APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions.
Here, Karren gives her expert advice to a reader who feels trapped in a new role that doesn’t match their expectations.
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Q: I worked so hard to get my new job – it’s a great position in a well-known company with a brilliant salary and overall package, and it’s definitely a step up from my last role, both in seniority and financially.
All my friends and family have said how lucky I am, but the truth is, I dread going to work every day.
The role isn’t what I imagined it would be, and the culture just doesn’t fit me.
I feel trapped because I won’t earn the same salary elsewhere, and I’m worried that if I leave, everyone will think I failed, especially after so few months in the job.
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Please help!
Saskia
A) It’s completely understandable to feel conflicted.
You worked hard to secure a role that looks perfect on paper, with the salary, seniority and prestige others admire, but the reality of your day-to-day experience doesn’t match the promise.
That disconnect can feel discouraging, but it’s important to remember that success isn’t defined by how a job looks to others, but by how it allows you to thrive.
Leaving a role that isn’t the right fit is not a failure, but a conscious decision to prioritise your wellbeing and long-term career growth.
Hiring managers know that sometimes expectations and reality don’t align, and what matters to future employers is how you frame things.
Position it as a valuable learning experience about what kind of culture and environment help you perform at your best.
However, before making any decisions, think hard about what exactly is making you unhappy and why you’re struggling: the culture, work, leadership style or something else?
Ask yourself if these things could be improved or fixed, or whether they are fundamental to the role.
That should help clarify your next move.
- Got a careers question for Karren? Email bossingit@fabulousmag.co.uk.
