ScENARIO 1:

Finally, the employment contract is signed!

You had an uncomfortable feeling, but safe is safe. And already in the first few weeks you notice that there was a reason for your suspicions and you feel uncomfortable. Reasons can come from unsatisfied promises, unexplained expectations and ideas, or the chemistry does not fit.
 

SCENARIO 2:

The employment contract is signed, you happily start your new job. Unexpectedly, your superior announces that management is being replaced, the Board is changing, reorganisation is pending. This means that the work environment is changing both on the personal level as well as at the working level. This often does not correspond to what you signed up for. And here, too, the question arises as to whether this corresponds to your ideas and whether you want to stay under the changed conditions.

In both scenarios, the question is how you should behave tactically. As a rule, it makes sense to talk to your superior and review your expectations, i.e. your assessments, assumptions, and conclusions about the current situation as well as the behaviour of others.

 

BE WELL-PREPARED FOR THIS MEETING:

• Familiarise yourself again with the reasons (motives, motivators, values, goals, ...) You wanted this job/position and rate these aspects in order of importance for you.
• Go to the meeting with an interested appreciative attitude, in order to clarify with the relevant person what their expectations and objectives are. Ask questions to understand what your meeting partner really means (please turn off your own ideas!) and balance this with your priorities.
• Now you can evaluate the pros and cons and draw your conclusions for further action. If necessary, it is also worth discussing it with an experienced career adviser and developing a strategy - especially with regard to career prospects, the job market, and livelihood.
• If the result is negative from your point of view, resigning or a change in the probation period may be the means of choice and more sensible now than at a later date. The probation period is for both you and the employer to get to know each other and see whether it's the right fit - both professionally and personally.
• If you decide to apply again, take note of your priorities (motivators, values, goals) and ask questions related to these in the interviews. Only when you question your meeting partner's statements with the aim of understanding each other can you get a (first) impression.
• With your current employer, however, you should still reliably work on your tasks and contribute, because, despite prospective termination they should be able to speak positively about you. At this point you should keep your thoughts about changing to yourself, because you don't know when changing is possible.

What to watch for?

• For your motivation letters, job interviews, and networking, you develop a credible, factual, and estimable explanation for your change. Note: do not make any allegations or accusations against your current employer. This looks untrustworthy and does not make you look good.
• Ask for confidentiality in your motivation letter. Pay particular attention to companies that are connected to your employer - if possible it may be better to not officially apply here. Check as far as possible whether an application could have a boomerang effect for you, that is, your current employer will know about it.
• Pay close attention to who gets information from you and what they will do with it - especially for recruiters or head-hunters.
• Be careful with network contacts - only reveal your desire to change with absolutely trusted people. Xing leads the way - who knows whom is always astounding. It would be problematic for you if your current employer finds out from others that you want to change.
   

What is still important is that the next job should go as far as possible during the probation period and provide you with a perspective for approx. 3 - 5 years. Otherwise you will quickly be seen as a job hopper.

If you get a new employment contract, you have to resign from your current employer. You should notify them of this as soon as possible so that a replacement can be found as soon as possible for the former employment relationship.

BUT: Have a talk before the written resignation. Formulate an appreciative wording for this too. This allows you to continue to meet, for example, at events and trade fairs without reservations.
 

Claudia A. Cordt