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Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

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Re: Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

#161

Post by krageon »

RhysU wrote: post #147
geofft wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not disagreeing with you, but OP specifically mentions being burned out, and I think for this specific situation it may be better to cut losses and go elsewhere. If you have the energy and enthusiasm for fixing broken things, this is great advice, ideally before the point of burnout / before six months (but after at least a month or so). But not every senior role has to involve cleaning up messes and picking politica…

Burning out is likely due to a lack of focus on concrete, actionable, blessed endeavors. Fixing everything at once is impossible.

> Burning out is likely due to a lack of focus

Folks do get burnout because of personal habits, but just as often it is due to the environment that they work in.

Re: Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

#162

Post by akudha »

itamarst wrote: post #54

A company I worked for once interviewed someone who had just started at a different company. We asked why he was leaving so soon, he explained he had some differences of opinion and that it wasn't going to work out well. He seemed great, we hired him, he was indeed great. After we'd hired him, we asked about the old company again. "Oh, it was an utter shitshow" and he went on a long and very compelling rant about how…

I dunno, unless some criminal stuff is involved, I feel like it is not the business of an employer to probe why a candidate left their previous job in six months. Maybe it is a red flag if their entire resume is filled with 6 month stints, if it is just one job, why bother?

Also, the candidate can say something like "the contract ended" or something generic. What is the point of talking about the shortcomings of their previous job? The interviewer and the interviewee should be interested in what they can do for each other, no?

Re: Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

#164

Post by tdrdt »

I once left a job after less than 8 hours.

Everything was a mess. Management, the code base, everything.

Questions you can ask yourself: do you think you can change the mess? Would you like to change it? If you can't change it, would you like to work there?

My guess is that all your answers are 'no'.

Re: Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

#165

Post by tinyhouse »

Do what's good for you. I never understand people that put corporations before themselves. Just to make it clear, while you're employed do what's best for the company, not what you think is best for you (e.g., making a wrong decision for the company because you think it will help you get promoted). Don't hesitate to leave if it's the right thing for you (personally or career wise) and put yourself always first in such decisions.

Re: Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

#166

Post by johnatwork »

It's not unprofessional to leave.

But I personally would love the challenge. You need to pace yourself which would be hard, but I would love to be the change that comes from within an organization. I've done this in three places and looking back and seeing the results were very satisfying.

Re: Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

#167

Post by thehappypm »

RhysU wrote: post #147
geofft wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not disagreeing with you, but OP specifically mentions being burned out, and I think for this specific situation it may be better to cut losses and go elsewhere. If you have the energy and enthusiasm for fixing broken things, this is great advice, ideally before the point of burnout / before six months (but after at least a month or so). But not every senior role has to involve cleaning up messes and picking politica…

Burning out is likely due to a lack of focus on concrete, actionable, blessed endeavors. Fixing everything at once is impossible.

On top of that, if you're burned out, then you aren't acting at the level of a senior engineer. These titles matter, you're being paid for your seniority.

Re: Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

#168

Post by samatman »

> So, the question is, is it unprofessional to abandon ship just 6 months in

Bottom line: absolutely not.

Your question should be, frankly, how evil the C team and funders are. If they're legitimately evil, sandbag: stop working, stop worrying about it, and cash checks for awhile. Cruise, touch up your specialty, laugh about it later.

If not, then... do the same thing but look for another job immediately and inform them promptly. If there's trust between you and anyone up your chain of command, provide feedback to one (1) person after submitting your email of resignation (not Snapchat kiddo).

But don't try and fix it. You can't and it won't work. And it isn't your fault. Good luck.

Re: Ask HN: Is it unprofessional to leave a new job where everything is a mess?

#169

Post by tarkin2 »

Leave. You’re responsible for your own actions not other people’s mistakes.

Articulate your concerns and how to fix them. If you receive nothing but hot air leave.

Rarely are you appreciated and/or properly remunerated for putting in Superheroesq effort.

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