7 Signs it May be Time to Look for a New Job

 

“Research indicates that employees have three prime needs: Interesting work, recognition for doing a good job, and being let in on things that are going on in the company.”  ~ Zig Ziglar ~

Every day thousands go to work asking themselves the same questions. What is my job giving me? Would I be better off looking for another one? How do I know if I will find something that I like better? A 2013 Gallup Poll found that if you don’t like your job, you are in the majority. Their study found that twice as many workers were actively disengaged than those who loved their jobs. While there are some things we can do to make our workplaces more enjoyable and satisfying, there is a limit as to what we can do. 

Here are 7 major signs that it is likely time to look for a new job.

You Are in a Toxic Work Environment

Coming to work every day feels like trying to make it through a minefield. There is constant negativity, backstabbing, gossiping and people trying to take credit for the work of others. There isn’t one person that you can have a positive conversation with or you look forward to seeing. You come home exhausted and dread getting up and going to work the next day.

Your Passion Went South Some Time Ago

The passion you had for your work went out quite a while ago and you are just going through the motions. You eagerly look forward to days off and count the days until you can go on your next vacation. You can’t think of anything that gets you excited or motivated when you think about going to work. It has become a routine and you feel you are trapped in rut. 

Your Skills Are Not Being Utilized and You Are Stagnating

We need challenges, opportunities for growth and advancement to keep us feeling motivated, alive and vibrant. Has your job become so routine that you hardly have to think about it at all? Does it feel like every day is the same? Is the biggest challenge you have getting up and going to work every day? Does it feel like your job could be done by someone who has a fraction of your skills and abilities? If you answered yes to most of these questions, it is likely time to move on.

You Receive Little or No Recognition for Your Work

You could be in a job where you are proud of the work you are doing, but your boss or no one else seems to notice or care. Perhaps you are a hard worker and self-motivated but your efforts receive little attention. You came up with some great ideas but when you brought them up with your boss, he just shrugged them off. Worse, your ideas and extra effort are discouraged because you make your coworkers look bad. You could even be seen as a threat by your boss and coworkers.

You Have Lost Faith in the Company and Their Culture

We all need to feel proud of the work we do and the organization that we work for. If we find ourselves avoid telling anyone where we work, it is a good sign that we should be looking for another employer. Maybe the company is doing something that goes against our morals which makes us feel very uncomfortable. Does working there compromise our deeply held values? Do we feel like we have to hold our nose to just to come to work every day?

Your Personal Relationships and Health are Suffering

Is what is going on at work affecting your personal life, your relationships with your partner and children? Do you find yourself arguing with your partner, snapping at the children because you are coming home from work all stressed out? Have you taken time off due to stress or are seriously considering doing so? Do you find yourself feeling down and getting depressed when it is time to go back to work after days off or a vacation? 

Your Long Term Goals Don’t Align With Your Present Job

You have set long term goals but don’t seem how your present job is helping you move in the direction of those goals. In the past you felt good about being there but you’ve grown and changed and now you are looking for something more challenging and stimulating. Your interests and passions may have changed over time or you may have made some discoveries about yourself that stir you to move in a new direction. While the thought of making a change may produce anxiety, you dread the thought that you may never reach your potential and regret it for the rest of your life if you don’t move on.