Leaving a job (for another job) after 6-9 months?

[Anonymous]

I have been at my job for 6 months and have been feeling it is a not-great fit for the last 3-4 weeks. It is a very small company (fewer than 10 people) and only one boss - the principal/owner/president. We'd gotten along very well up until she asked me to lead a large project and we began to butt heads.

The communication is poor, she tends to randomly change the project's direction, and leaves us scrambling to get the client the deliverables. Then she somehow is an expert at making the workers feel that it's their issue. She got rather defensive when I was simply bringing up some "lessons learned" and figure out how we can avoid these challenges on future projects to make them go more smoothly. In one breath she will say we need to change the processes and in the next she will revert to business as usual. After some general discussion with another colleague this is not new and it's been cited or assumed as the reason why others have left the company.

Anyway my point is this seems more the culture of the company as she has built it, and not just our random run-ins on this one project or my imagination. I have started to look at what else is out there but am concerned that leaving after 6-9 months looks bad - not only as a bridge burned but to the future employer who could perceive this as flighty and unreliable.

What are others' thoughts? Have you ever left a job before a year's time? What was your reasoning?

[Anonymous]

what industry

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what industry

Public Health/Epidemiology/non-clinical Research

[Anonymous]

How long were you at your prior job? I think the job-hopping thing is most concerning if it's a pattern--several jobs that you left before a year. But a one-off wouldn't be such a problem--your claim that it was just a bad fit for you would seem more credible than if you had several hops to explain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How long were you at your prior job? I think the job-hopping thing is most concerning if it's a pattern--several jobs that you left before a year. But a one-off wouldn't be such a problem--your claim that it was just a bad fit for you would seem more credible than if you had several hops to explain.

Length of stay at jobs in past has been 2+ years, 1.5 years, nearly 2 years. I left each of those because of a life happening, not because of dislike - went back to school, worked while in school in intern-type position, moved out of state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How long were you at your prior job? I think the job-hopping thing is most concerning if it's a pattern--several jobs that you left before a year. But a one-off wouldn't be such a problem--your claim that it was just a bad fit for you would seem more credible than if you had several hops to explain.

Length of stay at jobs in past has been 2+ years, 1.5 years, nearly 2 years. I left each of those because of a life happening, not because of dislike - went back to school, worked while in school in intern-type position, moved out of state.

And the move out of state was due to DH job transfer - would've stayed at that one for awhile as I really, really enjoyed it! Alas...

[Anonymous]

I'd start looking--for all you know, it could take a while to find another job that's a better fit. Since you don't have a pattern of bailing after just a few months, I think most potential employers will understand and it will just be a blip on your resume.

Also, I don't know how close the community in your field is, but if your boss is a PITA to work for, I bet that other people outside the company know this and will not blame you for wanting to move on.

[Anonymous]

If you can tough it out for a year, that would look better, but if not, it won't be fatal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd start looking--for all you know, it could take a while to find another job that's a better fit. Since you don't have a pattern of bailing after just a few months, I think most potential employers will understand and it will just be a blip on your resume.

Thanks, yes I've decided to start looking now, figuring that it could take some time which would be okay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what industry

Public Health/Epidemiology/non-clinical Research

NP, if you don't mind me asking, what organization? I'm currently unemployed and looking for a job in that field (that's my background).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what industry

Public Health/Epidemiology/non-clinical Research

NP, if you don't mind me asking, what organization? I'm currently unemployed and looking for a job in that field (that's my background).

She's not going to tell you the name of her 10 person company that's she trying to leave on a public forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what industry

Public Health/Epidemiology/non-clinical Research

NP, if you don't mind me asking, what organization? I'm currently unemployed and looking for a job in that field (that's my background).

I don't feel comfortable giving the name. I'm sorry you're having difficulty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what industry

Public Health/Epidemiology/non-clinical Research

NP, if you don't mind me asking, what organization? I'm currently unemployed and looking for a job in that field (that's my background).

I don't feel comfortable giving the name. I'm sorry you're having difficulty.

Understandable...thanks anyway!

[Anonymous]

Agree, start looking now, cite the culture, and move on when you find something better or less dysfunctional. Searches take a long time anyways.