15 Signs It’s Time For A New Job

In your professional career as an employee, there’s always a moment in time when the need to quit and find a new job becomes undeniable.

It’s a normal phenomenon for challenges to spring up while at work.

The honest truth is; feeling a deep and lasting dissatisfaction with your job is worth exploring.

It is important to tell the difference between working through the looming challenges and recognizing signs to quit a current position ahead of a new job.

Ever wonder why you feel disappointed in your job and not certain if it’s time to look for a new job?

This may be because you are surrounded with a nice group of coworkers and a decent incentive as your package.

Or you keep convincing yourself with reasons like: “This is fine—it’s not my dream job, but it’ll do for now.”

There’s nothing unfortunate with feeling comfortable at your job but bear in mind that being contented in the state of uncertainty can easily lead to a serious complacency which is the danger zone.

Moreover, complacency can make you give in to excuses take for example:

(“let me cope with the job for a few more months” or “I just don’t have the time to search for a job at the moment”) and finally leads you to settle it this way (“this job will sustain for now” or” Maybe I don’t need to be a VP”).

In the worst-case scenario, complacency can eventually breed room for fear and this fear as a result holds you back.

I have witnessed many intelligent and gifted colleagues settling for less paying jobs.

When they eventually settle within themselves to move on, that is when it seems like they have been out of the job market for a long time.

They find it difficult to make that move to update their resume let alone vouching for new jobs.

They are held down with fears of leaving for a new job than the one they last recalled.

It’s dreadful as it seems like they have almost forgotten what it is like to attend interviews. They feel belittled compared to their mates and believe it’s too late already.

The fears continue to grow until they feel the only way out is to keep procrastinating on the idea of getting a new job, making them to let go of the matter at hand and in turn, spending more time on their less paying and satisfying jobs.

If there is one piece of encouragement I could give to anyone who wants to advance in their professional career; it’s for them not to get complacent.

It is a great idea to regularly carry out a routine check when it comes to yourself in regards to your career goals and happiness.

In fact, it might be the right time to find a new job.

There are several signs you can use as a determining factor. We’ve furnished below common signs to show its time to leave for a new job:

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Sign It’s Time To Look For A New Job

There are many valid personal and professional signs to leave a job. Below are fifteen common signs that it’s time for your new job:

1. You are underusing your skills.
2. You are not following your passion.
3. The work environment is unhealthy.
4. There are no opportunities for growth.
5. The company’s future is in question.
6. Your ethics are being compromised.
7. You are grossly under-compensated.
8. Your values are not aligned with those of the organization.
9. You are no longer able to fulfill your job responsibilities.
10. There are substantially better opportunities available at another organization.
11. You need more work-life balance.
12. You dread going to work.
13. You can’t picture yourself there long-term.
14. You wouldn’t want your friends to work there.
15. Everything feels overwhelming.

1. You are underusing your skills

It is very important to quit from jobs that don’t seem to challenge you.

Accepting to remain in the job may retard your growth potential.

There’s every possibility for the job to expose you to the feelings of complacency.

This is really true especially when your manager declines or denies every opportunity requested by you to put your different skill set to optimal use.

2. You are not following your passion

When you become passion-driven about your job, only then you begin to feel purposeful and fulfilling.

Another great attribute passion adds to you is to boost the rate of your productivity, and improve your outcomes.

You are not following your passion when you begin to constantly feel like you are not giving enough of yourself to your job in order words like you aren’t working at all.

When you get to this point in your workplace, it begins to make you feel like it is becoming monotonous, appearing more like a mere job than a career.

You may eventually feel like you are just passing time since your potentials and skills are not fully harnessed in what you are passionate about.

Consider leaving for another job once you don’t feel excited about your position or the work your company is doing.

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3. The work environment is unhealthy

A work environment that looks unhealthy has a lot of implications to your profession and personal happiness. 

Examples cited of an unhealthy environment include dishonesty and distrust existing among senior member staff, public disgrace or harassment of employees, ineffective communication, punitive and hijacking of management practices.

Other symptoms of an unhealthy environment also include symptoms associated with lateness to work, high employee turnover and employees not standing for the truth for fear of retaliation etc.

If found in such an environment as this, research some possible strategies that can help cope for the main time while you look elsewhere for another job.

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4. There are no opportunities for growth

If the organization you find yourself no longer supports opportunities for growth, then it’s usually time to look for a new job.

Opportunities that crave for growth and professional advancement are not only limited to promotions in most organizations.

Many times, opportunities can result via the need to work on new projects, exposing your mind to a new branch of the business, taking advantage of a mid-level leadership position or being raised/ mentored by a senior leader.

Before thinking to quit, you can still seek your manager’s mind formally by requesting for the type of opportunity you believe to encourage growth and if the organization is not open to endorse your request, then you can finally leave.

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5. The company’s future is in question

Many companies today encounter a lot of ups and downs.

