Motivation is a feature of the environment, not the people who work in it. If you are in a toxic work situation, it’s hard to get out of bed in the morning, much less to do a great job once you get to work. Unfortunately, no matter how carefully you prepare and evaluate the pros and cons before accepting a new position, there's no way to be 100 percent sure what you're getting into – until you're on the job, and then it's too late.
Figuring out whether the job is the
problem
Change is hard on most people. If
some of you need a while to feel comfortable in a new environment, you should
give yourself that acclimation period before you assume your new job is at
fault. You might need to adjust to new procedures, new people, a new corporate
culture, before you can be sure that the job itself is the problem.
Identifying the core issues
Still feeling unclear uneasy,
after waiting out the "new kid" phase – or worse yet, perfectly aware
of what you don't like about the new job? Let’s write it down. Let’s state the
issues as clearly as possible, and be specific. If your new boss is the
problem, is it his/her management style, attitude, skill set, and priorities?
If the role itself is what's bothering you, what would you change about it to
make it better? The clearer you can be about what's making you unhappy, the
better the chances are that you'll be able to fix it – or move on to a new job
that suits you better.
Looking for silver linings
Unless you're independently wealthy,
you probably can't stroll into your new boss's office and say, "Well,
thanks for the opportunity.” As you do that, just look for the not-awful parts
of your job. Chances are there are things you'd like about this role.
Recognizing those good aspects won't just make you happier in the short-term,
while you're stuck there; it'll help you understand what you enjoy doing at
work in the long-term, which will guide you as you pick future job
opportunities.
Keeping that resume up-to-date
Even if you love your job, it's a
good idea to do this. For an easier time tailoring your resume to future roles,
you should also keep a copy of your resume. If you start looking for work the
week after you take your new job, you won't want to include the role when you
apply for new positions. Job might not be a big red flag to every employer these days,
but a two-week-long tenure on your latest job will raise some questions you
probably don't want to answer. It's hard to be positive and professional and
honest about why you're jumping ship so soon.
Network, network, network
At least 60
percent of all jobs are found by
networking. Your next job could be one of them. Now is the time to look up
those old colleagues, roommates, professors, and friends, and take them out for
coffee or connect with them. You never know who will be the
person to send the perfect job opportunity your way.
When you move on, make this job
disappear
Whether you return to your old
position, finding a new job, or quitting doing something new (return to school,
consult or freelance, etc.), the important thing to remember is that you're
under no obligation to include every brief spell on your resume. If you stay at
your less-than-perfect new job for a very short period of time, and learn nothing
that would contribute to your candidacy for another position, the smart move is
to leave it off your resume.
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