Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on FlexJobs.com.
You likely feel misled and let down if you’ve just started a new job and it’s not what you expected.
Maybe the position differs from what you were told, or perhaps the company culture isn’t what you thought it would be. Whatever the case, it can be tough to know what to do when your new job isn’t meeting your expectations.
Even though you just recently came on board, you’re not stuck trying to make the best of it.
If you feel like your new job isn’t what you signed up for, here are a few steps to help you determine why it’s different and help you decide how to move forward.
Signals You’ve Been Mis-Sold on a Job
It’s natural to feel a bit out of your comfort zone when you start a new job. You’re likely nervous about making mistakes and anxious about exploring the dynamics of a new team.
It can take some time to adjust, so feelings of uncertainty are perfectly normal.
However, if you feel like it’s more than simply new job jitters, look for these key signals that you’ve been mis-sold on a job.
1. You Feel Overqualified or Underqualified
Perhaps the job was advertised as an excellent opportunity for career growth. But now that you’re in it, you realize that you’re overqualified — or even underqualified — for the role. If you don’t have the right skill set, it will be hard to excel.
But before you jump to conclusions, ensure that you’re not simply in a transition phase.
Leadership may want new hires to explore the process from the ground up before they’re at full speed. Or, maybe the duties are a stretch because you are new, and you might be able to invest in some learning to get up to speed.
On the other hand, if the duties are permanent and you’re stepping back on your career path, you may be wasting time and energy.
Not only that, but you may struggle to communicate to future recruiters and hiring managers why you went backward instead of forward in your career development.
2. Your Responsibilities Don’t Match What You Were Told
If the tasks and responsibilities of your new job are drastically different from what you were promised, it’s a clear sign that there was a miscommunication.
Comparing what you were expecting and understanding how far off that reality is can help decide your next steps.
Gather all of the hiring materials, such as the job description, your offer letter, and any communications or notes from your hiring process. Map out what you were expecting the role to be and how you got to that conclusion.
Were the job duties explicitly stated, or did you fill in some blanks? Did you do your due diligence during the hiring process and ask clarifying questions?
If you realize that the error in job fit is a lack of clarity and communication, that can alter your perception of the company and the job.
However, if there was blatant misdirection or false advertising, you might feel like your trust is broken. In that case, moving forward productively could be challenging.
3. The Company Culture Isn’t What You Expected
It may be that the role itself is exactly what you anticipated, but the company culture isn’t. Admittedly, it can be hard to fully understand a company’s culture from the outside.
But new companies usually communicate the expectations around how the team works and acts during the hiring process.
If your values don’t match the company’s, it could be a sign that the job and the company weren’t appropriately advertised — whether it’s a lack of diversity, pressure to work long hours, or a corporate culture that doesn’t support out-of-the-box thinking.
Possibly more than your day-to-day duties, company culture can make a massive impact on how a job will fit long-term. If the culture is toxic or doesn’t align with your expectations, you need to take a careful look at why and how it differs.
Evaluating Your Options
Once you have gathered enough information about your situation and what went wrong, it’s time to evaluate all of your options moving forward.
1. Rule Out New Job Transition Periods
Could it be that you just need some time to adjust and familiarize yourself with the team and the tasks? Are you possibly working for a leader that’s hesitant to delegate tasks until you’ve proven yourself?
If it’s been less than three months since you started, consider this to be part of the transition period.
If the duties could be a foundation for the tasks you were anticipating, maybe give it some time. Get acclimated and learn the dynamics of your new team before you decide it’s a problem that needs resolving.
2. Discuss Your Concerns With Your Boss
Depending on the situation, approaching your boss about your concerns is often the best first step. Ask if anything can be changed or done differently to make the job more clearly match what was summarized in the job description.
Be sure to remain professional and nonconfrontational while doing this. Together, you might be able to create a timeline for an adjustment in duties that more closely align with your expectations.
3. Approach HR With Further Concerns
It is essential to recognize that HR is typically trying to help. If you are polite and diplomatic, they may be able to help you rectify the situation.
Be sure to bring notes and proof of the hiring materials that weren’t followed. It might be that the recruiter who posted the job and the hiring manager hadn’t fully communicated the definition of the role.
HR can often help provide a path for how you might be able to get closer to your job expectations or resolve deeper issues. Come to the conversation with an open mind and be willing to negotiate changes.
4. Consider Options if You Stay
Do you love the company as a whole and see future opportunities that would make it worth staying? Find ways to make the job more enjoyable. That might mean getting involved in extracurricular activities related to the job or joining various employee groups.
Can you use this time to pursue new certifications or trainings? Perhaps some assignments can overlap with other teams to grow your knowledge differently.
You might also seek out new relationships at work so you can get excited to come to work each week. Teammates may be able to provide feedback on how the role or internal career paths generally progress.
5. Explore External Options
It can feel defeating to pick up your job search again when you thought you’d found the right fit. But consider the long-term consequences of procrastinating if it’s a poor job fit.
For one thing, if you haven’t been in the role for very long, you might not even need to put it on your resume. Recruiters and hiring managers are more apt to overlook a short career gap. And staying in a role that’s a poor fit can lead to poor job performance.
Taking the time to pursue a new role and ensure it’s the right fit is often the best move if you determine that your current role won’t meet your career needs.
Finding the Right Job Fit
When you accept a role that doesn’t turn out to be what you expected, don’t let job search fatigue stop you from taking the steps to find your ideal job fit.
Whether you stay or pursue a new direction, ensure that your position clearly aligns with your long-term development goals.