When a job isn't a good fit

How to exit.

Image created via Midjourney

A few weeks ago, I interviewed Brian Aquart, host of the podcast “Why I Left.” Through interviews, Brian digs into the reasons people quit their jobs — because it’s often not talked about. In our interview, he said:

I don't know why people don't mention it. They say, "Hey I got this new job." But no one shares why they left the old one. Maybe they don't want to burn bridges. Maybe they left under circumstances that they don't want to discuss.

The guests on Brian’s show talk about a range of reasons for quitting. Their priorities change. The work environment is toxic. They want to become entrepreneurs. I’ve interviewed people myself who are forced out of a job due to a bad manager.

I want to explore another reason people leave, one that’s talked about even less: that the job is a bad fit. There’s nothing wrong with the company. Nothing wrong with the employee. But they’re not a good match for each other.

It’s a sticky situation. How do you unravel “bad fit” — even when all signs during an interview process point to perfect alignment?