Realized I'm not a good cultural fit for my new job. What should I do?
I was hired as a senior lab tech at a small start up lab last month after moving abroad and marrying my partner.
I'm seeing a lot of issues and wondering if I need to prepare to be let go for not being a cultural fit during my probationary period.
The role was advertised as fast paced, very busy, quality-driven, and requiring someone with versatility and experience. They also emphasized they would provide training on an instrument I've been eager to learn both in the job description and in the interview.
The lab doesn't have any clients or samples yet after 3 years, which I didn't know before accepting the job.
I've never had trouble integrating into a workplace or group before this, but from day 1, I've felt excluded here. My three coworkers (including my direct manager who interviewed me) are always 15-90 minutes late in the mornings and go out for coffee, the shops, or lunch for hours at a time together every day, but they don't say anything. I'll just realize I can't find them in the building and then check the parking lot, and they're all gone. I wasn't given anyone's contact info outside of company emails so I have no way to contact them if there's a problem in the lab either. Or they'll sit in the canteen chatting for hours about people they know that I don't, so it's impossible to join in.
They've mentioned previous employees that left within a year and made some off-colour comments about how those employees seemed disinterested in learning the work or had personal issues with them.
My onboarding process was rough as well, but I chalked it up to the boss being away on a business trip.
My second week here, I was assigned to teach myself how to use an instrument they've left dirty and unused for 7 months (not the one they advertised, which I can't seem to get any answers about when they plan to start using it). Any questions I ask the other lab techs and manager are met with disinterest or irritation, even things like "what's the password for the computer and software for this instrument?" And they keep telling me to take my time, there's absolutely no pressure, but I kind of feel like a good job has a good amount of pressure just like a shower. You don't want a power washer but you also don't want like ... a leaky faucet dripping either. I'm good at finding things to do, but I feel that is not what this team actually wants.
The job market is tough right now, so I'm not exactly eager to jump back into applying and interviewing. Does anyone have tips for surviving this kind of environment, or should I be applying for other jobs like my life depends on it? I know I have blindspots and quirks like anyone so this could be my fault too. I'm open to any criticism or advice. Please help!