New job not quite ticking all the boxes
Discussion
I was made redundant at the end of last year and was lucky enough to have a new role to walk into when my time with the previous company came to an end. I work in the insurance industry where I am a claims handler.
The new company seem to be much better than the previous one but this time round I’m specialising in bodily injury which is not really my bag. This job fell on my lap so was quite happy to take it and give it a go. I get continual praise from management and have been told that I’m doing brilliant. Sounds great eh ? Well for me my heart isn’t in it at all. I tried to give it my best shot but it’s just not for me.
I am happy to stay until I secure another role but this is where things get tricky. I have no idea what my next move should be. I am very risk adverse unfortunately but feel like I need to break free from this industry and do something different.
Anyone else been in this situation and how did you break free ? What did you end up doing ?
The new company seem to be much better than the previous one but this time round I’m specialising in bodily injury which is not really my bag. This job fell on my lap so was quite happy to take it and give it a go. I get continual praise from management and have been told that I’m doing brilliant. Sounds great eh ? Well for me my heart isn’t in it at all. I tried to give it my best shot but it’s just not for me.
I am happy to stay until I secure another role but this is where things get tricky. I have no idea what my next move should be. I am very risk adverse unfortunately but feel like I need to break free from this industry and do something different.
Anyone else been in this situation and how did you break free ? What did you end up doing ?
Harry b
d said:
d said: Anyone else been in this situation and how did you break free ? What did you end up doing ?
Yes. Late 90s. Landed what I thought was the job I'd retire from. Marketing Manager at an Industrial Coatings company. Lovely company, lovely people, seemingly appreciative of my skills. Within two months, I'd found myself with the company's industrial chemist showing me how a new product they'd developed would save customers money by being able to dry rapidly with a single coat.
I stood there and thought that I am literally watching paint dry.
The job really required me to move closer and they were putting me under pressure to do so. Like you, my heart was no longer in it, but I stuck with it not really knowing what to do. This affected what I did and the quality of my work. I left it too long and they made the decision for me. Fired!
I regretted that it wasn't my decision but in retrospect, am grateful that they did. Had they not done so, I think I would have ended up moving my family close to a job that I didn't really like and I fear that would have not ended well.
Landed sunny side up - joined a new design company a former boss had stated and became a Director. This was a return to doing what I loved. Sold that. Joined another company and set something new up there and now running my own thing.
So from that, I would say; make it your decision to leave. Leave it too long and that option will diminish.
And seek to do something that you like. Even if its the same or slightly less money.
Because of family activities I was expected to go into the construction industry so i trained as a quantity surveyor, I was just qualified and at a table full of other QS's at the annual hows the cooperation doing dinner. After an hour of talking to QS's who had being doing the job for 10+ hours I knew I could never be that boring. I quit a week later and went into IT. No regrets.
You know if a jobs not right for you.
You know if a jobs not right for you.
yes - was taken on in a senior Director role for a consultancy (where the plan was I would be coaching and training consultants)
Day one I was placed in a client because they needed help...........it was a total st storm, and I'd taken a 25% pay cut to not be delivery any more - and yet here I was doing the job I left for less money in a st client that I wouldn't have taken as a freelancer........
So I decided, about halfway through my 'probation' - that I was going to opt and leave.
They were so confused (nobody had ever apparently) made this choice, they were under the impression the probation period was one sided, I'm guessing they hadn't read their own contracts.
So I went, with 4 weeks notice (rather than 3 months they attempted).
They demanded I pay back my signing bonus, no problem (I had kept it in case of this eventuality).
Was so happy to be gone. Had no issues getting another freelance gig immediately!
Day one I was placed in a client because they needed help...........it was a total s
t storm, and I'd taken a 25% pay cut to not be delivery any more - and yet here I was doing the job I left for less money in a st client that I wouldn't have taken as a freelancer........So I decided, about halfway through my 'probation' - that I was going to opt and leave.
They were so confused (nobody had ever apparently) made this choice, they were under the impression the probation period was one sided, I'm guessing they hadn't read their own contracts.
So I went, with 4 weeks notice (rather than 3 months they attempted).
They demanded I pay back my signing bonus, no problem (I had kept it in case of this eventuality).
Was so happy to be gone. Had no issues getting another freelance gig immediately!
You’ve not said how long you have been in claims / Insurance ?
Assuming you work for an Insurer then without leaving the Industry have you thought about other roles within the same company ie Underwriting or Back office etc ?
Equally going to work for a Broker potentially in some guise.
Obviously if you have just had enough of Insurance then is there another job sector that actually interests you ?
Assuming you work for an Insurer then without leaving the Industry have you thought about other roles within the same company ie Underwriting or Back office etc ?
Equally going to work for a Broker potentially in some guise.
Obviously if you have just had enough of Insurance then is there another job sector that actually interests you ?
Similar situation.
Following my previous role disappearing following a restructuring, I moved to a new role around 15 months ago. Great team and great company.
