Quitting a Job You Just Started: What to Do If Your New Job Isn't the Right Fit

Sometimes a new job just isn't the right fit for you. You may realize this quickly — even within days. Read on to discover how to quit a brand-new job and land on your feet.

Red Flags That Are More Than Just a Sense of Needing to Acclimate

Quitting a job is never easy, but there are three major red flags that indicate you may need to leave a job even after you just started. Here’s how to assess whether you’re not just feeling the discomfort of a new situation, but something more fundamental.

1. The Position Is Vastly Different Than You Expected

Was your position described differently in the job ad or during interviews than what it turns out to be in reality? Then it doesn’t matter if your role was a perfect fit on paper — this discrepancy is a major red flag.

2. A Revolving Door of Talent

After you start, you may learn that the person in the role before you was there for only a few weeks or months. If there is a high turnover rate at the company, try to find out why. A toxic work culture is a valid rationale for quitting a job you just started.

3. Apparent Burnout

Are people working long days? Do they seem not to care about their job anymore? Do they make negative comments behind managers’ backs? These are signs that the job may be burning people out.

How to Resign Gracefully

There are multiple steps to quitting a job on good terms, but make sure to act on the following in your resignation letter:

• Briefly and clearly state when you’re leaving.
• Search for something — even if you’re secretly happy to be leaving — to thank your boss and company for.
• Include your commitment to ensuring a smooth transition.
• Don’t offer a critique. You want to quit without drama and keep your professional reputation in the industry intact.

Should You Put That Job on Your Resume?

Your resume is your own personal marketing document, so it makes sense not to include all of your jobs, particularly those with shorter stints. Short-term jobs on your resume may look like job-hopping to prospective employers. Make sure to have a clear, honest response to explain your resignation if your interviewer asks about any gaps on your resume.

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How to Get Back Into Your Job Search

Here are a few tips to speed up the jump to your next role:

• Review your resume, ensuring you don’t include any common mistakes that automated resume screening tools will use to filter you out. You can use iHire’s resume tools to score your resume against a particular job posting and determine whether your listed skills match the employer’s criteria.
• Follow up on applications after a week instead of waiting to hear back.
• Tap your network for opportunities. Update your LinkedIn profile and get back in touch with old contacts.
• Reach out to companies proactively. Are there any companies you would love to work for? Send your resume to their HR departments and look for networking opportunities.

How to Go Back to an Offer You Declined

First, staying in touch with recruiters and contacts at companies you’ve interviewed with (if you liked the companies) is always wise. But if you haven’t stayed in touch, here’s what to do:

• Research the company to see whether it’s hiring for the same role and whether the company is doing well so you can factor this into your thinking.
• Search LinkedIn to see whether your contacts are still with the company. Connect with people who are relevant to your position and the hiring process.
• Reach out and open up a conversation, mentioning that you intend to reapply and why.
• Learn to negotiate if part of the reason you didn’t accept was the pay or benefits offered.

Should You Go Back to Your Old Job?

If you don’t like your new job, one of the first questions you may ask yourself is, “Should I go back to my old job?” The good news is that your old company could very well be interested in offering it to you again. Hiring you back would likely be much cheaper for the company than searching for and hiring a new person.

As long as you’re not making a hasty decision out of fear — and you’re not ignoring red flags that made you leave in the first place — asking for your old job back is worth considering.

Quitting a new job is always a bit nerve-wracking, but it can be worth it to advance your career and find a better fit. Check out iHire’s resources for job seekers to navigate this transition.