Posted By The Flux I am curious to get feedback or advice on what to do when you have made the wrong job selection and career decision. I started a job four months ago, all appeared good from the information and potential after interview etc, but reality is not living up to the stated or expected, and to mildly put it, have had an eye opening insight into poor management and the wielding of knives to save their own positions! The potential of the job could be there, if given the opportunity with the right line management, but long term structure of role and contracts doesn't seem forth coming at the moment, and therefore reviewing my situation. One thing that I am conscious of is how this will look on my CV, should I leave it for longer and see what happens, or should I pack my bags and get out of Dodge? If any one has any experiences with this or insights, I'd would like to hear them. Thank you.

Posted By Lilian McCartney There's no point staying somewhere where you are getting stresed over the frustration of not being able to carry out the intended job as you understood it. If there really is no hope of being able to influence changes then for your health's sake try somewhere else. Have an answer ready for interviews on why you are wishing to leave current post. be truthful but not nasty and phrase it round constructive to you rather then destructive to them. I would use phrases (needs to be how you would speak) I'm actively seeking a new position as having started in my current post I've found that the work duties do not quite meet my expectations in furthering my career. If asked for examples: say along lines (don't lie though they might know one another, I was hoping to be included in management decisions to improve the HS&W of employees thus making the company a more attractive employer. or hopefully new job would be nearer home? Just some ideas to work on Good luck Lilian

Posted By David Bannister Some years ago I made a bad employment decision and knew by the end of the 2nd week. It was a combination of unbearable commute, wrong working environment and going back to working for a company. During the 4th week I approached the MD and we agreed to part on amicable terms. I went back to my self-employed status and have never looked back. However, I know that this is an unusual situation and I was very lucky to be able to resume my work with my clients, each of whom had been informed of my new status and each of who were happy to continue their relationship with me. I know of an individual who has decided to stick it out for 12 months in a job they don't like, just so that it doesn't look too bad on their CV. As a potential employer I would be happy to accept an explanation for a short-term job as a mistake, provided the remainder of the CV is OK. We each have different expectations from work and have different tolerances to things that bother us. If we always get it right at interview we are lucky.

Posted By ClaireL Like others I was also 'misled' about a post I was offered. I found the role unbearable after only the first week and it was made clear that the job I thought I was getting was not going to happen. Luckily I was offered another job instantly elsewhere and so resigned after only one month. I consider this to be a short enough time to 'erase' it from my CV in the future. I think at four months you are pushing it in being able to erase it from your CV but not impossible. The longer you leave it the more of a problem it will become. I was able to tell my new employer that the job was not as I expected and they accepted that these things happen. You can look for another job but you really have to sell the negative as a positive. ie, yes, I know I've not been there long but the job wasn't what I expected and so I felt that in the interst of my career development it was better to get out sooner rather than later etc etc I think you either have to get out now or stick it out for a least 12-18 months so that it doesn't look bad on your CV in future.

Posted By MGF Honesty is the best practice, 'Conflict with management issues, asked to undertake things against your code of ethics' can all be used as reasons, there are always 2 sides to the story and yours will differ from theirs. Probably based on their perceptions that you are the health and safety bod, and anything at all to do with that is your remit, and its your fault if it not done. If you can, pop it on CV, explain reasons for your decision to leave, and even better if the employer previous to this can still give a good reference for future jobs etc, as you know you probably wont have a decent one from these, and it covers the requirement for an employer based reference. MGF

Posted By jason preston In my opinion you are better off putting yourself back out there in the job market if you are not happy regardless of time. I have done it a couple of times in the last two years and ended up much better off financially and career wise. Everyone is afforded a wrong decision. I was employed in my current role to do a specific job that never materialised, so I am quite downhearted at the moment myself. However if I went to a recruitment agent I know offers of interviews will come as before.

Posted By Christopher Black I go along with a lot of what is said but would feel that you should give it at least a couple of months more and then leave if you want with good reasons and rationale behind your decision. Even bad exeriences are valuable in the long term, if it doesnt kill you it can only make you stronger. I moved from a safe and cosy environment a few years ago into a somewhat more exposed position and felt that I had made a mistake after a few days because of my interactions with one individual, what I didnt expect was that another member of staff took it upon themself to mentor and counsel me, it wasnt long before i began to feel more assertive and confident. I still moved on after 2 years but gained much needed experience of working in adverse conditions and building the right network of like-minded colleagues. Think of what you might gain by hanging on a little longer because there is no job that is the golden egg. If you decide to go sooner expect to be queried on the short-term post, if a prospective employer doesnt buy your account then the job would have been a poor fit for you anyway so you lose nothing. Just be sure not to come across as someone who blames everyone else in the world for problems, most employers know about their own problems and expect to hire people who will work for change and not be easily put off. The only thing to guard against is your relationship with agencies who you might find use you as a makeweight on a shortlist to make a favoured candidate look more desireable, counterpointing your experience and quals against a questionable recent employment history. They will all deny it but i know from experience and inside information that it happens. TBC does talk some sense, but beware that a failure to disclose your full history is tantamount to lying in many companies eyes, you may get the job and then lose it. Your story will need to be very consistent and plausible and it might fry your nerves a little bit. If you have nothing to hide then it is best to go for the straight and narrow, the right employer will trust and respect your explanation.