Are you surrounded by colleagues who are supportive and fun? Do you feel that your career is going somewhere? If the answer to these questions is “never”, perhaps you should think about abandoning ship.
Or, on the other hand, maybe you have a good job, work for an interesting company in a great environment, but you’re not advancing in your professional career and you feel that your current job is to blame.
If you’re constantly wondering if “this is it”, if this is what the rest of your life is going to look like, it may be time to take a leap into the unknown to the career of your dreams.
Truth is, it’s hard to walk away for many reasons: money, status, responsibilities, validation, stability. Also, the little voice inside you reminds you every day that maintaining a steady salary and avoiding a gap in your employment history is crucial… so, you’ve tried to put your head down and make it work. It’s much easier to maintain the status quo than taking the plunge into the unknown, right?
Remember, no time will ever feel 100% ideal. However, research shows that the average length of employment with the same company is 4.6 years. It is now more acceptable than ever to leave a position for other opportunities, meaning employees have fewer reasons to stay in a negative and unfulfilling workplace.
So, when should you lean into change and find a job that truly works for you?
Here are a few signs that it may be time to make a career change:
Getting out of bed is a chore, with each new day a little worse than the one before.
Work is affecting your physical and mental health. You’re constantly stressed, negative and unhappy at work. Warning signs include weight gain, trouble sleeping, or nausea before you start your workday.
You dislike your colleagues and you feel that you don’t fit in.
Your heart just isn’t in it. You can’t wait for the end of the day, you’re not enjoying your job and there’s no prospect of that changing anytime soon.
Your “bad week” has turned into “bad months.”
You’re not growing. Even if your job is great, it may not be the one to help you achieve your career goals. It’s not personal, it’s just business.
Your job is in jeopardy. If it looks like you’re about to become another casualty in a company layoff, or if you suspect that you might be fired for other reasons, looking for another job is crucial.
You no longer have good work-life balance. When you find that you’re spending less time with your family because of work, or you cannot commit the necessary time to your job, you should consider looking elsewhere.
Your skills are not being tapped. Have you been passed over for promotion? Are you no longer getting the plum assignments? Are you no longer being asked to attend key meetings, or are your proposals met with silence or denial?
You somehow miss getting the invite. Not being notified about luncheons or happy hour is a sure sign that you are not very important in that company.
Leaving your job is a huge and deeply personal decision; only you will know when the timing is right. And oh, remember, once you take the leap, don’t look back. There’s no room for regret on this magnificent journey. Good luck!
Source: careers.workopolis.com, www.careerattraction.com, www.businessnewsdaily.com, www.financialsamurai.com, www.jobs.ac.uk, lifehacker.com, www.whiteconsultingllc.com, money.usnews.com, www.forbes.com
