Your new job sounded brilliant when you read the ad. Then you went through the interview stage, and it seemed like the perfect fit. So why, now that you’ve started the role, does it seem so… rubbish? 

This is shift shock – the nasty jolt you get when the reality of the job you’re doing doesn’t marry up to the expectations you were sold before you started – and it’s a common experience. 

As coined by Kathryn Minshew of The Muse, shift shock is described as “that feeling when you start a job and realise, with either surprise or regret, that the position or company is very different from what you were led to believe”. Research from The Muse found that of 2,500 people surveyed, 72% had experienced the phenomenon.

Shift shock can come as a result of different working hours to the ones you thought you would have (perhaps you were told in your interview you’d ‘probably’ be working 9-5, Monday to Friday, but were advised to be flexible to meet business needs… then you got started and learned you’d be working every weekend), having unexpected responsibilities on your to-do list or discovering that a company’s culture isn’t as lovely as it appeared. 

Whatever the cause, it can explain why workers lean into the quick quitting trend. After all, why force yourself to stick out a job you hate when you might be able to get a better one?

But while the option of leaving and starting again is there, ideally, we wouldn’t have to go through the whole time waste of applications, interviews and shift shock just to start the cycle again. So how can we prevent it from happening? And how can we tell when shift shock is just your standard settling-in pains and when it’s time to leave?

“Starting a new job is a big life change that can spark lots of different emotions,” says LinkedIn career expert Charlotte Davies. “Taking on different working hours, changing your commute, managing new responsibilities, getting to know new colleagues and adapting to company culture can all contribute to an initial feeling of shift shock when you start a new position. With 20 million people considering a new job in 2023, this is something many may experience.”

Let’s start with something that needs to be made clear: a major case of shift shock isn’t your fault, it’s that of the workplace. If your job’s responsibilities, working hours and benefits weren’t made clear in the interview process, that’s a problem. 

“Transparency during the interview process is key for both hiring managers and interviewees,” explains Davies. “It’s important for those doing the hiring to be open and honest about the workplace culture and role requirements so that prospective candidates can make informed decisions about joining a company.”

We should be able to expect honesty, clarity and transparency from prospective employers as a baseline. But to protect ourselves from shift shock, there are some steps we can take on a personal level.

So, do your research to get as much intel as possible. 

“Speak to existing employees,” Davies recommends. “If possible, reach out to those you may know who are already working at the company while you are interviewing there, to gather more insight into what your experiences will be like day to day. Use your LinkedIn network to see if you have any mutual connections who work there that you can message or ask for an introduction. This can be incredibly helpful in getting a sense of whether it’s the right place for you.”

“Do not be afraid to ask questions about the things that are most important to you,” Davies says. “Asking the right questions of a prospective employer during the interview stage is an easy way to see if your ideals align with the company’s culture.”

It’s easy to get so swept up in wanting a job that you nod along to everything and don’t push on points that seem a bit… off. Remember that it’s OK to ask about factors that will affect your happiness at work. Do people tend to leave on time each day or is there a culture of staying late? How will your manager help you if your workload becomes overwhelming? What would an average day in this role be like? These are all totally valid questions you’re entitled to ask. 

Career coach Ariel Lopez advises: “As an interviewee always ask…

• What will my day to day look like?
• How do I collaborate with other teams?
• How is my performance evaluated?
• What’s the trajectory for the role internally?
• How am I considered for a raise or promotion?
• How would you describe company’s commitment to its culture, as well as diversity and inclusion?
• How does the company support employees outside of work?”

OK, so shift shock has definitely hit. Now what? 

Don’t stew in the disappointment or pretend everything’s fine. Equally, don’t jump straight to planning your departure (as satisfying as rage applying may feel). Bring up your qualms with your boss, noting that you were under the impression that the job would be different. Ask whether these are temporary changes or if the role will always be like this, and what can be done to get to a place where the job is what you were hoping for. 

Davies urges: “If you are met with any surprises when you start a role, don’t be afraid to organise a meeting with your manager to talk through any issues.”

If your reaction the moment you walked through the door and sat at your desk was a definite, immediate, concrete, full-body nope, and you’re absolutely certain about that, it’s perfectly fine to hightail it out of there. 

But if you’re a bit unsure, it’s worth giving the role some time. This way, you can do a more considered assessment of what you actually don’t like about the job, or whether your shift shock was in fact just the usual unease of settling into a change. You’ll also have the time to chat with your boss and work out if things will be different (in a better way) soon. 

“Consider if your feelings of shock are just a natural reaction to change, and give yourself at least three to six months before making any big decisions,” Davies recommends “Feeling overwhelmed at work can be difficult, particularly if you are feeling the pressure to ‘hit the ground running’, so speak to your manager and ensure you’re having open conversations about what you need while you’re adjusting.”

Images: Getty