When Things Don't Go According to Plan

I've got to say, the last 4-5 months have been a little crazy work-wise. Lots of changes, transitions, and personal adjustments, most of which I've kept to myself and to a small group of people. So, since the waters have calmed a bit, I thought I would share how the last few months have played out and update everyone on where I'm at now.

Earlier this year, I was a Marketing Intern for a beverage company in Seattle and was absolutely loving it. My coworkers were amazing, I was good at my job, and I fully supported the company. I had grown so much in that position and strengthened many professional skills. But as my time with this company was coming up on a year, I felt like I had learned all I could in that role and was ready for something new. It was really hard to leave, but my coworkers were supportive and I left on my last day feeling optimistic for what was next on my horizon.

But that optimism took a few hits. 

I'll admit, I had my moments when I probably could've been hitting the job hunt harder, but all in all, I was pretty actively searching for something new. I spent many days holed up in Starbucks, constantly revising resumes and cover letters, to never hear back from the 20+ companies I applied to. It was a little defeating, working so hard and feeling like you're so qualified, to just get zero responses or feedback. 

In May, I finally heard back from a tourism company in Seattle for a Marketing Coordinator position. I was excited about the job and excited about finally hearing back from a company.  I crushed the interview and quickly heard back that they wanted to offer me the position! All those weeks I spent getting frustrated and upset at the job search process had finally paid off!

I went into my first week with this new company wide-eyed and enthusiastic. I had brainstormed countless marketing ideas and was looking forward to taking on some more projects and responsibilities. I didn't get a whole lot of training right off the bat, but I figured I would learn more as time went on and that my boss would help me hit the ground running effectively.

Now here's where things didn't really go according to plan.

I had pictured my new job being filled with excitement, positivity, and ample chances to grow. But I quickly realized that there was a lot about this job and company that were, how do I put it, a little difficult. Here I was, so ready for this new opportunity, and it wasn't panning out how I thought or hoped. From my point of view, there was a lack of communication throughout the office and unfortunately, that greatly affected me and my ability to complete my job's tasks. I wasn't always sure what I was supposed to be doing and didn't feel like I had a lot of guidance, which is difficult when you've only been at a job for a short period of time. All in all, the job and company were just not a good fit for me and by July, I was no longer with them.

I had some mixed feelings afterwards. I was happy to no longer be in a work environment that wasn't healthy and that constantly made me feel on edge, but I was also disappointed that something I had been looking forward to didn't work out. To me, this job had failed which meant I had failed. And that was a hard pill to swallow.

I immediately started the job search again, but I was still a little weary because this one had didn’t pan out how I hoped. I kept this information fairly quiet for a while, not wanting to go into the details of my departure. I'll be honest, I was embarrassed, but in the same breath, I didn't want to waste my time talking about a job and company that were no longer in my life and that I really didn’t end up enjoying all that much. Keeping that to myself was very tricky when people were constantly inquiring about what I was up to and how my job was going. But I knew that there was only one way I could bounce back and that was by finding a job that was a better fit for me.

I started actively applying to places again and this time made sure to follow up with companies to get my name out there more. Only about a month later did I get an email asking me to come in for an interview for a marketing position, and after I completed that, I received a job offer! I was elated and since I've started at this new position and with this new company, I feel so much better and like it's a much better fit for me. I actually enjoy coming in to work again and am surrounded by coworkers who are welcoming and pleasant to engage with.

While at times disappointed and frustrated throughout this whole process, I've tried to keep in mind that it's okay that things don't always go according to the plan I had mapped out in my head. Was it my plan to start working for a company to then leave less than two months later? No, but if leaving after less than two months means I'm happier and in a better working environment, then I will completely take it. Was it a bummer that I had to start the job search process again? Absolutely, but it led me to the job I'm at now and I'm thankful for that. 

If there is any advice I can give somebody who is either just starting the hunt for a "big kid" job or looking for something new, don't be afraid to walk away if the job isn't right. Don't settle for a position or a company that doesn't challenge you, that doesn't feel comfortable to you, or that doesn't treat you right. You deserve to be happy in your work place. And if you get a job and it doesn’t end up working out, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve failed. In my case, it just wasn’t the right fit, and THAT’S OKAY! I've also learned how important it is to trust your gut and to not be afraid to step away from something if deep down I know it's not a good fit for me. If something doesn't feel right or you know deep down in your gut that whatever job you’re at just isn't meshing well, then take that as a sign that you should be somewhere else. 

So, to wrap up this story into a nice little package with a little bow on top, the last few months haven’t gone exactly how I had hoped, but where I’m at now is exactly where I would like to be: with a company that supports me and in a job that I’m excited to grow with. And at this point, that’s all I can really ask for.