Yes, you know there will come a time when you need to think of changing your job. Most people talk about how critical it is to stick with a job and how hard it can be to leave one. However, looking for a new position should never be ruled out as an option just because of the words “hard” or “stuck.” Sometimes moving on needs to happen, and several signs will help someone realize when the time has come. The following are 6 of the most common signs that it’s time to change jobs:
1. You dread going to work
“I can’t wait to get to work today!” Do you normally wake up and tell yourself that? While you might not say that every day, if you find yourself never looking forward to work then chances are there is a problem. While it might be difficult for some people to find something they enjoy doing every day, if you dread going to work, that should tell you something. You need an environment where you look forward to spending time and engaging with other people and co-workers. There is nothing more important than finding work that not only pays well but also keeps you engaged and interested throughout the week. If your current job does not do this for you, why put yourself through the misery of going every day?
2. You feel overwhelmed and undervalued at work
If you often find yourself overloading, it might be time to voice your concerns. Also, this isn’t simply about living up to expectations set by others; you should also hold yourself accountable for how you structure your day. Taking on more work when you are already overextended can make you even more frustrated, eventually leading to burnout. The only way around this is to evaluate how much free time you have during a week versus what tasks must get accomplished. It’s only fair that if certain projects take longer than anticipated, they should be delegated or postponed until another date that is more suitable for completion.
3. Your skills are not being used properly
Another sign that it might be time to move on is when your skills and abilities are not being used to their fullest potential. Whether this means working with people who lack management or leadership skills or ones that don’t utilize your talents and strengths. An ideal work environment would allow you to explore and use all of these things every day, which helps build confidence and self-esteem. In reality, when we do something we enjoy and are great at, it makes us not only better at our job, but also happier and more confident about ourselves.
4. You don’t respect your boss or co-workers
Do you find yourself criticizing or making fun of your boss behind their back? Do you find yourself constantly complaining to other co-workers? That is a warning sign that tells you something might be out of balance. If this sounds like you, then chances are there is no mutual respect within the office, and perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate and ask yourself if this is what you want to continue doing for the foreseeable future. A good work culture would allow people to express themselves freely, even when opinions diverge, as long as they do so respectfully.
5. There’s no room for advancement or opportunity
Another clear sign it’s time to move on when you have been at a company for years is when there is no longer any room for advancement. Sure, sometimes this might be due to factors out of your control, such as the economy or internal politics, but more often than not it’s a matter of poor management or leadership skills. When you have an opportunity to move up in your company, it gives you more responsibility which means greater opportunities down the road. Therefore, it’s important to make sure you look closely before assuming anything.
6. You’re spending more time at the office than with your family and friends
The final sign that it’s time to move on is when you are spending more time working than time with your spouse, friends, and children. That’s often a serious problem for many people because they mistakenly believe they don’t have any other choice but to spend all of their free time working. The truth is, there are always going to be days, weeks, and even months where life throws us curveballs, which means we need to control our time to spend it however we choose. When this happens, it often leads to low morale and stress, which means you are less likely to do your job well, will have fewer outside interests, and won’t have time to discover new things you enjoy doing. That is never the way life should be.
Often, people spend time in a job they hate. Sometimes, there is no escape from the monotony of this situation and an individual must continue to work even though it provides very little satisfaction. If any of these 6 signs sound familiar, then now might be time to start looking for something else with a company, industry, or position that will provide you more flexibility so you can live the life you deserve.
