10 Signs You Need A New Job
The best time to look for a new job is when you have a job. If you find yourself unmotivated, disengaged, or frustrated at work, it may be time to explore new opportunities.
Your company has problems
Whether it’s constant restructuring or inconsistent revenue, if you sense that your company is threatened by economic or cultural forces that they seem to have trouble managing, it is worth protecting your value by looking elsewhere.
You will often find that companies with problems have low worker retention. When you see colleagues seeking greener grass, it’s a good sign that you need to find yours, too. Ask your network for recommendations of stable companies that can provide the type of employer security that you lack in your current position.
Your company has problems with you
If you receive a poor performance review, get placed on a performance improvement plan, or suddenly notice that your boss is asking for you to document your actions each day, be proactive and seek out a position that may be a better reflection of your talents.
You have problems with your company
If you believe that your work environment is hostile, unethical, or immoral, you should collect any evidence as you search job boards. While working to improve these conditions can help the lives of you and your colleagues, it’s important to consider how separating yourself from a hurtful environment can help you develop a healthier individual career path.
Likewise, if your company’s mission doesn’t agree with you, it’s likely that you won’t find long-term fulfillment in your role. Start looking for a more acceptable path that can lead toward a more fulfilling career that’s more aligned with your personal goals and beliefs.
You don’t look forward to work in any capacity
When just seeing faces at your job causes frustration, the healthy solution is to discover a new world with new faces.
You’re bored
No human deserves to be stuck in a monotonous cycle of routine drudgery. Even if you enjoy your office and office mates, seeking out new challenges contributes to your personal growth and development. First, see if a conversation with your boss can shift some of your tedious responsibilities elsewhere—if there isn’t an internal path towards more rewarding work, use your downtime to find a role that engages your intellect.
You’re consistently stressed
While our lives outside of work can contribute to our stress levels, be on the lookout for symptoms of work-related stress such as headaches, loss of sleep or appetite, or increased drinking. These physical symptoms may point to job dissatisfaction that needs to be fixed to keep you healthy both physically and mentally.
You need better working hours
Whether working late nights and weekends or suffering through a long commute, if your current role demands hours that you would prefer be spent elsewhere, begin looking for local roles. As you interview, be sure to ask your prospective employer what the expectations are for hours and ask prospective peers at the company to tell you when they come in and leave each day.
You’re not developing at the rate you expected
Promises of promotions, development opportunities, and growth may have been enticing offers that attracted you to your current role, but when those promises are left unfulfilled, it can lead to frustration. If you have spent time with your boss to pursue growth but haven’t seen your role mature or educational opportunities materialize, you may find roles elsewhere that allow you to increase your responsibilities and realize your potential while increasing your overall job satisfaction.
You’re struggling to find positive working relationship with your boss
Even more so than the culture of a company, your relationship with your boss can often dictate your job satisfaction. If you have worked hard to meet your boss’ demands but can’t earn any recognition for a job well done, you may want to seek out a leader that can identify and award great performances. If you are able to objectively identify the traits of your boss that drive you mad, you can turn those notes into questions for your next hiring manager.
You are truly and actively disengaged
If the thought of attending another town hall, birthday lunch, or happy hour makes you want to pull your hair out, then you are disengaged. Ask yourself: Would you recommend to your best friend a job working at your office? If you couldn’t possibly subject your best friend to your office life, then why do you keep clocking in? To help you move on, document exactly what frustrates you in your current role and seek positions that offer alternatives.
As you think about your career growth and your current working environment, these signs should serve as a signal to explore new opportunities. While proactively engaging with your boss and employer can help to resolve some of these warning signs, consistent frustration over the course of your employment shouldn’t be brushed aside. Even the process of applying for, interviewing for, and considering new job offers can allow you to better understand the sources of your current job frustration while developing your awareness of specific types of work environments that are better suited for your talents and ambitions.
Everyone deserves a work life that presents both stimulating challenges and secure comforts - if your current role isn’t offering either, start looking for the role that will give you both. And keep in mind that Advance America is always hiring. To find job opportunities near you, visit our careers page.
