What to do if you’re not enjoying your graduate scheme

Picture this: You have started your graduate scheme role and you’re filled with enthusiasm and excitement, embarking on a role in your chosen industry. I say industry, since graduate schemes are mainly for industrial choices rather than specific job roles. You settle into the job, getting on with your initial tasks. 3-6 months in you start hating it, and you’re getting confused as to why. Here is a guide on what to do next before you make some extreme decisions.

Is there a tangible “Why” to not enjoying your graduate scheme?

This is very important as if you can identify a specific reason as to what makes the job unenjoyable, then your life becomes 100x times easier. How you find the why is by asking yourself about your general work programme.

• Is it a particular project you have been given?
• Is it the work environment? (hot/cold environment, lonely)
• Is it your colleagues? (They can suck sometimes, but are they the main reason)
• Is it how you’re managed?
• Is it the work culture?
• Is it the kind of work you do?
• If you were doing this job in a different industry (where applicable) would you enjoy it more?
• If you were paid the CEO salary to stay in this job, would you stay?

Also, you can try imagine your exit interview or being asked at an interview about “why you are leaving this current job”. The answers will be similar, as you shouldn’t slate the company in either situation, but you will be thinking it, and then rephrase it in a professional manner.

• “My manager sucked” – I found myself incompatible with the management style at the company, and would prefer to be under management with [ x, y and z] behaviours/values.
• “Toxic work culture”- I found where I suggested improvements to the culture, no suggestions were taken on, and I was uncomfortable staying in that environment.
• “Hated my colleagues” – I found it hard to embed myself within the team, and did not feel valued for my contributions, even after voicing my concerns
• “the work was so boring”- As excited as I was to be involved with the projects, they did not challenge my skillset.

Why established

The first step can take a while, especially if you find yourself not enjoying the work after about 3-6 months. The new job “highs” can last a while, so definitely give it sometime, before making any serious decisions. One task might suck, but the other might be great, and if you can identify what it is that liked about it, and what you hated about the other: Communicate that with your manager.

“People mainly leave because of management, not because of the job”. Not all people, but management is a main cause. They are an issue if they are not giving you work that convinces you stay and enjoy the work.

My experience

My managers (Shout out to you 😊) are brilliant. When I reviewed a completed projects, I shared my struggles, my likes and dislikes towards the work. And even if my next project won’t completely align with my review, the project after that would. And it was amazing. I truly respect my managers for that. Moral of my point, “Once you have the why first communicate it to your superiors”. There is a good chance that they can adapt to you. The company is not trying to get rid of you or make you hate the job. They can make modifications to an extent to make your employment more enjoyable, but you have to initiate. DON’T SUFFER IN SILENCE (yet).

If they can’t handle you, get ready

So, you have communicated your concerns/discomfort with your role. Well done, now the ball is in their court. To make discussions easier, try and come up with possible solutions that are reasonable, so they have an understanding of your expectations. Regardless of wherever you are in the company, you are an asset to them, especially your managers. They should strive to keep you as long as they can, because you provide great benefit, even if you can’t see the result.

You have had a discussion, and the end verdict is that they can’t do anything for you, or they say they will and then they don’t. Hella sus.  I’d say raise it up another time. Give them the benefit of the doubt. “maybe they forgot”, “maybe the process got lost in production”. But don’t give in a third time, by then that’s intentional.

If this happens to you, DON’T BOUNCE YET! Just be ready.

Your next steps here can be:

• If you reasonably like the job, but need this change being made. Go above their heads to higher management.
• If you don’t mind the idea of leaving that department, but don’t want to leave the company (convenience, location etc), check out your skillset for other departments. (You’re still an asset to the company, even in a different department)
• If you want to wash your hands of that place, DON’T LEAVE UNTIL YOU HAVE SIGNED THE CONTRACT OF THE NEXT PLACE.

Side note: your skillset

Since this post is about graduate schemes, there are some bonus’ about that. Grad schemes mainly involve the opportunity to experience different parts of the company and departments. This means you can get a free trial to a potential role that you might like, in a different department. Put in the case for it, as they shouldn’t limit you, because the point of a graduate scheme is to develop you from an academic student to an individual with an employable skillset.

I’d recommend taking that up. As in those different scenarios you can get extra training opportunities which are brilliant for your CV, regardless of whether you stay in that company or not. Where you can, stay for the duration of the scheme to develop an attractive skillset.

So, you have decided to apply for other jobs

You can choose to apply for internal company jobs, or external jobs. Don’t leave your job until you have a new contract, unless its an extreme situation, or you have the resources to be unemployed for a while. Remember: This next step you are competing against a different pool of people for a role, it’s not just recent grads, but people making career moves, which means more competition and you need to stand out.

Let your management know when you’re ready. Some people tell them that they are looking and to be aware of the notice letter coming through. Others don’t tell them until they hand in their notice. It’s up to you at that point.

Whatever you decide to do, wherever you are in this journey, I wish you the best. It can be scary and nerve-wracking. But just so you know:

You matter in the workplace, and you shouldn’t suffer in silence in the long run. Make the decision that puts your needs first. And you’re not ungrateful or selfish for making your decision.

Moral of my story:

• Find your why – This will help identify what your next steps should be.
• Communicate with your manager – They can’t try to improve your situation if you don’t let them know.
• If nothing changes after your intervention, get ready – You have given them sufficient warning, so start getting yourself in a position to bounce.
• Apply to whatever inspires you and choose wisely – I wish you the best.
• Graduate schemes are to develop you from an academic student to an individual with an employable skillset – It’s a bonus if they can keep you for employment, but it’s a steppingstone in your career ladder.