Klubbie
Recycles dryer sheets
Hi all, I am looking for some feedback on potentially "job hopping". A little about my work history to provide context.
I am 32 years old and graduated from college in 2005 at age 23. Here is my work history to date:
2005-2006 - Company 1
2006-2008 - Company 2
2008-2010 - Full time Graduate School (this included consulting projects which I have left on my resume but am considering removing or shrinking as they are not as relevant now)
2009 - Internship (summer between year 1 and 2 of grad school)
2010-2014 - Company 3 (this tenure included 2 promotions and management experience)
2014 - Present - Company 4
Company's 1 and 2 are not really relevant to my work experience at this point as my career has changed dramatically since grad school.
I fear I am getting close to job hopping if I change jobs again too soon. I left my company in 2014 because the manager I reported up through was a sociopath, and I was miserable and underpaid. The current job looked good on paper and hasn't been bad. But the work has largely been boring and the department has not had any stability. There is no strong leadership, and I do not feel challenged in what I do.
I have been with Company 4 since February and our entire team is 8 people (we are hoping to grow to 10). Since February, 4 people have left including the manager who hired me. We have a new manager coming in at month end who I am optimistic about, but it has still been a little unsettling seeing all the turnover. People have not been fired, but left of their own decision. Most of the people leaving are doing so because of work visa issues.
As you can tell the department I am in has had a lot of turnover. It is also very unorganized (it is a newer department that is still maturing) with minimal management support right now since our manager left. I believe though that this is due to my boss leaving and once a new manager is in place, this will change. The leadership over us since our manager left has been pulled in many directions and they are doing the best they can, but bottom line is there are only so many hours in a day, and I get that. That doesn't mean it isn't frustrating.
I am not convinced the work is going to turn into what I expected it to. I do feel that I am working hard and doing all I can to make the most of the job. I have received positive feedback from my manager before he left, as well as the interim manager's handling things in his absence. I have even been commended for taking a leadership role during the turnover and turmoil we have had. I just think I may have gotten the wrong impression about how much I would have liked the work when I took the position, as even with the positive feedback I am not feeling very engaged in my work.
I am also struggling with the lack of leadership. I am not someone who needs to be micromanaged, but I believe I work best in an environment where I have a strong leader with a vision that needs someone to execute on. I hate admitting that, but I think if I am being honest about my skill set that is reality.
It was by far the right decision to take this job because my old position had run its course, but I am wondering how long is it appropriate to give a new job a chance to flesh out? At what point do I just admit that the work isn't what I thought it would be and move on? If I leave in a year (give or take a few months) will I look like a job hopper? Or is it wise to let things mature a bit more over the next year due to all the change?
My plan at this point is to wait until the new manager comes in and give that at least 3-6 months to see how the department and position flesh out with new leadership as that could make a big impact. I am just thinking ahead because I would have thought by now I would have felt more comfortable in this role. I don't want to jump to conclusions though due to the turmoil we have had in the group. But at the same time I don't want to stay in a job that is boring just to stay and keep hoping I find myself more interested in the work at some point.
I welcome to any thoughts and input.
I am 32 years old and graduated from college in 2005 at age 23. Here is my work history to date:
2005-2006 - Company 1
2006-2008 - Company 2
2008-2010 - Full time Graduate School (this included consulting projects which I have left on my resume but am considering removing or shrinking as they are not as relevant now)
2009 - Internship (summer between year 1 and 2 of grad school)
2010-2014 - Company 3 (this tenure included 2 promotions and management experience)
2014 - Present - Company 4
Company's 1 and 2 are not really relevant to my work experience at this point as my career has changed dramatically since grad school.
I fear I am getting close to job hopping if I change jobs again too soon. I left my company in 2014 because the manager I reported up through was a sociopath, and I was miserable and underpaid. The current job looked good on paper and hasn't been bad. But the work has largely been boring and the department has not had any stability. There is no strong leadership, and I do not feel challenged in what I do.
I have been with Company 4 since February and our entire team is 8 people (we are hoping to grow to 10). Since February, 4 people have left including the manager who hired me. We have a new manager coming in at month end who I am optimistic about, but it has still been a little unsettling seeing all the turnover. People have not been fired, but left of their own decision. Most of the people leaving are doing so because of work visa issues.
As you can tell the department I am in has had a lot of turnover. It is also very unorganized (it is a newer department that is still maturing) with minimal management support right now since our manager left. I believe though that this is due to my boss leaving and once a new manager is in place, this will change. The leadership over us since our manager left has been pulled in many directions and they are doing the best they can, but bottom line is there are only so many hours in a day, and I get that. That doesn't mean it isn't frustrating.
I am not convinced the work is going to turn into what I expected it to. I do feel that I am working hard and doing all I can to make the most of the job. I have received positive feedback from my manager before he left, as well as the interim manager's handling things in his absence. I have even been commended for taking a leadership role during the turnover and turmoil we have had. I just think I may have gotten the wrong impression about how much I would have liked the work when I took the position, as even with the positive feedback I am not feeling very engaged in my work.
I am also struggling with the lack of leadership. I am not someone who needs to be micromanaged, but I believe I work best in an environment where I have a strong leader with a vision that needs someone to execute on. I hate admitting that, but I think if I am being honest about my skill set that is reality.
It was by far the right decision to take this job because my old position had run its course, but I am wondering how long is it appropriate to give a new job a chance to flesh out? At what point do I just admit that the work isn't what I thought it would be and move on? If I leave in a year (give or take a few months) will I look like a job hopper? Or is it wise to let things mature a bit more over the next year due to all the change?
My plan at this point is to wait until the new manager comes in and give that at least 3-6 months to see how the department and position flesh out with new leadership as that could make a big impact. I am just thinking ahead because I would have thought by now I would have felt more comfortable in this role. I don't want to jump to conclusions though due to the turmoil we have had in the group. But at the same time I don't want to stay in a job that is boring just to stay and keep hoping I find myself more interested in the work at some point.
I welcome to any thoughts and input.