The last couple of years have been a roller coaster ride in the job market thanks to the uncertain economy. If you are working, it can be a smart decision to stay put and avoid risk even though where you work may not be the best match for your skills. However, it’s important to pay attention to signs that could indicate it’s time to move on and take charge of your career.
There will be moments in your career where you will have valley experiences and mountaintop experiences. Those experiences are indicators that what you are doing is a great match (the mountaintop) or that something is missing (the valley experiences). One of the most challenging career dilemmas you’ll face is when you have a job that seems to be OK, but you’re just not happy. How can you tell when it is time to move on to another job?
I’ve worked with many people who have been questioning their careers, and here are some signs I’ve found that it may be time for a career change:
You are engaging in negative self-talk. Constantly repeating negative statements such as, “this job is hopeless, no matter what I do it will never change” or “I can never please my boss” usually leads to a downward spiral of negativity and doubt. Negative self-talk can be a strong signal you are missing something important.
You quit learning and growing. When you start feeling as though you aren’t learning anything new, your skills start becoming stagnant, and you can lose your competitive edge. If you job is not offering ways for you to grow, start taking courses on your own to strengthen your skills and marketability.
You feel nothing you do really matters. Having thoughts of despair about your job is not a good feeling and can lead to apathy. If you sense a bad attitude developing, it’s time to consider if your job is a good match. It could be an indicator that you are in the wrong job.
If your compensation was higher you would be happier. There is nothing wrong with wanting to make more money, but when you start basing your career satisfaction totally on compensation something else may be missing. It is easy to think more money will take care of unhappiness.
You go to work with a sense of dread. If you dread being around your job and avoid talking to your boss, sooner or later this will catch up with you. You can’t always avoid conflict or deny that this may not be a good work culture for you. A good starting point is to identify the cause of your dread.
Engaging in career-sabotage. This can include venting negative feelings or not following through on projects. When you start setting yourself up to fail, that’s a sign that you need to change direction or your attitude before your employer lets you go.
You rarely hear positive comments about your future. Communication is the single most important factor in your work relationships, and without it, you are left to guess what your future holds. Receiving positive feedback is encouraging and can make your job more enjoyable, and the lack of such communication can be an important indicator, too.
Paying attention to these signs can help you make better career choices and prevent you from staying in a job that makes you feel bad about yourself. Taking control of your career means listening to what is being said and what is not. Moving on can be a healthy choice, especially when you have the time to prepare and understand the reasons why.
How you do know when it’s time to move on?
