 2011, unexplained IF & PCOS HSG - both tubes clear Saline Ultrasound- clear SA- Normal January 2013- Started metformin 1500mg attempting micro IVF 2/8/2013 2/8/2013 Cycle- ganirelix, menopur, gonal F 3/3/2013- ER- 7 Eggs 3/4/2013- All 7 fertilize 3/8- ET
  • You can, but don't put it on your resume. Too many short jobs will raise future employers eyebrows about your commitment level.

  • Thank you all for your input. I don't have a firm offer yet, and I certainly wouldn't consider leaving unless I do.

    But what I'm wondering is, even if the government job doesn't come through, do I just stick it out in my easy, good-paying job, or do I keep looking?

    The last person that vacated my current job was in a similar position.. He left after about 3 months for a better job with better pay. I don't want to put my company in the same position again

  • imageJayQue:
    I don't want to put my company in the same position again

    Personally, I think this is your biggest problem.  Just remember, most companies/employers will drop you in a heartbeat if you're not longer useful to them.  As long as you have an actual offer on the table, go with the job that gives you better options for your career path.

     

    If it makes you feel better, I've quit two jobs in about a month.

    Daisypath Anniversary tickers
  • I mean...If you're not 100% satisfied with your job and it's not your dream job, you can always keep looking. There isn't anything wrong with that. It's always good to keep your eye out for better opportunities. I wouldn't worry so much about how your current job will react until you actually get an offer somewhere else.
    Anniversary
  • Give it more than two weeks, but 1 year is too long. I left a job after 6 weeks. Short enough that I didn't have to put it on my resume and there wasn't a gap.

    Make sure you're leaving the job for the right reason. You mentioned it being "slow" well...any job / company / industry could be slow. Just remember, it could always be worse (or the same) at the next place, so make sure you're not just being picky. Every job will have aspects you don't like and people that are hard to work with, so don't leave just for that (unless it's harassment of course) because that is everywhere. You will never escape it!

    The reason I left my job after 6 weeks is because I found out that the company was filing for bankruptcy (while in the interviews they told me they were expanding their product line) and were participating in unethical business practices.  

    Definitely don't worry about what the company will think. Doesn't matter how long you've been there or what position you're in, all employees are replaceable and at the end of the day...they don't care about you personally (let's be honest) so don't worry about them. When you leave, the building will still be standing and nobody died.  

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