Unfortunately part of my role requires me to work with an external partner, who, for whatever reason, don’t perform to contracted standards, which impacts of my performance and also my credibility.
I have warned my manager that this was a huge issue for me, and while there was a short term improvement, it has now gone worse despite promises of improvement being made.
Like the OP, I’m pretty conservative but to force myself into action, I’ve told my manager that I have had enough and that I’m applying for another role, and at the same time, applied for the first vaguely suitable role, as I just need to get out.
Shame, as the job would be just up my street apart from this external partner.
Thank you for listening!
Following my previous role disappearing following a restructuring, I moved to a new role around 15 months ago. Great team and great company.
Unfortunately part of my role requires me to work with an external partner, who, for whatever reason, don’t perform to contracted standards, which impacts of my performance and also my credibility.
I have warned my manager that this was a huge issue for me, and while there was a short term improvement, it has now gone worse despite promises of improvement being made.
Like the OP, I’m pretty conservative but to force myself into action, I’ve told my manager that I have had enough and that I’m applying for another role, and at the same time, applied for the first vaguely suitable role, as I just need to get out.
Shame, as the job would be just up my street apart from this external partner.
Thank you for listening!
I've been in a similar situation.
I was desperate to move out of one company so jumped at the first opportunity. It promised so much on paper but they were so dysfunctional and had a real shoot the messenger attitude to problems. I regretted being there a few months after joining but they gave me car allowance, which I had used, so was financially not able to just chuck it in.
After 7 months I was offered a job near home. Same salary, no car allowance. I took it. That company was also terrible but I stuck it out for about 3 years before they got rid of me.
I'd decided on a slightly different career, which I'm now on, so being let go was a blessing in hindsight.
Looking at your situation, you are employed, it isn't horrible but it isn't what you like. All you have to do is hang in there while you look for work (I'm told the market is picking up) and move for the right job.
I was desperate to move out of one company so jumped at the first opportunity. It promised so much on paper but they were so dysfunctional and had a real shoot the messenger attitude to problems. I regretted being there a few months after joining but they gave me car allowance, which I had used, so was financially not able to just chuck it in.
After 7 months I was offered a job near home. Same salary, no car allowance. I took it. That company was also terrible but I stuck it out for about 3 years before they got rid of me.
I'd decided on a slightly different career, which I'm now on, so being let go was a blessing in hindsight.
Looking at your situation, you are employed, it isn't horrible but it isn't what you like. All you have to do is hang in there while you look for work (I'm told the market is picking up) and move for the right job.
Who honestly likes their job? I work in a company with 250 employees and I don’t think I know anyone who would be there if they had the option not to work through luck of inheritance/family wealth. They are stuck in the system where they have no choice but to grind out 40 years in employment to ultimately enrich those at the top.
CoupeKid said:
I've been in a similar situation.
I was desperate to move out of one company so jumped at the first opportunity. It promised so much on paper but they were so dysfunctional and had a real shoot the messenger attitude to problems. I regretted being there a few months after joining but they gave me car allowance, which I had used, so was financially not able to just chuck it in.
After 7 months I was offered a job near home. Same salary, no car allowance. I took it. That company was also terrible but I stuck it out for about 3 years before they got rid of me.
I'd decided on a slightly different career, which I'm now on, so being let go was a blessing in hindsight.
Looking at your situation, you are employed, it isn't horrible but it isn't what you like. All you have to do is hang in there while you look for work (I'm told the market is picking up) and move for the right job.
In my experience (and yours by the look of it) there are very few businesses to work in that prioritise employees over profits so the reality is that we end up taking something that is the least worst.I was desperate to move out of one company so jumped at the first opportunity. It promised so much on paper but they were so dysfunctional and had a real shoot the messenger attitude to problems. I regretted being there a few months after joining but they gave me car allowance, which I had used, so was financially not able to just chuck it in.
After 7 months I was offered a job near home. Same salary, no car allowance. I took it. That company was also terrible but I stuck it out for about 3 years before they got rid of me.
I'd decided on a slightly different career, which I'm now on, so being let go was a blessing in hindsight.
Looking at your situation, you are employed, it isn't horrible but it isn't what you like. All you have to do is hang in there while you look for work (I'm told the market is picking up) and move for the right job.
Franco5 said:
Who honestly likes their job? I work in a company with 250 employees and I don’t think I know anyone who would be there if they had the option not to work through luck of inheritance/family wealth.
A great many do.I'm 57 and can recall only two short-lived jobs that I didn't enjoy.
Franco5 said:
In my experience (and yours by the look of it) there are very few businesses to work in that prioritise employees over profits so the reality is that we end up taking something that is the least worst.
I love my job. I love improving things, finding another way and seeing people develop.It helps if you get out of the mindset that the company is there to employ you. It isn't. Business exists to sell a product and make money. People are a tool for that to happen.
