By Markey Read

As you scan the classified advertisements and call all the hotlines, you say to yourself, “I can do that, and that, and I always wanted to do that, and wouldn’t it be great to work for a place that makes ice-cream or teddy bears?.”

And so you apply to all of them, even though your resume only hints at the qualifications required and you know little about the companies. You justify your decision by saying, “Hey, I can always leave if it doesn’t work out.”

Then you get an interview and by some off chance, you get “the job.” You and the company have just entered into a risky relationship. Since, many have been in the position of needing a job no mater what it is; and many companies have simply needed warm bodies to fill positions, commitment to working through the kinks is often lacking. This is unfortunate, but true.

This, however, is no way to be hired or to hire.

Commitment to sticking with the challenging position is terribly lacking in the business world today. People are too accustomed to leaving when it looks hard or throwing away things when they don’t look good. Instead of being grateful for the opportunities and benefit gained through employment, complaints are prevalent.

When a company offers a position, no matter what the position or the salary, it is a precious gift. It is never easy for a company to hire new people. When the recipient accepts the gift and then proceeds to reject it when it does not look right, the company is left with damaged goods. It truly is better to not accept the gift at all then to return it damaged.

This is not to say that people are not allowed to make honest mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes in judgment and there is a lot of room for this in the world. What is required, however, is responsibility for having made the mistake.
In desperate moments of believing there are not enough jobs and being victims of the job search, people accept positions knowing trouble is ahead. Then when it gets rough, many choose to leave irresponsibly.

If you realize that you have made a mistake and need to leave a position, get some help sorting out the problem. Be clear that the job is the real source of dissatisfaction. And be honest to your manager or supervisor. Let him/her know that you are challenged in the position and either get the support required to master it or come to a mutual agreement about leaving it.

And the next time you accept a position, do more research, get a full job description, talk future co-workers about the company and the position, watch for the signs of potential trouble.

If you are not sure that this is a good fit or that you are not willing to master the challenges (no matter how great), say no thank you to the gift.

If you are not clear, talk to people you whoose opinion you trust. This could be a former employer, a relative, a mentor, a career counselor, or a former teacher. Who ever you choose, be clear that you asked for advice and be prepared to receive it. Ultimately the decision is yours, and so is the responsibility.