Are you are gainfully but unhappily employed? Has your motivation dwindled because you no longer feel challenged? Have your career goals and interests changed and you find yourself moving in a direction you don’t want? If you are not learning, adding value and having fun in your current job you need to ask yourself what actions are necessary to remedy the situation. Changing jobs may be the solution.
Here are some signs that it’s time to dust off your resume and move on.
1. Your job is literally making you sick.
If you find yourself lacking energy and prone to irritability and low spirits these may be symptoms of stress which can have a negative effect on your physical and mental health and eventually your performance. These effects can also spill over to other areas of your life and affect your relationships with friends and family. Your body may be trying to tell you something and that something is to change jobs.
2. You no longer believe in the company.
Has the passion and pride you had for the company and your job declined or evaporated? This might have been caused by a change in the corporate culture or office atmosphere due to decisions that do not sit well with you or maybe your thinking has evolved and the company’s values no longer align closely with yours. A lack of shared values can be a powerful motivator to move on.
3. Your enthusiasm has left the building.
Are you watching the clock when you’re there and dread going to work on Monday mornings? If you avoid taking on extra projects, stopped voluntarily staying late, and are tempted to do only the minimum required then maybe you should follow your enthusiasm wherever it went. You deserve a job that isn’t stagnating and makes you eager to make a difference.
4. Your skills and interests do not match.
Were you hired for something that you are good at but don’t necessarily like doing? Maybe you desire to take your career in a completely different direction. The longer you wait to make the move the more specialized you become and the more difficult it is to make the switch. Steve Jobs said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”
5. You don’t feel valued or appreciated.
Do your opinions and contributions go unacknowledged? Have you been repeatedly overlooked for promotion or important projects? Have you failed to get the credit for your ideas or work? It is important for your contributions to be recognised and respected. If they aren’t somewhere else will.
The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking.
6. You are in a toxic environment.
Have relationships between yourself and co-workers or your boss ceased to be collaborative or even cordial? Have they become antagonistic and undermining? Effective teamwork requires an atmosphere that is friendly, productive and encouraging. If your attempts to improve the dynamic are unsuccessful and you are uncomfortable it may be time to pull up stakes.
7. You are going nowhere.
If you feel like you have outgrown your current role and there are no opportunities for advancement or growth, staying out of a sense of loyalty or fear of change could be a demotivating experience in the long term. Things will only deteriorate (see #3). Your career may need the kind of revamp that only a job switch can provide. You owe it to yourself to explore your options.
8. You’ve made a lifestyle change.
Maybe you have moved to a new hometown and your 15 minute drive to work has turned into an intolerable 2-hour commute in gridlock traffic. Maybe you would like more flexibility to reduce your work hours or telecommute to accommodate your preferred work-life balance.
9. You are underpaid.
Salary matters. If you feel you deserve to earn more and feel that there are better paying jobs by all means explore your options. Do some research into industry standards for compensation for your job.
10. You hate your job.
Beware if you find yourself frequently complaining about your job or employer to co-workers, friends or family. If unchecked, negative feelings will grow and begin to affect performance and relationships.