Last week I received a great question from Ms. Career Girl reader Jill and decided to turn it into a blog post as many of us have been in similar situations. Jill is a very recent college grad who was quick to get it “all figured out” before getting her diploma. Now that she’s there, she realized she might have jumped the gun.
Please read Jill’s question/situation below and help a sister out by giving her YOUR advice in the comments section!
Dear Nicole,
I just graduated from college in May and was lucky enough to land an accounting job at a foundation I believe in (a rare combination!). I have my own apartment and I’ve made two new girlfriends here in my new city, but I’m starting to realize that I moved to a place I don’t have any personal ties to. None of my family and friends are here, and even before I moved here, I have never been in love with it.
I moved here because, honestly, I was just so excited to even get a job as most of my friends from college were struggling to do so. I figured my career was all I would need in this new city to be happy. Although I love the mission of my place of employment, I’ve started to realize that the opportunities for growth here are slim: I work with only 1 other person and the expectation is that I log 55 hours per week even though I only get paid for 35. You always said I should want my boss’s job, and I definitely do not want his!
Now for the advice: I’m pretty lonely and unhappy here and I want to relocate to London as most of my friends and some of my family is there. I’ve done some research online and have had luck with my job search so far. Do you think I need to stay at my job (and/or apartment) a certain amount of time before leaving? If given the chance, is it a horrible thing to move on so soon? Am I wrong for wanting to be with family and friends? Am I being immature for wanting to re-locate so soon?
Thanks so much for your help!!
Jill
Dear Jill,
First, thank you for being so honest in your email. The hardest part about making positive changes is first identifying and then ADMITING you aren’t totally happy. Kudos to you for identifying the source of your dissatisfaction right away, and for being proactive about getting yourself into a happier situation. Some people would spend years complaining and sulking and feeling the need to stay somewhere they are miserable.
I too am a huge family person and my friends have become my family since graduating college. I wouldn’t want to be far away from my “people” either. I personally do not think you are unreasonable for wanting to have a network and support system all around you.
As for your job, BEWARE: almost everyone I know hated his or her first job out of college! Many didn’t love their second job out of college either. This is totally normal and part of where you are at right now. BUT, you’ve identified some important things for next time around:
1. Going forward you should screen for companies that offer a clear career trajectory and opportunities for growth. My guess is that you were so focused on getting a job during senior year that you weren’t thinking about anything else. Don’t make that mistake the second time around!
2. Next time you interview, make sure to ask about the office staff, size and culture. If you had a great group of co-workers, you may feel completely differently about the city you are living in. I think it is fine to ask to meet with other staff members during the interview process to get their feedback too.
And on your job search- I’m glad to hear you are having luck! My guess is that finding accountancy jobs is a much easier venture than other fields! A site like Total Jobs (which will do more justice for you given that you are in the UK) seems like a great place to find recent graduate jobs.
So all in all, I say go for the move! Just make sure you are really moving for the right reasons and that this doesn’t become a pattern. My mother always says to, “bloom where you are planted.” Once you make the move, make sure to branch out and meet new people and commit to your new job.
PS- You may want to read my article about interview liars too so that you are sure to ask all the right questions and monitor your gut in your next job search/move.
Good luck!
Nicole