I just started a new job, 3months in and i hated it. The company is a well known and established, has alot of benefits and enjoyable. They celebrated alot of events for employees to unwind. I’m working with a small team for quality control, the team has been great. However, I find that the company has alot of system and online management work system in which it is difficult to grasps as a new hire. The training given for the work itself is insufficient as there are lack of trainers and manpower. Often they only show how things are once and left us to deal with it. I had almost 10 years of experience in the previous job for a similar role. It has alot of vast differences. In addition, whatever that we do are proved by signature so if anything goes wrong, it is on us. I initial plan was to join the company for a year and change my line of work. However, 3months in and I forsee myself not able to continue, especially when the leadership support has not been great and reflective of a good role model. It is affecting me mentally as I am stress and struggling at work, with no sufficient training and support. It is normal to leave a job in such a short period?
Hello user1391,
I hear that you are having a difficult time at your new workplace and feeling mentally burdened by your new job; I am sorry that you are not receiving adequate support to carry out the tasks required of you efficiently. I would suggest that reaching out to ask for assistance for tasks which you need clarity on could be helpful. However, I am also not sure how feasible this would be in your situation, given that there appears to be an expectation for you to grasp instructions on the first time. Do you have opportunities to communicate with your colleagues about your work? Have your colleagues and other people responded poorly to requests for help, such that you feel like you have to deal with things on your own?
I would say that leaving a job within six months of starting is not out of the ordinary. Indeed, there have been many people who have left their jobs after a relatively short duration for any reason, even if it might not happen as often as people who leave after six months. For what it’s worth, I myself had planned to stay at a certain company for one year before finding employment elsewhere. However, I began to feel that my position there was unsuitable for me around three months in, and I subsequently left the company under the six-month mark. I acknowledge that I was comfortable with doing this as I had sufficient finances to tide me through while looking for a new position elsewhere, though I did feel uneasy about not having employment in the meantime. In your case, I am not sure if this would be a factor in your decisions about your job.
I do believe that you might find it worthwhile to re-evaluate your plans given your current situation. You mentioned that you have almost ten years of work experience and you are looking to change your line of work after one year in your current company, but you are finding it difficult to continue. Might it be possible for you to bring forward your plans to look for a new job elsewhere? I am unable to advise if you should leave your current job now - everyone has different circumstances. Still, you could also consider taking a break while you search for a new role.
I understand how unpleasant it can be to sustain your energy in a job which you believe is unsuitable for you for any reason. I wish that your situation at your current workplace will improve in time, and that you will succeed in finding a new job at a company which can better meet your needs. Take care and all the best!
Hi @user1391,
Thank you for sharing your experience. I hear how difficult it’s been for you adjusting to your new job, especially with the lack of sufficient training and support. It’s understandable to feel stressed and overwhelmed when it feels like the resources and guidance you need aren’t available. Let’s unpack this a little further together.
It sounds like you came into this role with a short-term plan—one year with the intent to transition to a different line of work. While it’s completely valid to plan for your career, it might be important to reflect on how this short-term mindset could be affecting your relationship with the job. If you’ve already set a timeline for leaving, it could be creating a bit of distance between you and the opportunity for growth or satisfaction in this position.
Is there a part of you that feels like you’re not fully invested in the current role because you see it as temporary? If so, this might be contributing to the sense of discomfort or disconnection. Sometimes, a pre-conceived timeline can trigger a “flight” response when things get difficult, because there’s already a mental exit strategy in place. It’s worth asking yourself if you’ve given yourself the opportunity to fully immerse in the role or if the thought of leaving is already at the forefront.
When things get challenging—especially in new roles where expectations might not be clearly communicated—it’s natural to feel the urge to leave or find an exit. But consider this: have you been able to see your adaptability in action yet? Sometimes, the discomfort you’re experiencing is part of the growth process. Your resilience could be developing in ways you don’t see right away.
This might also be an opportunity to assess whether you’re pushing yourself out of your comfort zone in healthy ways or whether the situation is genuinely toxic and unmanageable. Is there a middle ground where you can feel supported enough to stay but still prioritize your mental health?
You mentioned having almost 10 years of experience in a similar role. This is an incredible strength, but as you pointed out, there are vast differences in how your previous role and this one operate. One thing to keep in mind is that while 10 years is significant, it’s possible that your previous environment had certain structures in place that made things easier to navigate. It’s not just about the years of experience but also the environment, leadership, and culture that shaped those experiences.
Could it be that your new workplace requires a different kind of adaptability or skill set than what you’ve been used to? Sometimes, the tools that worked in one place don’t translate perfectly to a new environment, and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean you’re not capable—it just means the learning curve is steeper right now.
