Astonishingly one in three workers are in a job that is totally unsuited to them according to a recent survey conducted by ONS research.
This could be based on experience, competence or qualifications or even just a cultural fit. Whilst this is a worrying result, thanks to jobs boards and the normally static job market, it's still dropping and the percentage of those in employment who suited their skillset and cultural ambiance was at its lowest for more than a decade at 68.7%
How can you tell however that you are suited to the right job? From day 1 all jobs start with the pressure of a steep learning curve, all jobs feel strange at first and it always takes time to adjust to a new corporate culture, for those of you who are just starting out in your first jobs it can be very daunting. The probation period for a new job is generally either 3 months or 6 months. It is important to note that probation period is a good time for not only the employer to assess if they have chosen the right new employee but also for the new employee to gauge during this time that they have chosen the right employer. This is why it is extremely important an end of probation meeting is held and completed and the employee understands how they have fared and the employer can find out from the new employee if they could have provided more training for example. If you do find that your new job is not as it seems then do not wait until the end of the probation raise any issues with your employer sooner to rectify them and get you back on track to success. At AP Personnel we always recommend to every candidate accepting a job offer to ensure that they have a full job description so they understand fully their work parameters and it is in writing from their new employer what is expected of them.
If however the job really does not float your boat and you have thought about quitting then there is something fundamentally wrong! Even jobs that are going well can have their bad days, particularly if you are stressed and anxious and overworked. When these bad days become more frequent and are becoming more and more regular than something has to give. If your role does change to the original job description then this is a major red flag and you may have been mis-sold the job – this is when it is most important to re-read your job description and you have every right to bring your concerns to the HR department or immediate line manager. Sometimes a mis-sold job is due to a disorganised or an understaffed company, if your employer tells you they are going through a transitional period then do give them time to rectify the situation before jumping ship, after a few months if nothing has changed then you do have to think of your career and stress levels and if HR are not prepared to make amends then perhaps this is when it is time to move on.
Living on an island, it is common to hear candidates express their concern about the ‘high turnover of staff’ or ‘bad reputations’ they may have heard about potential new employers. At AP Personnel we fully support our clients and we understand some companies do go through a period of change but we advise candidates not to listen to on the street gossip but to go and find out for themselves about a company by being invited for an interview, then do not be afraid to ask direct questions to an interviewer like ‘what is the company’s staff turnover like’, how do they treat staff, do they invest in their training and future career building for example?
Most new job seekers going out to their first jobs place a healthy work culture as their number 1 factor when selecting a new job. They understand how important their overall wellbeing is to their work lives. No one wants to work in a toxic culture. It is important the HR departments are renewing policies and updating contracts to keep in line with the new times we are now working in. Always ensure that you select a company to work for who value their talent and invest in their futures.
Happy job hunting!