My mentor once told me working for a company is like dating. Things may be great at first, but if it becomes sour, it might be time to take a step back and reassess. The truth is, sometimes a job just doesn’t work out. Maybe the role you applied for isn’t what they led you to believe, or the company’s culture has become toxic after a few years. No matter the situation, it may be time to look for your next opportunity.
Job Hunting: To Be or Not to Be
Unsure whether you should start the job-hunting process now? Here are eight warning signs to tell you whether it’s time.
1. You’re feeling overly negative about work.
It’s normal to have negative feelings sometimes about your employer. Things may not always go as planned, or someone else may have dropped the ball on your big project. Any relationship – including the relationship with your employer – will have its hills and valleys. But it’s not normal if every day feels like a record low for you. Plus, constantly feeling negative about work can harm your body and can lead to chronic stress, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or digestive disorders. If you’re unable to get out of the funk, it may be time to find a new role.
2. You’re not being challenged at work.
Although there’s nothing wrong with settling into a comfortable routine at work, it’s easy to fall into a rut that causes boredom or even frustration. If you feel like this situation has caused you to become pigeon-holed or passed over for promotions, it might be time to shake things up. Seeking a new employer can help you gain new skills or advance your career.
3. There are no value alignments.
What are the values you care about the most throughout your professional career? Do they include things like freedom, creativity, flexibility, or diversity? While our values may differ from one another, it’s important to find a career path that’s closely aligned to your professional fulfillment. If your current position doesn’t allow you to experience the things that matter to you the most, it’s probably time to search for alternatives.
4. Your job is creating destructive habits.
If you engage in bad habits because of your job, it may be time to re-prioritize. This can take many forms. You might experience new eating habits, where you’re consuming too much or too little food or drinking too much alcohol. Maybe you’re having trouble falling asleep at night or waking up early stressing about the next day. Perhaps you’re often irritable and are lashing out at loved ones. No matter the situation, destructive habits can be harmful to your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
5. Your work environment is toxic.
Let’s be honest. The chances are probably high that you have experienced minor issues or gripes with at least one coworker or boss. The problem comes when the entire workforce seems to be full of relational issues or is experiencing a toxic system of behavior. This can be employees in leadership positions who deal with issues by screaming or putting people down, peers who excessively engage in workplace gossip or uncomfortable conversations, or even witnessing unethical or illegal business practices. If these experiences are negatively affecting your performance and your concerns have been swept under the rug, it’s time to find a company that values your wellbeing.
6. There are no opportunities for growth.
When there are no longer opportunities for growth in your organization, it is usually time to move on. This doesn’t just mean opportunities for promotions or vertical advances in an organization. It also can include not receiving mentorship from a senior leader, not working on a new project, or not taking part in a secondment to gain new experiences. Before deciding that it’s time to leave, engage your manager and request new opportunities to grow. If the organization doesn’t show any interest, you should begin your job search.
7. The company is failing.
If there are obvious signs that the organization you work for is failing, pay attention to them. Whether it is staff layoffs or prolonged salary freezes, it may be time to start job-hunting even if you’re not ready. It’s common for companies to experience cycles of highs and lows, but if the bad times never seem to end, your organization is probably in a dire situation. Or, at the very least, the organization is dysfunctional and needs to make significant changes. In these times, it’s important to remember that you’re not acting selfishly by wanting to get out before you’re forced out. Start the job-hunt sooner and work for a company with a brighter future.
8. You can’t create a work-life balance.
Striking that perfect balance between your career and your personal life can often be a challenge. Having a positive work-life balance involves successfully juggling workplace stresses with the daily demands of family, friends, and self. Unfortunately, the pressures of work can often turn this into chaos if they expect you to go above and beyond the 40-hour work week. This is not to say that you should jump ship the first time you have to work a few hours extra on a Tuesday to hit a deadline. However, if you’re consistently spending your entire day working and cannot find time to enjoy the things that matter to you the most, look for an organization that values your ability to recharge.
Motivation to Job Search
If you’re feeling inspired to find your next opportunity, job boards are a great place to start connecting with recruiters looking for cleared candidates. Start prioritizing what you want to do next, and then tap into the wealth of resources on ways to boost your resume and nail your next interview. Life is too short to hate your job.
