It’s Monday morning. You are coming off a nice weekend with your friends, hiking the Appalachian Trail or checking out the latest breweries. But alas – the weekend is over and now you are back in your car on your way to work. You pull into the parking lot, let out an audible sigh, and say to yourself “another day, another dollar.” Now, if this sounds familiar to you, it may be a sign that it’s time for a change – maybe even a time to change jobs.
Whether you have been at your job for a while, don’t feel challenged enough, or simply notice your motivation dwindling – it is not uncommon to hit a rut at some point at work. But how can you tell if it is just temporary, or, if it means you should make a change?
That is what we are here for! Here are five signs that it may be time to change jobs:
1. Dreading every (weekday) morning
Steve Jobs once said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”
It rings loud and clear for any person in any line of work. People spend A LOT of time at their job! In fact, the standard workweek in the United States is 40 hours long – which ends up being about 2,000 hours per year, or 1/3 of your life spent working. So, if you are dreading going to work most of the time, this is a BIG sign that you are due for a change.
2. Affecting your mental health
In this day and age, an emphasis is put on individuals and the importance of their mental health – especially in the workplace. If you haven’t already, take a moment to check yourself and notice any recent changes to your mood, anxiety levels, or sleep patterns. Are you feeling negative energy at work? If so, are you bringing that energy home with you and into your personal life? Constant negativity and stress can be toxic to one’s mental health and could be a sign that it is time to change jobs.
*Note: If you notice that you not enjoying the same things you used to, there could be a bigger issue in play. Make sure to check in with a psychologist or your primary care physician to be safe, and go over all your options. Click here for more information and tools to help.
3. Less productivity during the day
Are you not getting work done like you used to? Do you find your mind wandering off during the day? If you are checking Facebook every 10 minutes, find yourself daydreaming more often, or seem bored with tasks that used to challenge you, then you may need to look for a more mentally stimulating job.
Decreased productivity in the workplace is a strong sign that you are not being challenged enough at your current position. Talk with your supervisor or manager about taking on more responsibilities. If the response is negative and there is no feedback or any room for growth, it may be time to change jobs.
4. No room for advancement
Something that most employees yearn for is growth opportunities within their organization. People want to move up in their company to learn, grow as a professional, and to gain that higher title (and the bigger paycheck isn’t that bad either). But maybe you have been passed up for a promotion time and time again, or there is no position higher than the one you are working, or the company does not regularly move their employees up.
If this is the case, it may be time to move to a company that does offer growth and advancements.
5. Feelings like it’s time to move on
Something that can often get overlooked, is your instincts. Turn off the logical part of your brain for a moment and instead, listen to your gut. What is it telling you? No one knows what you want or what you are thinking, better than you. If you have a sense that your time has come to an end at your current company, listen to that voice and start exploring other options. Be honest with yourself.
Don’t forget before you leave!
Do keep in mind that you should think about your next moves before turning in your notice. Make sure that your current job responsibilities do not go by the wayside while you are pursuing new opportunities. You do not want to hurt your professional relationships by making a hasty decision.
Also, take the time to plan your job search and even reach out to a recruiter in your area! Employment agencies, like Friday Services, have some of the best connections in the local job market and will work with you to find the absolute best fit for you. It is their job to alleviate some of the stresses of finding a new job, and they can be the best tool for your job search.
By: Brianna Ek