Problem Solving – Did You Accept the Wrong Job?

It happens. The job of your dreams can turn out to be a nightmare.

Most of us start a new job with expectations that quickly prove different from reality. Interviewing is mutual selling; a process of maximizing and minimizing that distorts reality both for the employer and the employee. This is fertile ground for either misery or misconception when the job starts.

The trick is, which is it?

There is no advice that is appropriate for every situation. Suggesting either to stay and work it out, or to leave and move on, can be equally inappropriate depending upon the situation. However, if you are in this situation all the "on the other hand" arguments are just exasperating. What can you possibly do about such a problem?

Problems are solved with work, not with worry. Here is what I recommend to get unstuck.

Before you can possibly know what to do, you must know where you are. Take an inventory of the new job as you now see it. This process will help you to break the problem into smaller pieces so that you can evaluate and judge more effectively. Unless you quantify the data, you will be rambling around in endless mental exhaustion.

Begin by listing the important details of the job in two distinct columns labeled "plus" and "minus." Write down in the plus column every positive or pleasing aspect of your current job. Perhaps: good salary; commute; technology, etc. Write down in the minus column every negative or troubling aspect of the current job. Perhaps: company finances are desperate; unethical conduct; harassment; etc.

Be certain to list as many things as you can quantify, and be sure to include what is really troubling you. Add to the list (both plus and minus) any critical personal issues. Balance each plus entry with a minus and so forth.

Next, arrange the items in each column according to their importance. Put the most important item at the top of each column, the least important at the bottom. Evaluate and rank all items in between.

Then, number the rows of plus and minus items sequentially (one through eight, for example). For each row (number), pick which item (the plus or the minus) is stronger. Cross out the weaker item. This will leave one item in each row. The choices will likely be difficult to make and you will have to do some honest work to choose one over the other.

Then, count the items remaining in each column. Are there more items in the plus or minus column?

In general, if there are many more items in the minus column it is likely that the job is not right for you and you should look for another job. You will have learned something important in how you weighted and evaluated key aspects of the job. Listen to what your instincts have told you.

In this case, be discreet, start looking, and move on. If you made a mistake taking that job, correct it and do not waste any more time agonizing about it. A majority of negatives is usually just too much to fix so early. I would generally not tell the employer until you have another job. Give a professional two weeks notice and do a good job until you leave.

Despite what you might think, it is not uncommon for a job to prove a poor match for an employee or for a company. Both benefit if they act on it before either has made a serious investment. Choose something appropriate from your negative list to tell prospective employers. If your job history does not have multiple occurrences of short-term job hopping it is unlikely to hurt you.

However, if there are many more items in the plus column than in the minus column, it is likely that the job offers you something worthwhile, and you should work to fix what is wrong. Armed with your lists you can do something positive and turn a job around.

Start a dialogue with your supervisor about the items in that minus column. Put extra effort into solving the problems you have identified. You are likely to eliminate some of them, and most likely to improve the rest. At least you now know what to focus effort on, and you have identified pluses to add balance to how you feel.

If the "plus" and the "minus" score are even, then work the list again. Study the items, consider their ranking, make any appropriate adjustments. If you can’t get a majority one way or the other what does that tell you? Probably, to spend more time in the job and evaluate it again later.

Did you notice any magic in this process? No. It is just organized thinking.

This "plus and minus" exercise is a basic tool that works well for problem solving. By quantifying and analyzing a problem you can gain control over it. With good effort anyone can do it for any problem with helpful results.

And, if you do decide you made a mistake in accepting the job, read the Women in Business column Mistakes and Aftermath. Forgive yourself, and "Add the mistake to your experience and enhance your judgment with it."

Copyright © 1998, 1999 by D.E. Summerville. All rights reserved.

The advice and suggestions in the Women in Business column are solely those of the author. DC Web Women assumes no responsibility for its content.

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