If You Answer Yes to These Questions, It’s Time for a Career Move

It’s easy to get stuck in a career rut. You have responsibilities. Your boss needs you. You’re in the middle of a big project and would feel guilty if you resigned right now. All of these are excuses we tell ourselves that hold us back from true career satisfaction.

Of course, experiencing stress at work doesn’t mean that you should throw in the towel. Many workplace issues can be solved with simple communication with your coworkers or supervisor. However, if you find your self answering “yes” to the below questions, it’s time to move on to a new career opportunity.

Is your boss focused on their own success instead of the team’s success?

A good leader supports their team and knows when one of their direct reports succeeds, the whole team succeeds. A bad supervisor focuses on their own boss higher up the chain and passes off their employee’s work and good ideas as their own. In this situation, it can often feel as though your job is just to contribute to the advancement of your boss and their career. You shouldn’t be required to advance their career at the expense of your own.

Do you have a long commute?

A long commute to work is a definite detriment to overall happiness. If your commute is less than 30 minutes, you gain an extra seven days of productive time each year compared to those with long commutes. Longer commutes to work effect mental health as well. According to a study of 34,000 workers in the UK, “longer-commuting workers {are} 33 percent more likely to suffer from depression, 37 percent more likely to have financial worries and 12 percent more likely to report multiple aspects of work-related stress.” (Smith, 2017)

Has your job become an unpleasant chore?

Work naturally comes with unpleasant tasks that we wouldn’t do without a paycheck. But if every task becomes unpleasant, career satisfaction plummets. How often in the week do you “get to” do a project rather than “have to”? You should feel pride in your work and excited to take on the challenge of new projects. If you dread going to work each morning and have stopped volunteering to take on new tasks, that is a clear sign it is time for a change.

Do you lack a voice at work?

Maybe you enjoy the work you are doing and feel great about what you have accomplished. When you are an expert in your field and familiar with your industry, your input and advice should be valued. If you have great ideas for the company, but feel your input isn’t appreciated, it can feel like you are stuck in park. It’s hard to advance your career if your voice isn’t being heard.

Is there no room for promotion in your current company?

Sometimes everything is going on track. Maybe you answered no to those first four questions. Maybe your work life balance is great, and your boss appreciates you and your coworkers. So why are you reading this article? Perhaps you’ve reached a point where you can just go no further at your current workplace. The organization is too small for advancement or your ideal role within the company is occupied by a coworker who is many years away from retirement or moving on so you can move up. Sometimes this is the hardest role to move on from. It can cause guilt to leave a team you love, and a company that has treated you right, for greener pastures. Remember that it is okay to focus on your own career path. Great coworkers will be happy for you and you’ll be happy you seized an exciting, new opportunity.

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, seize the opportunity and make a positive change for your life. It’s not selfish to strive for your full potential. Sometimes that requires moving on to a better opportunity more in line with your skills and career goals. A recruiter can help. Contact the employment experts at Career 1 Source to consult with a recruiter about the path you’d like your career to take. Or, click here to explore more information about what we have to offer.

 

Smith, R. (2017, May 22). Here’s the impact long commutes have on your health and productivity. Retrieved from Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/long-commutes-have-an-impact-on-health-and-productivity-2017-5