Signs That it's Time to Look for a New Job

On this blog we have published numerous posts that pertain to either finding or starting a new job - but what about the other side of the coin? When do you know that it is time to leave your current job and pursue other opportunities?

The sad reality is that many people are in a job that is simply not a good fit for them. Maybe the work isn’t something that they are passionate about. Maybe the culture and work environment of a company doesn’t mesh with their personality. There are countless reasons why a job might not be a good fit for someone, and more often than not there are obvious signs that indicate it might be time to start looking for other opportunities.

Here are some to look out for:

Your work doesn’t interest you

A feeling of indifference toward your work is often at the root of many people’s unhappiness. If you don’t like what you are spending 40+ hours per week doing, you are going to have some serious issues. A general lack of interest in your job will lead to other problems: showing up late, not putting forth your full effort, etc. Obviously, not everyone can have their “dream job,” but having at least some interest in your work will solve a lot of problems.

You don’t feel challenged

If you don’t feel like you are being challenged, it might be time to check the latest job postings. This usually means that you aren’t being utilized properly. Make sure you explore all avenues before quitting, though. Your supervisor might be open to giving you some new responsibilities, so don’t jump ship before you’ve at least discussed that possibility. If it’s clear that new opportunities in the same company simply isn’t going to happen, or you wouldn’t be interested in staying even if they offered, it’s probably time to pursue other opportunities.

You aren’t being paid enough

This is a tricky one because just about everyone thinks that they deserve to be paid more. If you truly feel that you aren’t being compensated fairly, either based on the industry-wide average or what your coworkers are making (provided you somehow obtain that information), talk with your supervisor. It never hurts to ask, even if you don’t think your odds of getting a raise are very good. If your request for a raise is turned down (and you are being blatantly underpaid) it could be time to look into other job openings.

You don’t get along with your coworkers

If you are constantly clashing with your coworkers and/or boss, it might be time to at least consider moving on. With that being said, before you start looking for a new job you need to look in the mirror and make sure that you aren’t the root cause of all the conflict. If you really can’t put up with your boss or coworkers despite your best efforts, it wouldn’t hurt to explore other opportunities. You will never be happy if you can’t stand the people you work alongside for 40+ hours a week.

Please Note: In very few situations is a good idea to quit your job without any sort of plan in place. If the situation is within your control, make sure that you have a job lined up before you submit your letter of resignation. Otherwise you could find the world of job hunting to be far less merciful than you anticipated.

- Cobey Culton