Can I leave my job after only 3 months?
You finally landed a job, and it seemed like a great fit — that is, until you actually started. It’s only been a couple of months, maybe even weeks, but you’re already eyeing the exit. Right now, any role seems better than this one. Your only question: Will leaving a job after a short stint hurt your career?
The situation is a catch-22: You don't want to look flaky on your resume, but you also don't want to be stuck in a toxic or harmful environment. The good news is it’s a lot less black and white than you might think.
“In the past, the notion was to pay your dues in entry-level jobs if you're more junior in your career and to stay in a job around two years, so it doesn't appear that you're a job-hopper,” says Vicki Salemi, a career expert at Monster. “Those days are gone, so if you're in a toxic environment, the sooner you get out, the sooner you can pivot into a much healthier employer, boss and job.”
Of course, every job is different, and sometimes sticking around (if you can tolerate it) could benefit you. The important thing is not to make job-hopping a habit — and to be strategic when you’re navigating a potentially dicey situation.
Here’s what to know about when to grin and bear it, when to part ways and how to broach the topic with a potential employer.
When — and how long — to stick it out
Before you put in your notice, take some time to process. Remember: The first couple of months at any job are bound to be hard. You’re not only learning new skills, you’re also meeting tons of new people and adjusting to a new environment.
While there’s no hard-and-fast rule about how long to say at a job before pivoting to a new one — and there are always exceptions — Jim Sullivan, founder of the recruiting firm JCSI, recommends hanging around for at least six months to allow enough time to adjust to your role (and gain the skills necessary to pivot to another one).
If you feel you’ve already settled into your role, think through whether your struggle is related to a frustrating person or project that won’t be around forever. “For example, if you know a huge project is going to come to a close soon and problem employees would be moved off a team, that could be a reason to stay, or maybe it’s when your boss is set to retire in the summer,” says career counselor Sara Hutchison, CEO of the career coaching service Get Your Best Resume.
Creating a game plan can help make things less miserable if you’re trying to see it through. If boredom, for example, is the only reason you’re not loving your job, it might be worth pushing through a little longer and even leveraging the situation. Asking your manager for more responsibilities now could be a great way to showcase you’re a self-starter to your next employer, says Steven McConnell, director of Exceptional Resume Writers.
If you have the bandwidth, Salemi also suggests taking advantage of resources that could make this job more tolerable while preparing you for the next one. If your company has a budget for continuing education, sign up for an online class to build your skillset. Network with people outside your department, and volunteer for group projects where you can.
There are, obviously, a few scenarios where it might be appropriate to quit before the three-month mark, no matter how it affects your career path. According to Sullivan, if you’re dealing with outside obligations you have no control over, like a family issue or sickness, then leaving is worthwhile. You may also want to part ways if you’re having issues with management that human resources can’t resolve, if your job description doesn’t match what you’re actually doing or if you’re working in a hostile environment with toxic company culture.
How to talk about a stopgap job with a potential future employer
The first thing to know is a stopgap job doesn’t automatically disqualify you from a future job — especially these days, when workers are hard to come by. The key is to know how to address gaps with potential future employers, starting with your resume.
As long as it doesn’t create a huge, years-long gap in your work experience, Hutchison says it’s totally fine to remove short stints from your resume. Think through whether you’ll need to talk about that specific experience in interviews to land a job you’re interested in.
If you moved on quickly to another relevant position, you might not need the old job to justify your experience. If the position was notable but not directly related to the job you’re applying for, Hutchison suggests moving it to a new section called “Additional Work History,” rather than “Experience,” which should only contain the jobs that qualify you for the role you’re vying for.
In fact, you might use that stopgap as a conversation starter. In the interview itself, McConnell says you can use the short stint to emphasize what you value in a work environment and what you’ll bring to your new role. For example, if you quit because of a hostile work environment, be honest about what you learned and how you’d apply those lessons in your new role. You could say something like, “I discovered at my last job how important collaboration is for me, but the company culture didn’t support that. I’m looking for a job where I can freely share ideas and work as a team.”
As you navigate it all, remember that you’re interviewing your potential employer, too, so try to use the process to get a sense of the company culture and the team dynamic. “While it’s more challenging through a [phone] screen than in-person interviews, do your best to assess companies carefully so, hopefully, you can avoid another toxic situation,” says Salemi.
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