Some people realise they need a new job with a boom, crash and a bang. One minute everything is fine, and next minute they’re marching out of the office Jerry Maguire style with a goldfish in a bag under their arm! But for most people, the realisation that the time for a job change has arrived is much slower. In this case, it’s more like a growing itch, that at first is just a slight irritation, but then it builds over weeks, months, even years and finally, you find yourself scrolling through the job ads in the middle of your lunch break.
The problem is that this long process of realisation, which is often accompanied by a lot of stress and unhappiness, is a waste of your time. It would be much better if you could recognise your need for a job change early on and get moving in the right direction sooner. That’s why we’ve put together a list of sure signs that it’s time for a new job. Take a look, and if you are finding yourself nodding along then that’s probably the clearest sign of all that you need to change jobs A.S.A.P!
1. You hate Mondays
But everyone hates Monday, right? Granted most people would prefer to wake up at their leisure Monday morning and feel free to choose to do whatever they like with the day. But in the real world, most of us need to work! However, that doesn’t mean you should suffer from intense dread at the thought of facing Monday morning. If your weekend is being cut short because you are suffering from pre-Monday anxiety or if you can never get to sleep on Sunday night because your stomach is twisting in knots of apprehension for the day ahead, then that’s more than your normal Monday blues. Your job shouldn’t feel like a dark shadow looming over you. If it does, then it’s time for a job change.
2. You have outgrown your position
Has your job gotten a bit boooooring? It’s ok, you can admit it without sounding like a moody teenager! When you first started at your job everything was new and challenging. But then you got familiar with the ins and outs of the job, and now, well, you could do the work in your sleep. This sounds like a good thing, and in many ways it is, but if you’ve outgrown your position and there are no opportunities for growth, then the job can begin to feel pretty stale. Just because you’re good at what you do doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to be intellectually stimulated anymore. The great thing is that this is the perfect position to be in when jumping back into the job market!
3. Your situation has changed
Four years ago, this was the perfect job for you. Back then the free canteen was a very important perk because you were renting that apartment at extortionate prices and you didn’t mind getting two buses into work because you loved the job. But today you have a house in the suburbs, a little one on the way and you resent all the time you spend sitting in traffic on the way home. OK, that was a very specific example that will only apply to a small number of people! But the point is that our lives change and trying to make an old job fit with our new life won’t always work. This can be a hard decision to make if you like your job and feel loyal to the company, but sometimes you need to do what’s right for you and start afresh.
4. You’re underpaid
This is an obvious deal breaker, but unfortunately, people often don’t realise they’re being underpaid. In many companies what everyone is getting paid is very hush-hush. This is all well and good when the pay is fair across the board, but if it is not then the underpaid individual needs to be lucky enough to stumble across this information. If you’re not sure whether you are being
underpaid, then it’s worthwhile to research current industry standards. VisitPayscaleto find out exactly what you’re worth, and if your salary is not up to scratch, then it’s time to ask for a promotion. If you are rebuffed for reasons you don’t agree with, then it’s time to change jobs.
5. You’re suffering in a toxic workplace
Toxic workplaces are more common than we would like to admit. That’s why we’ve already covered the subject in a blog about how to spot a toxic work culture. Having to deal with power-hungry employers who rely on fear tactics, micro-management and ridiculous lengths of red tape on a daily basis is exhausting. If you find that many of your conversations with friends and family consist of you complaining about work or that you are getting sick much more easily because of stress, then chances are you’re the victim of a toxic workplace. The sooner you move on the better!
*Is it time to get a new job? You’re in the right place! At Connexus Recruit we connect the dots between great talent and great employers. Check out our current open positions or get in contact with us directly so have a chat to determine what would be the perfect fit for you!*