You’ve already shown so much resilience by recognizing the gaps in training and actively seeking out ways to improve yourself (watching tutorials, clarifying tasks, etc.). That’s a sign of strength. You’ve faced obstacles before, and the fact that you’re aware of the difficulties shows that you’re taking ownership of your growth.
It’s worth reminding yourself that unless the job involves putting people’s lives at risk, there’s room for mistakes, learning, and growth. Are you putting unnecessary pressure on yourself to be perfect right away? In reality, adapting to a new work system often takes time—more than three months, in many cases. It’s okay to give yourself grace as you continue to navigate these challenges.
This might be a moment to pause and reflect on what you want from this job beyond it being a stepping stone. Can you find small areas of satisfaction or growth while you’re here, even if the job isn’t your long-term plan? Remember that while it’s tempting to focus on leaving, there might be valuable lessons and strengths you’re developing right now that you don’t fully see yet.
I encourage you to ask yourself: **What would it look like to lean into the role for the remaining time you’re here? Could shifting your mindset towards learning and resilience—even if just for the next few months—give you more clarity about your path forward?
Hello, I just posted one post ranting about office related issues as well. Although it may not be exactly the same, but I do feel your pain. I am 6 months (almost 7 months in October) into my job and I realised I really can’t handle my situation anymore. I’ve had anxiety attacks so bad to the point that my stomach churned, I felt nauseous, I lost my appetite to eat, and I even vomitted. But telling you these is to let you know, you are not alone and it’s ok to feel the way you feel. I too seek comfort in people who is experiencing the same thing as I am if not I would really have very negative thoughts.
Since you are very early into the company and if the above advices are not working for you, it’s best to not waste the time and quickly source for another company to work in. Part of me regret not doing that as I had wasted 7 months of my time, suffering through office politics and uncertainties, which fed to my growing anxieties. The worst part is that I cannot not have a job because I just received my BTO keys and renovations has to be done…
Regardless, let’s both Jia you and pray that things will turn for the better for the both of us. 
Thank you so much for your response and it does shed me some light in what I am facing. I’m glad that I’m not facing this alone and it is ok not to be ok. I totally relate to the anxiety and nauseous feeling. Not knowing how to navigate the new environment fully and being lost adds on to these. Nevertheless, as much as a stable job is important, I think stable mental well being too, it utmost important.
Hi FuYuan,
Thank you for your response and all the insightful advices. It does help tremendously in easing what I felt and has a point of reflection.
Hi Arrc,
Thank you so much for acknowledging and made me feel assured that what I felt is legit. It was difficult for me initially, to acknowledge what I felt as I has never felt it in my previous job. Furthermore, I grew up in an environment where having stable job, no job hopping, is important despite whatever challenges. I was conflicted to understand that sometimes these happen and it is also normal. I plan to give myself a timeline to navigate and adapt in the new role. However if it doesn’t go well and if I still persist to feel unsupported, disrespected which adds more to the stress, I will pursue an alternative path.
Well, sometimes we reach our level of incompetence, we’ve to admit it and then find something more suited to our station in life.
Hello @user1391 
! Thank you for sharing how you’re feeling. I see that you’re currently having a difficult time at your new workplace and it is completely understandable because you’re relatively new. In addition to that, the insufficient support makes it more tedious.
However, just wanted to reassure you that not everyone stays in a job for a long term although most people do stay in their job for at least a year but let’s not set it as the “norm”. Everyone has different jobs, competencies, job scope, and workload thus we really can’t say what is normal or okay. I think it is most important to consider your mental health and well-being, which should be the priority. If this job makes you feel that it is causing too much stress, etc., perhaps it is good to reconsider your position.
At the end of the day, if you decide to leave, just want to reassure you that it’s not a failure, you simply want to strive for the better and there is nothing wrong with that 
Hi @user1391 ,
Thank you for sharing with us about what you’re going through.
It sounds like you’re dealing with a lot of challenges, and it’s completely normal to feel stressed and overwhelmed in this situation. It’s important to prioritize your mental well-being, and if you feel that the job is taking a toll on you, it may be worth considering other options. Leaving a job after a short period is not uncommon, especially if the environment is not conducive to your growth and well-being. Your previous experience and skills are valuable, and you deserve to work in a place where you feel supported and appreciated. Remember that your mental health is important, and taking care of yourself should be a top priority.
If you need any support or guidance in navigating this situation, feel free to reach out. You’re not alone in this, and there are always resources available to support you through this challenging time.