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The Daily Insight

What to do when a new job is not working out?

Author

Sarah Duran

Published Feb 21, 2026

Follow these steps when your new job isn’t working out:

  1. Stay professional.
  2. Give the position a chance.
  3. Speak to your manager.
  4. Look for a new job.
  5. Look for a new job.
  6. Reach back out to other employers.
  7. Let your network know.
  8. Leave your current position.

Is your most recent employer your current job?

The meaning of current employer simply means the employer where you currently work. So, if you work for XYZ Company, that would be your current employer. However, if you worked for XYZ Company and no longer work there or at that company, then you would not list them.

When should I tell my current employer of my new job?

If you accepted the job offer, tell your boss immediately or as soon as possible after you officially accept the new job. Try not to give notice on a Friday, as this could ruin your boss’s weekend. If possible, give at least two weeks’ notice on a Monday or Tuesday toward the end of the workday.

Is it good to change jobs every few years?

The reality, according to several career experts, is not to anticipate a lifetime of seven long-term careers. It’s to plan to change your job regularly every few years, even if you like what you do and feel comfortable. Change is difficult, but the benefits pay off in ways you might never imagined possible, both professionally and personally.

Can a past employer contact a current employer?

You can give them past employers as a reference instead. There are really only two valid reasons you can mention as to why the hiring manager can’t contact your current employer. You don’t want your current employer to know you’re looking for a job. The company is no longer in business.

What happens when you leave a job for a new job?

Unfortunately, luck doesn’t always work in your favor. Sometimes, the employer has filled the position or doesn’t want you back, and you’re either stuck with your new job or you’ll have to find something else. For example, someone leaves his job for a new position. But he decides he hates his new job on the day he starts.

Why do people not want to talk about their new job?

They don’t want to appear to be boasting about their new job and thus putting down their current employer and their old team mates who still work there. They are in grey area of non-compete or non-solicitation agreement they don’t want to give ammunition for a lawsuit. Note that you asked the question in three slightly different ways: