- Whether to mention a pregnancy in a job interview
- A possible meeting protocol
- What are an end-user's responsibilities?
- Another take on opening PCs, or not
- Getting some process going
- Selling a more open environment to management
- Running an effective meeting
- Licensing rules for virtual machines
- The ROI of metrics
- Legal challenges to virtual machines
September 17, 2006 | Comments: (0)
How long should you give a new employer?
Dear Bob ...
I recently was let go from a job, but lucky enough to find myself choosing my next move as I had multiple options with new companies. I made, at the time, what seemed like the best choice, but now, a few weeks later, I am second guessing.
Basically, during the time I have been here, I have done what I consider to be nothing. I spend about 20 minutes a day doing actual work and the rest of the time doing whatever I want. I know this sounds like a dream job to most, but the reality of it is that I am bored and eager to continue my career. I have repeatedly asked my boss for work and he is very well aware that I am doing nothing, but the respsonse I always get is to just be patient - I will be swamped before too long.
So my question is simple: How long do you wait at a new job before determining if you made the right decision? I still have other offers on the table... but not for too much longer.
- Waiting
Dear Waiting ...
Before answering your question, I'm going to answer a question you didn't ask, and perhaps should have: With no official responsibilities, how should a new employee fill his or her day?
Right now you have a terrific opportunity to learn the company, assuming your boss will approve of your doing so. If you do, you'll create a double win: First, if your boss is right and you do end up swamped, you'll be in much better shape to do your work. And second, if your boss isn't right, you'll be in a great position to swamp yourself with work, because you'll have learned any number of places in the company for which you can generate your own assignments and successfully fulfill them.
That doesn't, however, answer the more general question - how long should you give a job before deciding it's just a bad fit. My best advice on this: Give it enough time to be certain, and not a day longer. You can simply leave a one- or two-month job off of your resume altogether without creating a gap, so that isn't an issue.
But be certain. Just because you're temporarily idle doesn't mean either the company or your position is a bad bet.
- Bob
Posted by Bob Lewis on September 17, 2006 04:05 PM
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Three books. Three ways to change the world, your life, or at least Bob Lewis' bank account. Leading IT: The Toughest Job in the World distills the world of IT leadership into eight learnable skills and gives you concrete, practical techniques for each one of them. Bare Bones Project Management: What you can't not do makes project management manageable, even for first-time project managers with no formal training in the discipline. ManagementSpeak: What managers say/What they mean … well, it won't help your career, and won't make you a better manager. Mostly, it will make you chuckle, guffaw, and maybe even chortle. Make friends - it's the perfect gift for anyone who has ever suffered through one of those meetings. Order your copies today! |
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