It's a problem many of us have faced: The job that we applied for turns out to be a little different than described. It might be something simple, such as working in a different location, or it could be something more difficult, such as the job suddenly involving something that makes you uncomfortable. Either way, there are ways to handle a bait and switch.
Wait
The most important first step is to stop and think. Don't suddenly dismiss the job because it's not what you expected when you were job hunting, because you may find that you grow to like it. In addition, it may add useful skills to your resume that you may not yet have had the opportunity to acquire. Consequently, you can treat this as a learning opportunity rather than a setback.
In addition, if the job is that different from what you expected when you were job hunting, it may simply be that your perception of what the job would entail wasn't accurate. However, if you interviewed and passed, the company clearly felt you were a good fit for the job, so it may well be worth sticking out to see if the company is right.
Request a Conversation
Assuming you stay in the job, you'll eventually get a feel for what the job consists of, and it's at this point you may wish to have a conversation with your manager. Find the original job description you saw when job hunting, and see how the job matches up to that description.
Don't forget to make a list of exactly what you're being asked to do so that you have a point of comparison. The aim is to bring this to the attention of your manager and not to accuse him of dishonesty. Couch it in terms of trying to understand the job and get a timeline for when you expect the job description to start matching what you've experienced. You might ask if something had changed and ask for clarification.
At this point, a good manager is receptive to your comments. However, if the manager dismisses you and your questions, it may well be that you need to reconsider your position within the company and begin job hunting.
When It's Time to Leave
It's time to leave if the job makes you miserable or if you don't receive the opportunities expected from the job. In most cases, you'll know this after a couple of weeks, and that's fine — some jobs just don't work out. Every interviewer has had something similar happen, and most will be sympathetic to that as long as you capture it in positive terms. Begin job hunting, and be prepared to explain why you left the company after such a short time.
Sometimes, a job that's not's properly described can be a learning opportunity, but sometimes it just means you need to begin job hunting again. Taking the steps to learn where you went wrong can help avoid a bait and switch in the future.
Image courtesy of Sira Anamwong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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