Quitting a job after a month?

Question

I am an engineer. I recently left a job I had been at for 7 years. I had alot going for me there, was well respected and happy. I took another position at a similar company because it paid better and offered more opportunity and challenges. The company had "work life balance", 9-80 work schedule and flex time. I thought it would be a good opportunity in project management.

I have been at the new job for several weeks and I am miserable. The interview misled me. The culture is to work 7 days a week, 12 hrs a day and people are made to feel guilty if they dont work those hours. I have a 2 year old daughter and by the time i get home she is in bed and I never see my family. A manager told me it will probably be like this for along time, because the workload is so high. We are working through labor day and Christmas this year because we are behind schedule.

There is nobody to train me, and my boss does not know what he is doing. When I ask him to explain things, he is sketchy and doesnt answer directly. He shows me something for a few minutes and then turns it over to me to "own". When i ask for questions he sends me on a goose chase. THe other people supporting the project dont know what is going on either. They are all new.

After being there a week, he turned the project over for me to manage. It's a $2.4B contract and it is in big trouble. Over budget, behind schedule and it is complete chaos. I have worked stuff like this for years and I can recognize a poorly run program - this is the worst i've ever seen. Nobody else in the company wanted to touch it, so they put me on it. I am responsible for the cost and schedule and I am already answering to the government and executives about it and I have no clue what is happening. Not alot of backup and support from my boss.

My boss is distancing himself and he often goes to lunch or goes home early and throws me into meetings with the customer to fend for myself. I spend all day trying to prep for my next meeting. Everyone on the project is new (less than 6 months) and it is complete chaos. He thinks he is doing me a favor, but he is allowing me to fail in my acessment.

I was told I would be analyzing cost and schedule, and coordinating production, but it turns out I am more like a fall-guy and the name and face that gets associated with the project when it comes to communicating status to the customer. The workload is insane because many things have to be reworked and done multiple times.

The compnay does not have the proper project management tools in place, so it's fly the seat of yoru pants all day. I have the responsiblity, but not the authority or the tools to be successful.

At first I thought, ok, its just new job jitters, i will get past this. But everyone who works there tells me they feel sorry for me for being thrown on this new project, and that it makes no sense to throw a new guy into it. Everyone is very stressed and confused, and bewildered as to why i am on this. The managers talk it up like its a great opportunity for me, but i really dont see what is so great.

My ability to add value is hindered because of forces way beyond my control - things that should have happened years ago in the design.

My boss goes out of town alot and says he needs me to cover the meetings. When he gets back, the meetings i covered now become my responsibility.

The few people who seem to know what is going on will not get involved with me, either for fear of being sucked into the project or because they are protective of what they know. The experienced people are on the good project that runs smoothly.

I really feel like I made a mistake and I can not continue to live like this. In a year's time, I will probably learn what is going on, but by then the project will be done and the next one will start. THe program has a 10 year history of being like this. Since i've been there I have already had to slip the schedule because I am unable to get production accomplished. The engineering is faulty and nobody knows how to fix it.

I feel overwhelmed and I am angry that they would just throw a new hire after a few weeks into such a bad position.

It's almost like they just wanted to throw a warm body in there just to check a box. My boss is trying to get out of town as quickly as possible. He is young, inexperienced and disorganized. He can't show me how to do anything. He wants to leave in 6 weeks and then I will be by myself.

So I pulsed my old boss, who would love to have me back. I left on good terms, gracefuly, and they were understanding.

I have a window of opportunity to go back to my old job and not miss a beat. I will burn a bridge for sure, but at this point I don't really have respect for them for doing this to me. I have always had training and support in previous jobs.

Should I stick it out? I have never quit a job so soon.

Answer 1

Considering the work condition, I suggest you quit and find another employment or go back to your previous work if they will have you back. When you apply elsewhere, don't even mention this job on your work experience. Otherwise, take the challenge and turn it around (the project which no one wants) and stick it up despite the awful work hours.

Answer 2

I am an eng and your situation does not sound unheard of before. Recognize that the nature of many of these jobs are really chaotic, and there is an inferred, non-concrete obligation to exercise leadership without having formal authority. In this situation, always speak up about what is going on. You will not gain any respect or real rank by working overtime in a secluded silo, which naturally tends to happen in this type of setting.



It is unfortunately that you were misled about the hours. Complain politely and directly to those who need to know. You are not doing them a favor by keeping silent. They will just continue to follow the same flawed recruiting procedure which brought you into the mess.



There are two types of people - those who work will with structured environments, and those who work well with things just thrown at them. It is not your fault if you have to quit a job. If companies are smart, they will be adeptly finding the specific personality type or people with compatible skill sets for the kind of job that the company is trying to do.



One more thing to consider - it sounds really chaotic. Big question - how are the office politics? Is the atmosphere ok? Is there unfair corporate bullying or inappropriate behavior? How are interpersonal issues addressed? Those are an indicator of the general health of the company. One of the characteristics of a desperate or failing company is when politics override real leadership. I have seen things beyond belief and I have a saying - if any form of wrongful behavior is physically possible, then it will ever eventually happen or get played out, guaranteed.



Also, what is the general age group or marital status of your coworkers? Are they nomadic 20-something college grads? Are they 30-40s spouses? Are they 50-60s established old timers? That can say much about what people's priorities are, relative to work. I beg you to be a family man. Your kids are only young once. If you find yourself not being a good husband because of your job, please think about what is going on seriously. A divorce is more costly in many ways compared to running after a non-optimal career. Be cognizant that everything the company does will be in the interest of the company. That is the way the game is played. So be smart and stick to whatever decision you make - you are an engineer!

Answer 3

Either ask for an appropriate raise to make up for the workload and responsibility you've been given, or go back to your old job.



They must have been jumping for joy to get someone in there who feels enough guilt and responsibility to let them take advantage.



Don't take promises about things changing soon, yaddayaddayadda...it won't change.

Answer 4

Have you ever thought of becoming a monastic?



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastic