What are the signs it’s time to find a new job?
Back when our parents started working, the goal was to get a job and keep it for the next 20 to 30 years or at least until retirement. Back then, there was a great incentive to do so. Companies were offering great retirement plans that would help to cover the day-to-day expenses of retirement.
Plus, they had a fierce loyalty to their company and aspired to grow with the company. Some achieved success through promotions and raises and felt good about the work they were doing.
Many people would never think about leaving a job to find a new one, and why would they? Things were fairly stable, and they knew they could count on their pension plans to see them through retirement.
The job market has changed
But those days are long gone. In today’s job market, employees realize that the same loyalty you show to your company isn’t always mutual.
And in times of economic downturn, companies are quick to layoff some of their best employees, without a thought or consideration for their years of service.
Many companies also aren’t offering the same type of benefits and pension plans that our parents were used to, while others are offering little to no benefits, if any, at all.
These factors, coupled with the stifling nature of some jobs and lack of growth and development opportunities, are leading many employees and professionals to be open to new career opportunities.
But how do you know the signs it’s time to find a new job?
There are many factors to consider before leaving your job. Below we discuss the five signs it’s time to find a new job.
You don’t see yourself there long-term
Having long term goals and vision for your career is essential to achieving career success, and if you don’t see yourself in your current role for the long haul, you are probably wasting your time.
A job should be seen not only as a way of making money, but it should be something you enjoy doing or something that you can learn from.
Any job you take should be a strategic part of your long term vision for yourself, and you should at least be able to visualize a place for yourself in the future.
You have to drag yourself to work each morning
In most jobs, we work more than 40 hours a week. There are 168 hours in a week, which means you spend more than 23 percent of your week at work, and that doesn’t include your daily commute to and from work.
According to research, the average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime. How we spend our days is how we spend our lives, and we should be spending our lives doing something we find meaningful or something we enjoy. If you hate the thought of going to work each morning, chances are you need to find a job that you will actually enjoy.
We should never have to wake up dreading the thought of work because our work should feel meaningful. It’s a chance to show the world what you have to offer and to make an impact. So if you hate your job chances are it’s time to find something new.
You have been there for more than two years and stuck in the same position
If you are at a job for more than two years and others around you are experiencing career growth and development through promotions and raises, and you are still at the same place you started, something is off.
If you see your department hiring outside the company to fill open positions when you know you are just as capable of the position and have expressed interest in the role, then you need to ask yourself why?
You wouldn’t be wrong to start to assess why this is happening. The truth is, many talented, hardworking individuals are overlooked for promotions every day, and it may not be their fault.
As an employee, there are a lot of things that are outside of your control, even if you work hard, come in early and stay late, you still can’t control nepotism and corporate politics.
And while it may not seem fair, you don’t have to sit back and let it happen. If you know your worth, then you can find a company that will value the skills, knowledge, and experience you bring to the table.
If you feel you are being overlooked at your job and you have been with the company for a while, it may be time to consider finding a new job.
You don’t get along with your team
Team dynamics is never usually easy. As group theory suggests, teams typically go through three distinct phases — forming, storming, and norming. The problem is that some of us never leave the storming stage, which means we are always at odds with the team or members of the group.
It can be incredibly frustrating not to see eye to eye with your team, and this can cause conflict and stress for you. There are many reasons you may not get along with your team, including unfair treatment, you don’t feel like your ideas get a chance to flourish or just demanding and disrespectful colleagues.
Team conflict distracts you from the work at hand and takes away precious time and energy that you could use towards your projects, so it should be avoided. But there are times when as hard as try, it just isn’t working.
It’s easy to get upset and react negatively, but if you find it hard to keep things professional and have tried to resolve your differences, it may be time to find a new career opportunity.
It’s important to remember that no team is perfect, and in most situations, you may have differences, but you should be able to resolve them constructively and professionally, so you can focus on doing your best.
You want to earn more money
Although many of us love the work we do and are passionate about it, the simple truth is we are also doing it for monetary gains. Most of us work so we can earn a living to take care of ourselves and to provide for our families.
Financial goals differ from person to person. Some want to drive a nice car, buy a beautiful home, or simply provide food and education for their families. In any case, a job is one way of securing those financial goals, and there is only so much you can do on a certain salary.
And while your instincts might tell you to stay at a company and hope for a promotion in order to get a raise, studies have shown that you are far more likely to earn more if you find a new job.
According to the Workforce Vitality Report from ADP, full-time workers who switched jobs in Q2 2018 saw a 5.3% increase in salary, compared to a 5% bump for those who decided to stay.
You also have much more bargaining power with a new employer than you do with your current employer. New employers place a higher value on your experience and skills and the results you have achieved, while current employers sometimes take those skills and knowledge for granted.
Dealing with change is never easy, and switching jobs usually involve a lot of change. It’s challenging because it takes us out of our comfort zones, but sometimes it’s a necessary step that we must take to reach our career and financial goals.
Just make sure to think carefully about your decision and plan accordingly. You can start by identifying the reason you want to leave and then use that as a guide when you start looking at open positions. Identify the qualities that you want in an employer. Take your time, and don’t rush. Just know that there are many opportunities out there for you to take advantage of, and you should never limit yourself to your current role if you aren’t happy.