Some businesses look after them better than others. Some people are better than others. It's a balance for both.
I've been lucky in my career (4 different companies and cultures) that 3 were great. The other one I left within 11 months as it was the polar opposite to my approach: VCs only interested in shipping whatever they could regardless of quality.
Thanks for all the responses. Just for the record I had to change my username as my original was against forum rules.
It’s given me a bit of reassurance to see that others have had this at some point. I have just returned from being on holiday and have been reflecting on my work. I’ve made the decision to start interacting with recruitment agents and other company’s to see if I can secure something else more suited. I worked in a job before this one that I didn’t like and ended up staying too long, I don’t want to fall into the same trap.
I am grateful to have a job but off I go to update my cv
It’s given me a bit of reassurance to see that others have had this at some point. I have just returned from being on holiday and have been reflecting on my work. I’ve made the decision to start interacting with recruitment agents and other company’s to see if I can secure something else more suited. I worked in a job before this one that I didn’t like and ended up staying too long, I don’t want to fall into the same trap.
I am grateful to have a job but off I go to update my cv
Dave Hedgehog said:
Because of family activities I was expected to go into the construction industry so i trained as a quantity surveyor, I was just qualified and at a table full of other QS's at the annual hows the cooperation doing dinner. After an hour of talking to QS's who had being doing the job for 10+ hours I knew I could never be that boring. I quit a week later and went into IT. No regrets.
You know if a jobs not right for you.
You didn't want to do a boring job, so you joined IT You know if a jobs not right for you.
.I've been in IT for over a decade and have tried my hand at all different disciplines, they are all boring as hell. The money is great, but that's about it.
Service desk = busy, lots of customer interaction but ultimately boring
DBA = f
k me, so boring3rd line infrastructure engineer = mildly interesting, but again, ultimately boring
Architect = Political and boring as f
kNOC/SOC = I would rather be spinning tea cups (first summer job) than do this mundane 24x7 s
te Network engineer = A bit more of my interest, but you guessed it, boring at times
Everyone is different though, I work with some absolute nutcases who are passionate about techie stuff.
I went into therapy.
No, I don't mean like that.
I got a bit tired of the corporate thing, IT B2B marketing, and decided to train as a therapist as I'd been interested in it for years. Ended up training in other relevant professions, too.
Best thing I did, although the money isn't as good.
No, I don't mean like that.
I got a bit tired of the corporate thing, IT B2B marketing, and decided to train as a therapist as I'd been interested in it for years. Ended up training in other relevant professions, too.
Best thing I did, although the money isn't as good.
Franco5 said:
Who honestly likes their job? I work in a company with 250 employees and I don’t think I know anyone who would be there if they had the option not to work through luck of inheritance/family wealth. They are stuck in the system where they have no choice but to grind out 40 years in employment to ultimately enrich those at the top.
It depends on where you are on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs pyramid 
I'm an Accountant and it's an OK way to make good money. The best part of the job is the people I've worked with. My current CEO is an amazing guy, we've got roughly 700 employees and somehow he seems to remember every one. Easiest bloke in the world to get on with.
Worked in one business for nearly a decade and four very different jobs there. Loved it but knew my time had come to do something else.
Went to a job that, on paper, ticked all the boxes: 30% pay ride, socially responsible, opportunity to change things.
Like a poster above, I pulled the plug at the end of my 6 month probation period with no job to go to. Atmosphere was horrendous, they weren't interested in doing things any differently and my boss (CEO) was deliberately divisive - would give two directors the same job just to make them fight among themselves.
When people ask me "When did you know it wasn't right?" I respond truthfully: lunchtime on day 1.
OP - start making a plan to do what you want to do. Then act on your plan.
Went to a job that, on paper, ticked all the boxes: 30% pay ride, socially responsible, opportunity to change things.
Like a poster above, I pulled the plug at the end of my 6 month probation period with no job to go to. Atmosphere was horrendous, they weren't interested in doing things any differently and my boss (CEO) was deliberately divisive - would give two directors the same job just to make them fight among themselves.
When people ask me "When did you know it wasn't right?" I respond truthfully: lunchtime on day 1.
OP - start making a plan to do what you want to do. Then act on your plan.
when it comes to general job enjoyment, i do think the company has more weight than the sector.
In my 20s my first real job setting was horrendous, and almost jacked in the entire career after a week. Luckily i was poached by a rival. They just said 'come and hang out at lunch time one day, no pressure, just see what we do, no interview'
they knew what they were doing, it was night and day, immediately accepted a job offer. When i handed in my notice my old boss seemed to know the drill!
In my 20s my first real job setting was horrendous, and almost jacked in the entire career after a week. Luckily i was poached by a rival. They just said 'come and hang out at lunch time one day, no pressure, just see what we do, no interview'
they knew what they were doing, it was night and day, immediately accepted a job offer. When i handed in my notice my old boss seemed to know the drill!
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