ellieofus's journey

I recently started a new job in a small marketing team at a financial services company in the UK, and I’m feeling really conflicted about it. I’m just two months in, and what initially felt like a dream job has quickly turned into a nightmare. In the beginning, everything seemed perfect—my manager and teammate were fantastic, and the commute was a breeze. However, as time went on, the reality of the workload and the expectations began to set in. I’m part of a three-person team, and while we have a good dynamic, the company culture is toxic. I ignored the 3.2 rating on Glassdoor, thinking it wouldn’t apply to me, but I was wrong. The unpaid overtime is becoming unbearable, and the deadlines are unrealistic. I signed an opt-out clause in my contract, which means I can legally work over 48 hours a week without any extra pay or time off, and it feels like I’m constantly being pulled in different directions. I’m okay with being busy, but the pressure to make everything perfect for the CEO is overwhelming. I dread going to work every day, and it’s affecting my mental health. I want to start looking for a new job, but I’m worried that leaving after just two months will look bad on my resume. I feel stuck and unsure of what to do next. It’s disheartening to think that good companies might not even exist. I’m reaching out for advice on how to cope with this situation or any insights on moving forward. Even if you just want to share your own experiences, I’d appreciate it. Let’s support each other through this.