HELP! Career Troubles

Source: HR Lady

Do you at times feel as if all the jobs you have had are not working out?

Here is an employee who narrates his career life and his troubles:

Dear HR Lady,

I need some impartial feedback on my current job situation that is causing me massive amounts of stress. First, I’ll detail a bit of my work history for you so you can see where I’ve been.

Job #1(4.5 years)
A steady (but meager) paycheck, but minor perks (flexible work hours, 5 min. commute, etc.) that made it decent.

Reason for leaving: A job that was initially described to me as “entry level with no room for advancement” that truly was just that…but I was hungry for more.

Job #2 (8 months)
Worked for a company that I LOVED, doing something that was challenging and interesting, making significantly more money than previous job, working with a great group who I’m still friends with today.

Reason for leaving: A month after I was hired, it was announced that the company was acquired and that the aquiring company would be dominating. Anyone that wished to stay on would be required to move from the current location to the dominant company’s location .

Job #3 (3 months)
The three departments managed that were managed by a particular VP regularly experienced complete turnover in less than a year. Commute time was unbearable .Reason for leaving: See above. Additionally, a manager of another department at Job 2 came here to be my manager. She immediately began job hunting and left shortly after I did.

Job #4(1.3 years)
Had free benefits, decent salary for area, low commute time, good PTO plan, hands-off boss) Boss was fed up and looking for a new job during my entire tenure here. Her attitude prevented her from fighting for my ideas and did not provide me adequate support. Another issue is that my position was newly created and I floundered for at least 6 months b/c no one had a clear expectation of what I was to be doing.

Lack of boss support instability (CEO who restructured my entire department 2 times before I came) made me leave.

Job #5 (June to present)

Issues:
1. My boss “the VP” (whom I report to) is a difficult personality for me.
Since I have started here, compliments have been coming in from those I’ve worked with and the ‘complimenters’ have passed along the praise to my boss. She has passed along the praise to our CEO. She does compliment me from time to time.
She’s a snob and belittling. She has a tendency to micromanage.

2. I’m being paid significantly more than my last job, but given the duties of an admin. I definitely don’t mind pitching in to help with these…but this shouldn’t be my primary focus at this point in my career. Something I made clear to my boss during the interview process.

3. The “manager” seems to have the authority to assign me tasks. I am again, in a newly created position). Therefore she passes along all the stuff she doesn’t enjoy to me.
I’ve tried talking to Manager; she’s seemed to understand/agree with my concerns, but then goes back to the way she has been doing things.

I’ve contemplated discussing this with MY boss, but I fear 2 things. She’s very reactionary. I don’t want to create a BIG issue and I fear her saying something to Manager and having her become even worse.

I’m torn between looking for a new job or trying to make this one work. I just feel since I’ve left Job 2, which was PERFECT, I’ve become the square peg trying to fit into the round hole and nothing has been quite right. I also realize that I’m probably looking like a job hopper right now. I don’t want to be…but I want to be happy.

Is it me? Am I a bad employee? Am I picking the wrong jobs? How do I know if it’s the “right” job? Or am I just destined to be unhappy?

Any advice you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

What advice would you give him?

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