Hate your job? If it doesn't suit you, you can quit

When Michael Lauer, 44, started working as a senior vice president for an Upper East Side-based global communications agency two years ago, he quickly realized it wasn't right.

"Within two months, I knew it was a mistake," said the Howell, NJ resident. The senior communications consultant would periodically travel two hours, arriving at 9am, while local workers would "walk around at their leisure".

He jumped into the fire with little opportunity to lead an important part of the business, something he called "one of the most stressful situations" of his career. The toxic culture and office politics prompted her to begin actively interviewing for other jobs.

"Whenever I brought up potential issues, the focus of the conversation quickly turned back to me — my actions, what I could have done differently. The accountability aspect didn't seem balanced at all," Lauer said.
Lauer jumped ship within months and pursued self-employment to "avoid those toxic inconsistencies."

He is now doing public relations and communications consulting while building a career navigation platform.

If, like Lauer, your new gig goes faster than a minute in New York, you don't need to stay there just for the optics.

Quitting – leaving a job soon after starting – used to be a stigma, leaving job seekers perceived as unstable flight risks. Thanks to the pandemic and a hot job market, that no longer applies.

According to the nonprofit Employee Benefit Research Institute, 22% of workers over 20 spent a year or less at their jobs in 2022. (The average tenure for workers over 25 was about five years.)

"The old rule of staying one year is no longer the gold standard in a work environment where changing jobs is not uncommon," said Diane Rosen, Ed.D., workplace expert, coach and president of dr-squared Consultants. , an Upper East Side business and human resources consulting firm.

Several reasons can catapult you to hit the pavement again. The job may be unethical, discriminatory, unsafe, highly stressful, a toxic environment, a dead end, or a bait and switch (not the same job that was advertised).

"If the job is such that you can no longer tolerate it, then leaving without a new job may be the right thing to do," Rosen said. "While it is helpful to be employed during your search, if you can clearly articulate why you are currently unemployed then this should not hinder your search."

Providing a reasonable explanation to potential employers is essential, as you refrain from attacking your former employer.

Sagar Rupani, senior managing director of staffing and recruiting agency Atlantic Group in Herald Square, said, "You could say, 'I learned a lot in my previous role and I appreciated the experience, but I didn't see it as long-term. growth opportunities there, that's why I'm exploring new opportunities.’â€

A few stints might raise eyebrows with discerning employers, as would regretting your former employers, but a stint doesn't have to be a big deal. "If you have a history of long tenures in previous roles and can provide a reasonable explanation for a short tenure, most employers will understand," Rupani said.

If you consistently hate your new job, be alert to spot red flags during interviews.

Claire Steichen, founder of Clear Strategy Coaching, a leadership development consultancy on the Upper West Side, said, "Some red flags are obvious, like employee turnover or a lack of promotion or a pay offer that you know is too much. low. Others are more about cultural fit.â€

Another flag could be a vague or non-existent job description. In May, Diana Edelman, 44, a creative who provides plant-based consulting and marketing to restaurants, quit a part-time job as a content strategist for a small remote marketing agency.

She knew her boss and after they chatted over lunch in January, she took the role and started in February, but quickly became toxic.

"I was constantly being emotionally manipulated," said the Alphabet City resident. The boss' bad behavior surfaced a month after the gig, as she repeatedly berated Edelman and her five colleagues.

When Edelman was tasked with personal assistant responsibilities, such as arranging cabs and meals instead of a content strategist, she tried to set boundaries by providing a job description and job statement, but kept getting "blown up ".

"I decided I was done and I wasn't going to subject myself to that toxicity anymore," said Edelman, who sent a polite email to resign.

In other situations, the new gig may be for naught because your career goals have changed. Tessa West, Ph.D., professor of psychology at New York University and author of the new book, Occupational Therapy: Finding a Job That Works for You (portfolio), said, "Start the new 'date' career identities before committing to anything. This comes from having conversations with people about what their work day looks like. This will help you develop clarity about new career identities.â€

Despite thorough research and soul-searching, you may want to document the issues and address them with your boss or HR before quitting. Unless your health and safety is in immediate danger, it may be prudent to pause before quitting work immediately, especially if you are a job seeker.

"Take a beat to self-reflect and avoid knee-jerk reactions and talk to someone you trust to talk to," Rosen said.

Evaluate the situation to see if it can be improved and if you can develop skills to advance your career in the long term. Also, crunch the numbers to determine if you can financially afford to leave.

However, in some cases, leaving may be the only option. "If the company doesn't have a great reputation, then it's better to get out sooner," Steichen said. “Consider your mental health. Will you feel better getting it out or will you suffer a lot along the way?â€

Once Edelman left, she felt like she could breathe again. She said of the toxic gig: "You can't pour from an empty cup and show up as you should in other aspects of life."