How to leave a bad job

Dear Mr. Walberg:

I entered a new career field after considerable research. I went to work for the company I thought would be the best place to learn about the new field. The problem is that after one month, I am very uncomfortable with my employer. I love the new field, but feel very stressed. I feel that much of the stress is related to the employer, not the industry. I have an opportunity with another employer in the same field, but wonder if I should make a change so quickly. What are your views?

-- B.L

Dear B.L.:

When I first decided, after considerable research, to enter the employment industry, I really wanted to go with "Company A." I interviewed with "A," and liked the manager and his superior at their corporate headquarters in New York. But there wasn't an opening at the time. Meanwhile, the more I researched, the more the evidence pointed to "Company B" as the best place to learn the most in the least period of time. As things turned out, "B" had an opening.

I took the opportunity at "B," but made it a point to stay in touch with "A." It wasn't two weeks before I realized that things were not right at "B." I felt like I was back in boot camp. The stress level peaked at the opening bell each morning, and stayed that way all day long. It was terrible, at least for me, but I was learning the industry on a fast-track level.

Here's what I did:

I gave myself six months with "B," determined to learn as much as possible and deal with the stress.

I stayed in touch with "A" on a regular basis, even to the point of sending the manager a card when he had back surgery.

What happened?

At almost exactly six months, a position came available at "A." I resigned from "B" and took the positive things I learned from "B" to "A", and tried to learn from the negatives at "B" to strengthen my experience at "A."

Perhaps the same could work for you.

(Marvin Walberg is a job-search coach. Contact him at mwalberg(at)bellsouth.net, marvinwalberg.blogspot.com, or PO Box 43056, Birmingham, AL 35243.)