You have various decision points in your career. A key one is whether you should stay, or if it’s time to move on. Here are several questions to ask yourself, to help you decide if you’re at a career cut-off point.
Am I still having fun?
Yes, you’ll have good days and bad days, but when the bad days outnumber the good, it’s probably decision time.
Am I making a difference?
Is your unit, team or company better off with you there? Do you feel you have influence? If you’re just a part of a machine, take your passion elsewhere. One of the most rewarding feelings is the knowledge that the profession is better off with you in uniform. Some people have a greater influence out of uniform, while others don’t make a difference at all. The minute you are no longer making a difference, you should take a professional pause and ponder your contribution. If you’re just part of the machine, your passion might be elsewhere.
Do I watch the clock?
Are you a clock watcher? Do you arrive later and later every day, take longer and longer lunch breaks, and keep a close eye on the clock to know when to leave? These are indicators that you’re not all in – signs that it’s time to punch out for good.
Am I toxic?
Do you hate everyone you work with? Does everyone you work with hate you? Do you poison the well every time you drink from it? Have you gone straight from skeptic to cynic and not passed “Go?” Do everyone a favor and find a new career.
Can I still laugh?
Ever know someone who only laughed when something bad happened to someone else? You don’t want to be that guy, either. If you can answer “yes” to the first question, then this one is a close second. Don’t take yourself too seriously and you’ll go far. Learn to laugh, to live, and to enjoy the little things. When you stop laughing, start packing. You’ll be doing everyone a favor.
The good news? A new job is an opportunity for a new start. You can take your jaded, disgruntled self and find a career you’ll love. There are more than 40,000 waiting at ClearanceJobs.com.