If the company where you work is really underperforming or faced with the tendency of folding up then you can consider leaving.

If you are working for a profit-making organization, be aware that they are usually determined by the number of sales they make and the revenue they generate.

Also be aware that reviewing your organization’s yearly financial reports can give you an oversight into its financial health and potential longevity.

Sometimes, the fate of a future non-profit organization that depends on governmental contribution and grants to operate can be jeopardized by financial challenges.

You can easily question the organization’s financial future resulting from challenges such as staff layoffs, closing of selected offices, salary freezing, reduction in client base which are also additional signs that calls for a quit.

6. Your ethics are being compromised

It is very important to know that whenever your ethics and decision-making are about to be compromised, do make it your priority to leave.

This is considered true especially in most professional settings because of the long-term implications for your career.

Accepting to compromise your ethics and values can go a long way to denting your morale and sense of pride or hinder your ability to get a future job.

An example of an ethical compromise is when an employee is caught misleading customer policies because they raise more revenue.

7. You are grossly under-compensated

You can consider leaving if you are that individual that wouldn’t accept a lesser salary in exchange for a great opportunity.

Whenever you are under-compensated, it projects a mismatch between what you and the company you work for recognize to be your value and growth potential.

The mismatch can negatively influence the responsibilities you are allocated and your duration of stay with the organization.

Deciding to stay back can bring about frustration because of the logistical lifestyle implications of a lower salary.

8. Your values are not aligned with those of the organization

If your personal values, passion and ethics don’t align with your organization, it is a clear indication that you need to leave.

If this circumstance has not already put you under any pressure to compromise your values and ethics then it might likely happen in the future.

Not being in alignment with company leaders has a resultant effect beyond ethics which can lead to different approaches to work, different methods for managing employees and difference in opinion about major policies and strategies.

So, before this misalignment turns into a significant conflict, it is safe to consider looking for another job.

9. You are no longer able to fulfill your job responsibilities

You may consider quitting your job as a result of a physical illness, recent adjustment in your personal life or structural changes within the organization that makes it difficult to carry out your job responsibilities well enough.

If you decide to stay on a job when the ability to perform your duties is compromised, it makes you vulnerable to getting laid off.

Getting fired can negatively have an impact on your ability to get a new job elsewhere.

Therefore, if many attempts to balance your job duties or the situation leading to this challenge are unsuccessful then it’s time to say goodbye while hoping to get a better job.

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10. There are substantially better opportunities available at another organization

Despite the comfortable nature of your job with a conducive work environment and collaborative colleagues, you can still leave if there is a standard organization within your field that offers better opportunities.

You can quit and run after them hence available.

This may include career advancement, higher salaries and professional fulfilment.

If your serious research of other organizations reflects better available opportunities outside your own organization, then you can consider leaving at once.

11. You need more work-life balance

Nevertheless, a strong work etiquette is a very positive trait.

Working all round the clock without adequate work-life balance can have an adverse effect on an employee’s health and wellbeing.

There are consequences responsible for slowing down productivity and work quality.

If you are finding it difficult to establish boundaries or create more positive expectations and a better work-life balance with your manager, then it’s a sign to leave your current job.

12. You dread going to work.

Feeling so devastated or broken when the weekend is over or hoping for a vacation time is somewhat normal.

If you feel down at the slightest thought of work, lose sleep at nights, or if you don’t find it fun and fulfilling and the job is beginning to affect your physical and mental health as a result, then it is a sign to leave your job for yet another.

13. You can’t picture yourself there long-term.

If you can’t see yourself lasting longer in the company or you can’t find opportunities for growth, this is a good reason to quit.

However, note that if you quit for this reason, have enough savings to keep you going as it might take a while to secure a new job.

14. You wouldn’t want your friends to work there.

If the company where you work is not good enough for you then you may not want your friends and family to work there either.

You want it so because you care about them just as you want the best for yourself.

Since you don’t find the company good enough for your family and friends, it might be a good sign to quit and look forward to a better opportunity that awaits you.

15. Everything feels overwhelming.

Oftentimes work can be so demoralizing but if you are beginning to feel anxious at every little problem that crops up, it may be a sign that you are about to suffer from burnout.

In addition, if activities like working on a project or carrying out work tasks that you used to get excited about suddenly makes you start feeling stressed, it’s a clear indication that you are working beyond your limit.

It may be time to clinch onto another opportunity.

Conclusion

Before you quit your job after carefully weighing your options, ensure you have alternatives or plans to sustain while searching for new opportunities.

If the reason behind your quit is personal, it’s better to find a new job before leaving so you won’t run out of your savings and have employment gaps on your resume.

Quitting your job is not always an ideal situation but reflecting on the adverse experience can enable you to find a reason to make a great move.

As you start searching for a new job, take enough time to reflect on your expectations from your next job, organization and career path.

Are you prepared to leave your job for that new opportunity? You’ll need a well revamped resume to improve your chances and beat the competition. Request a free review now!