Q:  I left my last position in a hurry.  I was so eager to get out that I resigned without giving my supervisors much explanation or time to organize and fill my role.  I thought I was leaving to take on the “Dream Job,” but, I am two weeks into it and realize this is the position from hell. My interviewers misrepresented everything from the size of my staff to my compensation and budget.  They are also requiring me to take on additional responsibilities, and this is not the half of it.  What can I do? 

A:  This is tough.  If you leave hastily, you will have to account for the short time at this new position in your interviews going forward.  Yet, your situation seems insufferable. Therefore, I have a number of actionable options for you to consider.

You are in a sensitive place, so, avoid opening up too candidly to your new colleagues no matter how much you believe you were misled.  Instead, attempt to confidentially speak about the situation with those who hired you.  If not with those who hired you, see if you can identify at least one person at your new job with whom you can have a real conversation about what is going on and, perhaps, identify some solutions. Meanwhile, keep in mind that being overly negative will get you nowhere.  Try to identify even one aspect of the role that appeals to you.  If you have to stay put for a little while, focus on developing and excelling in this particular aspect of your new role.

Another approach might be to see if you can renegotiate or reconfigure your current role so you have fewer responsibilities and/or are appearing at work less often.  Your workplace irritation might then lessen. Or, perhaps, there is a way to bridge the gap between this position and your next role. To that end, consider suggesting reframing your role into that of a consultant so you can take a bit of time to locate something better and more suitable to you in the marketplace.

If possible, another option is to revisit your prior role. Is there someone at your former organization to whom you can reach out?  I realize even that is difficult as you might be perceived as a traitor or, at the very least, someone who is undependable. And, even if you negotiate your way back in, former colleagues and supervisors could very well always wonder if and when you are about to again jump ship.  However, with the situation at this new role as unbearable as you suggest, you might want to take the risk of reaching back.

Another approach is to simply cut loose, and upgrade your credentials.  Sometimes, staying in place is more costly than moving on even if you have to make explanations down the pike.  Investigate the possibilities of some kind of professional development program you can take to upgrade your skills while you look.

I do not know if you have the means to take a break from work altogether to sort this out. But, in the midst of these various options, a few things are clear.  First, you must reframe your response to this disaster to navigate your way out of it.  Second, you may have to rebuild relationships and reach out to people whom you have previously dismissed or disregarded.  As well, you need to take a candid look at the risks inherent in staying in this uncomfortable place versus the risks of taking on a full or partial search and/or professional development upgrade.

Contact Karen Alphonse at Karena@execSearches.com or visit ExecSearches.com for more information about our career coaching services.

ExecSearches.com is a job board for nonprofit job seekers interested in fundraising, management and executive nonprofit jobs.

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