Quitting a job after one month?

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numi

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Hi All,
A friend of mine has decided to leave a job after one month. He’s going to leave it off his resume completely. It was a situation where what he thought he’d be doing is very different from what he’s actually doing, and he’s also received an offer elsewhere that’s over 50% better than what he’s currently earning. The firm he’s currently with knew they were paying below market – as did my friend – but at the time, neither the firm nor he thought he’d be able to do better.
If you were in his situation, how would you explain your desire to quit the job? Would you mention compensation being one of the reasons? Normally, I don’t feel it’s important for people to mention compensation as a reason for departure, but given his short stint, I think it’s OK to say so especially because the firm had told him they knew they’d be underpaying him. I also think he could just say that the job wasn’t what he expected it to be, so he’s getting out sooner rather than later so the firm doesn’t have to keep investing in him.
What what you guys do? When is it OK to mention bad compensation as a reason for leaving?
 
Why do you have to give a reason for leaving ? Can’t you just leave and close the door on the way out ? :)
Do they give you a reason for firing you if you turn out too expensive for the job you’re doing?
 
I would definetely mention comp. Speaking from experience, if you’re getting paid signficantly below market, the employer will understand your situation. I think it’s important to emphasize this is is the minor reason for wanting to switch jobs, though. The more important reason is his desire to make a bigger contribution to the firm and have the ability to grow and develop his skillset.
 
mo34, you’re right in that I guess you don’t have to provide a reason. However, I’ve always done so because of (1) common courtesy and (2) transparency. I like to be honest with people, and even if they don’t like hearing what I say, I often find that people prefer frankness to sugar-coating. Trust is an important thing and is one of the most valuable assets that I, or anyone for that matter, can offer.
I’ve left a job and indicated that my reason for leaving was for a job where I had better responsibilities and compensation. I’d been there for two years and I didn’t think the firm should begrudge me for wanting to better my career prospects. Can the guy who’s only been at the firm for a month say the same thing?
BTW, Lanikai, if the firm matched his comparable offer, I still don’t think he would stay…but, I can’t say for sure. His reasons for leaving are really a mix of compensation as well as responsibilities. He’d been out of a job for a while and ended up grabbing the first thing that came to him (I think), and now that he’s gotten something better, he wants to move on again.
 
The vast majority of time, I vote for just being honest. Comp was part of the issue, so no reason not to mention it.
 
Well, you point out that the job is not what it was advertised to be (or he understood it to be), and the compensation is extremely low. He now has the opportunity to improve both, and - no hard feelings and all - but he owes it to himself to take that new opportunity.
Seems fairly straightforward, though mo34’s right that there’s no real reason he has to give a reason.
 
Oh – one thing I hadn’t mentioned was that this guy came across this opportunity through a a casual friend/acquaintance. So, there is some concern about burning bridges, and he wants to make sure to mitigate the risk of that happening. Would that change how you guys would recommend posturing his decision to quit?
 
at the end of the day he has to look out for his own career and id expect a friend to realize when/if he had a better opportunity he would take it. its just the nature of this business and from the sounds of the situation its a matter of when he leaves this role not if. I wouldnt be willing to pass up a chance to get on a better career track
 
If I got someone a job doing something they didn’t really want to do at a salary far below market, I wouldn’t be upset if they jumped for a better opportunity. I suppose others could see it differently since he knew the pay was below market, but you’ve got to look out for #1. Unless there’s a high probability that the bridge would later lead to great riches, I’d say it’s worth the risk of burning it.
 
I think that changes a lot of things. Your friend leaving in such a short time span is going to make that acquaintance look bad for recommending him.
Maybe he can try repay the favor by hooking the acquiantance up with this new company that evidently pays better?
Or very least get the acquaintance a gift of some sort.
 
The reaction will largely depend on the individual, and will be tough to predict. I know people who will say “That’s a d1ck move”, but at the same time I know others who, even when being in the position of first company, will say “Good for him for getting a better offer”. The bottom line is that any loyalty this person shows to the first company will almost certainly NOT be repaid in any way, and if both the position and pay are that much better, the person should have no trouble explaining it.
 
Numi, I would just state that the compensation is just way too low and if pressed, he can explain that there is someone else willing to value him properly. At the bottom of all of this is the fact that he doesn’t really like what he’s doing, making this decision not too hard. You also mentioned about the casual friend, well I understand that that might not go down too well for the guy that recommended him, but if your friend doesn’t like the position, I don’t think he should place too much emphasis on worrying about burning bridges, he has to do the right thing for himself and his career. That’s my opinion.
 
numi Wrote:
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> What what you guys do? When is it OK to mention
> bad compensation as a reason for leaving?
I don’t think it is bad to mention bad compensation; however, only if the said person says it eloquently (preferably with a glass of champagne in hand).
 
If he wants to be curteous, just tell the truth. It can’t be that insulting seeing that the company knows they were under market. If anything he should be insulted at his pay since they thought he would never find anything better.
 
1. “thought he’d be doing is very different from what he’s actually doing” - sounds like the firm sugar-coated the job description. happens all the time in some areas of the financial industry.
2. “offer elsewhere that’s over 50% better than what he’s currently earning” - an opportunity for career advancement that could not be passed up.
#1 is more important because it can really limit long-term career projection if the level of work is poor. If the new job is much better than the higher level of pay would be implied.
 
1. “thought he’d be doing is very different from what he’s actually doing” - sounds like the firm sugar-coated the job description. happens all the time in some areas of the financial industry.
2. “offer elsewhere that’s over 50% better than what he’s currently earning” - an opportunity for career advancement that could not be passed up.
#1 is more important because it can really limit long-term career projection if the level of work is poor. If the new job is much better than the higher level of pay would be implied.
 
So clearly the money is better and that’s part of it but it seems like the main motivator here is the job itself. I would phrase it as that rather than bringing up money. I don’t know it just seems more polite and professional to me.
 
I think it’s ok to mention something along the lines of the comp being “substantially different”. I would not drop specific numbers like 50%.
 
I think it’s ok to mention something along the lines of the comp being “substantially different”. I would not drop specific numbers like 50%.
 
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