Some of us just know when the right time comes. They move to another job just when they start to feel that their current job does not align with their long-term goals.
Others need someone else to point them that they are unhappy. That’s the signal to start thinking about changes.
Signs saying that it’s time to leave the job
Here are some signs that can help you realize that you are probably unhappy and should consider changing some things. When there occurs more than one sign at the same time - maybe it’s time to search for a new job?
To quote Forbes article about this topic "14 Signs It's Time To Leave Your Job":
- You lack passion.
- You’re miserable every morning.
- Your company is sinking.
- You really dislike the people you work with and/or your boss.
- You’re consistently stressed, negative, and/or unhappy at work.
- Your work-related stress is affecting your physical health.
- You don’t fit in with the corporate culture and/or you don’t believe in the company anymore.
- Your work performance is suffering.
- You no longer have good work-life balance.
- Your skills are not being tapped.
- Your job duties have changed/increased, but the pay hasn’t.
- Your ideas are not being heard.
- You’re bored and stagnating at your job.
- You are experiencing verbal abuse, sexual harassment, or are aware of any type of other illegal behavior.
I have the symptoms! What now?
When you decide that this is a moment to change a job don’t be hasty and keep your emotions away. First of all plan the details — do you want to change your working field, what do you want to do in your next job, will you swap the jobs or are you willing to have some vacations?
After that, focus on a work to-do list — who and when to inform, how much time do you have to continue working in your current job.
Remember that it’s always better to leave the job with at least a few offers found. You should keep in mind the consequences of quitting before you have a new job lined up, no matter how much you dislike where you’re working.
My experience
As for me, the first symptom in the current job was lack of passion. Partly because of the routine, partly because I get bored (another symptom). Without passion I started to be miserable, not only in the morning, but also after the job. This unfortunately affected my personal life. At this point I realized that I have to change the work part of my life and that it is impossible to improve it in the current job. Exactly a week after this thought appeared I had a job interview.
Discussion
Are you ready to leave your job, or maybe you are looking for ways to improve your current situation?
Do you search for a new job while still working in the old one, or do you first leave?
I have been thinking about changing my job for quite a while now. The reason for that is that I do not believe that my situation in the company can or will change.
ReplyDeleteMy job crisis started when I encountered a constant lack of support for my ideas (that corresponds with a signal number 12 from the Forbs list -“Your ideas are not being heard”). Therefore, my passion for what I am doing have started to decline (point 1), boredom of my everyday chores appeared, and belief that because of performing the same tasks over and over again, I would not be not able to expand my knowledge and skills.
So I have started to send my CV and I am looking forward to a positive response. And if another company offers ma a job, I will give my present up. I think that it is best to leave the old job, when you have already found a new one, especially when the old one is unsatisfying. I know a few people who, after quitting their job, could not find a new one for a long time, and I only can imagine how difficult it is, considering a loss of hope and financial resources shrinkage. At this point of my life, I can not give my current job up not having a new one. It would be irrational.
We are in the very same position. I hope everything turns out ok for you and I wish you a good luck!
DeleteIt's a very interesting topic. I think the most important thing is to keep calm and rational, while making decision about quiting or changing the job. If it's possible, you should also get a week or two break after quitting.
ReplyDeleteI of course look at job offers to know what’s going on in the market... but I don’t plan any changes yet. At it’s surprising even for myself as I’ve been working in my current job for 4 years. Previously I was changing my job every few months, the longest contract lasted 2 years... 4 years is the longest I have ever stayed anywhere! Why? Because within some borders they let me decide what I’m going to do next... Lately I was in a similar situation – extremely bored with my current tasks and with a feeling I’m not going into the right direction. I asked my boss for a change, proposed what I’d like to do and I got it... And it’s not the first time. So it’s probably wisdom of my supervisors that keeps me there (because salary always could be better! :) and partially also my courage in asking for what I want. My supervisors are open to proposals, the company is changing constantly looking for new ways, evolving, goals change – why don’t take advantage of that?!
ReplyDeleteI’m not saying all companies are like that - I know, because I worked for some. You should look for the one that will be good for you. Changes are good and exciting!
It looks like you work in a really great company! What I find strange is constantly checking for job offers while you are content with your current job. Whats the purpose?
DeleteI had similar experience just a few months ago, after 2,5 years working for a small company. One thing that I can tell after overcoming feelings you described like feeling miserable, is the fact that one does not have to change job in order to change the environment. You may try to influence it and hopefully succeed to change it at least for some time. Still first thing I did was searching for another job, calculating what salary would be attractive in different types of contracts. In my particular case this wasn't really worth the effort. There was not even one company which wanted to hire me with my expectations of higher salary. This was the moment when I realized that the best solution is not to search for a new job but to break the taboo and talk about my doubts with my superior . It works for now.
ReplyDeleteLately I was looking into other options, like getting a job in California where big flats and small houses cost as much as gross annual salary in similar position. There is one catch, it only makes sense and is possible due to need for visa, when you will get a job before going there.
- You lack passion. - Nope
ReplyDelete- You’re miserable every morning. – Check! The amount of debugging and extra tasks is enormous.
- Your company is sinking. - Nope
- You really dislike the people you work with and/or your boss. - Nope
- You’re consistently stressed, negative, and/or unhappy at work. – Check! after another crush of program or bug.
