What happens when you lose your job, take another one and end up losing the new one within a month? Often called “rebounding,” this situation is more common than you might think, particularly in today’s job market. When candidates feel enormous financial pressure to accept jobs that are not a good match, rebounding can happen.
Rebounding can happen when you lose a job or are looking for a quick fix to escape the mental anguish of looking for a job and being jobless. It usually happens when decisions are made quickly, rather than thinking them through.
What are some signs you could be accepting a job that could lead to a rebounding situation?
• You consider accepting a job that is at least three levels below your skill set.
• You are miserable in your present job, so you seek greener pastures without spending time researching a company’s values to see if they are in line with yours.
• You let fear drive you towards accepting a position in spite of the doubts you had during the first interview.
• The employer’s expectations are unrealistic.
• Frustrated by the length of your job search, you consider taking a job while discounting such factors as commuting distance, title, compensation and interest.
• You consider accepting a job because someone thinks it is a good idea.
• Ignoring a work culture mismatch, you hope things will change once you’re there.
• You are accepting a job without a clear understanding or review of the position.
How do you know you’re in a rebounding situation? If you’re starting to doubt your decision after 4-6 months in the new position, and are having meetings with your boss to review your performance, you may be in a rebound job.
If you find yourself rebounding from a bad job decision, don’t beat yourself up about it. It can serve as a guide to future career moves, so learn from your mistakes and move on.
