Say you don't like a job, and you're there only a few months.

[Jan de Boer]

Say you don't like a job, and you're there only a few months. What is better for your career, for your CV? Leave directly, or just finish one or two years there?

I am okay, don't worry, but I am thinking of just taking something else. I am just unhappy here, and if I go now I just leave the months open and say I was unemployed for that period. This rather than having a bad mark on my resume. Also if I leave directly it's better for my present employer too, better than investing in the education of a new member, who will then go after maybe 1 or 2 years anyway.

[chris webster]

If you have a new job to go to and you stay in the new job a couple of years, probably nobody will care. But if you are looking for a new job only a few months after starting your current one, you should expect people to ask why. Of course, if you are applying for freelance contract jobs probably nobody will care because they're not offering you a long term job anyway. But having a long spell of unemployment on your CV can be pretty damaging, as a lot of people assume that there's something wrong with you if you can't find a job. If I were you I'd think of a good explanation why your current job isn't right for you, and why this situation would not arise in your next job. In view of some of your previous posts, are you sure you wouldn't be happier working as a freelancer?

[Jan de Boer]

Yes, I know what you are referring too. I never seem to care much about were I am working. I mean socially. I am technically that good, I can catch up any, free lance, job, and people are happy with my work. So why not just take assignments? Also, considering my previous posts, I am always irritated by something... I know myself!! If I leave here, then probably in my new job, I won't like everything either. Nevertheless, there is no real disaster going on. I get along with my colleagues. I solve the problems. So no panic. Just wondering what I should do. :-)

[Jan de Boer]

Just one question. What about that long period of unemployment. How long is long? Say only half a year, would employers care? That's almost a long vacation or sabbatical, or not? And I do not have a really 'bad record' on this anyway. I have like 20 years of experience. I was unemployed for two very small periods. One month in 2005, two weeks in 2013. That is all. Making these two weeks in 2013 a few months won't matter? At least that was my thought. Correct me if I am wrong.

[Campbell Ritchie]

So you want to lie about a previous employer? What is going to happen when you say

Worked for XYZ plc Dec 2011 - July 2013

Unemployed Aug 2013 - Dec 2013

Worked for PQR plc Dec 2013 - Aug 2014

… and PQR's reference starts thus?

JdeB joined us after a few months working for ABC plc in Jan 2014

[Jan de Boer]

Yes, thanks, I did not think about that one! I must say, people don't always check references. Also, I won't explicitly write on my resume that I was unemployed. I'd rather just won't mention it. I have done more small projects, side jobs, I don't think are worse mentioning. Mainly language translations. But then if they ask, I won't lie of course.

Also, there was something annoying how I got here. I was made redundant per 1-7-2013. I had two job interviews the third week of June. (And to be complete another one the week before that, which failed. Hence 3 in total.) The first one, my present employer, directly offered me a contract. The second one wanted to have a follow up interview with me. I actually liked the second company better, but I was, a little bit, talked into signing for the first job, which looked good also, and was already certain. Like 'if you don't sign they may offer the job to someone else, so you must sign now'. Calling me 10 times in one day, whether or not I already made the decision. Literally!

[Campbell Ritchie]

I can understand you going for the first offer; we say, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” here in England.

[Jan de Boer]

It's hard to estimate how the job market is. That is also why I chose that one bird in the hand a few months ago. I can take a risk, and go for another job. But, was the fact that my second interview was already a job offer just coincidence? I know these things can switch very rapidly. Now I am, maybe, wanted since I know the right technologies. But if you have a few had marks on your CV, which would include leaving here after only a few months, suddenly you can be that guy where, indeed, 'there must be something wrong with'.

So I am doubting about a few options I have:

1. Just stay here ~2 years. It's not that bad.
2. Leave now directly. The shorter the time, the less it's seen, obvious, remarkable.
3. Get some certifications, stay here one year, then apply for new jobs.
(If then I fail in the new job, I got some extra 'arguments' to compensate the bad marks.)

[K. Tsang]

So you are in your job for about 2 years ... wanting to leave because of <fill in blank>? Many things can fit.

Whatever your reason, start looking if not already or continue searching if the right job hasn't appear. Once you have a job offer then hand in the letter.

On the flip side, if you have just started a new job and want to leave, then it depends on several notes:
1. are you within the probation period (usually 3 months)?
2. doesn't meet your expectation compare to job description (when you applied)
3. contract based or perm?

The first one is easy, leave immediately the earlier the better. Don't ask for reference under these situation. There's no point.

If the job is contract then this may make or break your decision. Because short contracts you can live with just don't renew. Yet long ones and the projects you work on may change your opinion over time.