- Your work-related stress is affecting your physical health. – Check! I do not have enough time to workout as much as I want to
- You don’t fit in with the corporate culture and/or you don’t believe in the company anymore. - Nope
- Your work performance is suffering. – Check! Sometimes I think I should be cloned
- You no longer have good work-life balance. – Check! Extra time at work, then projects for the school and couple of hour for the free time. No time for fun
- Your skills are not being tapped. - Nope
- Your job duties have changed/increased, but the pay hasn’t. – Check! Sad, but true.
- Your ideas are not being heard. - Nope
- You’re bored and stagnating at your job. - Nope
- You are experiencing verbal abuse, sexual harassment, or are aware of any type of other illegal behavior. – Nope
To sum up:
8 times: “Nope”
6 times “Checked”
But then this happens:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtVdAasjOgU
with so many positive comments! It’s such a powerbooster! I wouldn’t ever change my job! (Only if I was supposed to be promoted – then I would consider it :))
Interesting topic and a good reference to a Forbes article. Although, it's quite important to remember that everybody in a give point in time may check of the Forbes points. It's just natural, we're getting bored of even the best job on earth.
ReplyDeleteI personally think that the moment when one should consider changing a job is when he or she answering negatively on a question: do I have anything else to learn here?
If you stop developing as a professional - that's the time to consider searching for a new challenges.
Obviously, quitting the job is very important thing. This decision can be decisive in later life when it comes to getting a new one, so it's not only choice, it's also sing in CV.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think about something new, because I stay in the same point all the time. Then, I remind that I have a great contact with chef and very casual conditions, what harmonizes with my full-time studies. It's hard to swallow.
I am at the same moment as you :-) my case is connected with the change of the boss. My previous boss was great, he was a experienced (15 years in consulting) consultant and he exactly knew how to manage consulting dept. In January our CEO has chosen an old new guy, he was a manager of the development dept. Our depta were connected. Now my job is a horror, a person who doesn't really know what consulting is manages experienced consultants and there is no hope for better. People are planning to leave the company. I would vote for the boss as reason of job change.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I always looking for a new job. You ask why? It is simple. To always be in a good shape. This may sound strange, but if you do not go to the haring with possible new employer that after a year or two you will be out of the market, you will not know how to respond on sometimes stupid questions. You will not know how to react on some situations etc. And most of all you will not know how to estimate your current salary, as you will not know what is your price on market.
ReplyDeleteMy advice is to always look for a new job while you are still working. This is more convenient and safe for your financial liquidity.
So true. On the other hand I completely don't understand this "plan your leave" stuff. I'am a planning person, but that's the reason I have some money to live through few months without a stable salary. If I wanted to change a workplace I have no reason not to do it the fastest possible way. I know, that it's sometimes hard to find good job after, but I believe that any work will do if you are not content with current job. Working is most of our lives. And I don't believe one cannot find any workplace in a 6-month time. It's just ridiculus.
DeleteThis topic is very important for me since I started new job this week. When I decided to change my job the most important factror for me was to find a new one in my home town. I wanted to be closer to my family. But the first thought, the impulse to change the previous one was the feeling of tiredness.
ReplyDeleteI gave my heart to my previous job but I had an impression that it does not matter at all. Team cooperation was getting worse and people were interested only in their part of work not the project as a whole. I don't belive it is constructive and effective so I wanted to find a company when team understands that only if people are working together and if communication is good project can succeed.
I hope I found such company, please keep your fingers crossed for me.
I know exactly what you mean, Ania. I feel in a sense you have an obligation to change your job when you feel you stopped to grow in your current position.
ReplyDeleteAs your colleague I know you are extremely hard-working, dedicated and very talented, so I know you will do very well.
:) thanks!
DeleteI was considering a job change few months ago. Almost all my colleagues leave us. My team was broken. I wasn't looking new job, but I still get many messages from recruiters. I responded for one of them and received very good offer. I think that then I was not ready to leave my job. I have very good manager and my director is also ok. I had long conversation with them about my fears. They asked me to trust them and I stay. Of course I have got better position by the way. However, now we have few new persons.This is not the same. Atmosphere is not as nice as was when my old friends work here. Nevertheless I don't give up. I think that we can build new and strong team. I have some ideas to do this. Hence, I'm for improving my current situation now.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very current topic for me, as I am actually in the middle of a job hunt myself!
ReplyDeleteThe reason mostly is the fact, that I would like to change my location, but nonetheless I think it is a good moment for me to switch jobs right now. I work in my current workplace for a year now and it is my first permanent job with a contract, because prior to that I took up jobs as a freelancer, which was mentally exhausting for me.
Right now I am working with great people and I have no reason to complain. But my tasks are very repetitive, sometimes boring and barely challenging…. I have no possibility of working on my own ideas, that’s why I have decided to make a big change. A cushy job is a comfortable solution, but I wouldn’t like to wake up in 20 years sitting at the same desk recreating the plot of “Groundhog day”.
First of all, I think that if you decide to change your job you should first find a new job and then quit the old one.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is the most rational solution or else we can risk a long period of unemployment.
Nowadays, I also believe that the important thing in giving up a work is parting with your employer on good terms because you never know what may happen in the future.
I have an example from my environment, when my colleague resigned from work about two years ago and went abroad.
Unfortunately, something went wrong there and now he returned to Poland but chances are that he will be accepted back.
This is a history of a happy ending.