Some people quit a job to earn more money elsewhere. Some quit their jobs for a better opportunity.
Here are 7 signs that your job isn’t a good fit for you anymore, and it’s time to consider how you can either improve the issues or think about leaving.
1. You’re Not Learning
If your learning curve has flattened out or you’re really not feeling challenged, this may signal a need to move on. You may not be learning something new every day on the job, but you should be improving upon your core skills and picking up new ones. You often have to take this into your own hands, of course—asking to be involved in a new project, signing up for courses you’re interested in, or attending a relevant conference or seminar in your discipline, for example. But if these possibilities don’t exist at your current job, it’s a sign that the company is not serious about investing in your career development.
2. You’re Never Told, “Thanks.”
Everyone also needs praise. We all need to know when we do something well (and everyone, even a poor performer, does some things well).
Life’s too short not to be recognized for the contributions you make.
3. You Feel Like You Have No Purpose.
Everyone likes to feel a part of something bigger. Everyone likes to feel he has an impact not just on results but also on the lives of other people.
Life’s too short to go home every day feeling like you’ve worked, but you haven’t accomplished anything meaningful.
4. You Have Absolutely No Interest In The Work You’re Doing.
There’s nothing more draining than a job that has nothing to do with your ultimate goals or personal interests. Regardless of what you’re being paid, you’ll never fully enjoy your life or reach your full potential if you’re saddled with so much apathy – it will eventually spill into other areas of your life and dim those as well.
5. You Don’t Get Feedback
If your direct manager doesn’t provide feedback on your performance—or the feedback is generic and thus difficult to take action on—it’s pretty tough to learn what it takes to move up within your organization or grow as a professional. The best managers are engaged with your career development and regularly offer advice and guidance—and if yours doesn’t, you owe it to yourself to look elsewhere.
6. You Aren’t Even A Tiny Bit Excited To Go To Work.
Every job has its downsides. (I’m willing to bet even Richard Branson has to do a few things he doesn’t enjoy.) But every job should also have some fun moments. Or exciting moments. Or challenging moments. Or some aspect that makes you think, “I’m looking forward to doing that.”
Life’s too short to spend only looking forward to quitting time.
7. You Don’t See A Future.
Every job should lead to something: hopefully a promotion, but if not, the opportunity to take on additional responsibilities, learn new things, tackle new challenges. Tomorrow should have the potential to be different–in a good way–from today.
A decent boss works to improve the company’s future. A good boss works to improve her employees’ futures, too, even if–especially if–that might mean some of those employees will eventually move on to bigger and better things.
Life’s too short to live without hope.
