What can I do when employer changed the job description after I accepted?

Question

Background

My background is in credit and risk management and I had one job since I graduated in 2018. I focus mostly on credit assessment, credit review, conducting postmortem credit review and also work on several process improvement projects.

In mid 2021, I applied for a similar role outside of the company and got the offer. The job description that was presented to me was similar to what I’m currently doing right now, albeit a wider scope of industries. I accepted the offer because at that time I thought that’s the direction I wanted my career to grow. I didn’t want to only focus on a specific sector and industry.

In the offer letter, it did not state the job description that was presented to me by the recruiter. It only says that the exact responsibilities will be given on the first day of reporting.

Problem

During my first week there, I had a meeting with my manager. She told me that she wanted me to focus on other things that is totally different than what was stated in the job description - and honestly it’s not the direction I expect my career to grow.

They wanted me to fully focus on doing process improvement projects and while I do have experience on this field, I felt that I’ve been lied to and it left a sour taste in my mouth.

What I’ve tried to do

After that meeting, I had a 1:1 with my manager on this and highlighted the discrepancies between the agreed JD and what was discussed during the meeting. She mentioned that there were some changes in the decision post-hiring and this new role and responsibilities is what they wanted me to focus on. They also mentioned that the decision was final.

Question

1. Is it fair for me seek other opportunities in the mean time?
2. If other recruiters asked why I’m in the market again after a few months joining this company, will it leave a bad impression if I were to explain my predicament?
3. What telltales/red flags should I take note off to ensure that this won’t happen again?

Answer 1

At a previous company, we had someone leaving, starting a new job Monday 9am and calling us Monday 9:10 am asking if he could have his job back. He got it and HR fixed things as if he never left.

So calling your old company is something you might consider if they felt you leaving was a loss for them.

Looking for a job elsewhere is absolutely fine. Telling them the reason (I want a career in X, and that’s what they offered, but my actual work is in a totally different direction). And what happened is hard to avoid unless you bring a lie detector to the interview.

Answer 2

Why not ask for 33% more money. If you get 15% (not likely but nothing to lose…) then you have a better baseline for finding another job if they ask your salary.

If the answer is no then start the job and learn what you can … consider it being hired to learn… find out who is both smart and nice and get friendly with them.

When your boss asks why you’re spending time with these other people it’s because you met them, told them what you need to learn, and they clearly knew about it so I took advantage of the opportunity.

If they don’t like what you do and want to let you go you challenge it … not legally, but by stating you want severance … you gave up other offers because you unfairly recruited me. How can you fire me for not doing a job that you didn’t hire me for?

If they do fire you then you send them a bill for $25k for emotional distress. They don’t pay of course so you go to court. In court you’ll be given the option of mediation … take it … that’s your real chance to get something from them… they won’t like it and they won’t like the waste of a day because if they don’t give you something they’ll have to wait again or come back, to be heard before the judge and the judge will not like that they were really in the wrong and didn’t settle and give you something for your trouble.

Unless of course you find another job then who cares.