Brand new to the field: how long do you stay in a job that you know isn’t a long-term fit?
I’m brand new to speech and don’t think my first school placement is the right fit long term.
On Day 1, the dean asked me to get copies from the printer twice during our services team meeting because “you’re young.” I’m 35 😂 and there were people in the room who were clearly younger than me. I laughed it off, but it struck me as odd.
I also learned that I don’t have a desk/workspace, while OT and Psych do, even though they’re only onsite 10 hours/week and I’m there 25. Apparently the dean told them I’d work in the elevator entrance (it’s a dark, small space with no chairs or desk) and that the desk space was for them.
There’s no teachers’ lounge or shared workspace either, although there’s room for another desk in the OT/Psych space. I’m going to address it calmly and advocate for a workspace, but it’s odd to me.
Neither thing is necessarily a dealbreaker, but together it feels off. I’m with a healthcare agency, so I could potentially find another placement.
For those of you who have been in the field awhile, how long do you give a job that you already suspect isn’t a long-term fit? Have you switched placements and found a significantly better environment? If you’re with an agency, did you share your concerns with them?
I’m trying to figure out what’s normal first-job adjustment stuff versus actual red flags 😅