It started as a small thought that you casually brushed off, but now the sensation is beginning to feel overwhelming: Are you wasting your time at this job?
Sometimes, it’s impossible for us to see what is so clear to everyone else. If you have a sneaking suspicion that you are in the wrong job, here are some signs to bolster your resolve to find a position that is bigger and better.
You Dream of Working Elsewhere
Most workers spend a small portion of their working hours daydreaming, but if fantasies of another career consume your thoughts from the time you punch in to the time you leave, you might need to change your job. Usually, this means that your current job isn’t fulfilling some critical need, so you should seek a job that offers the traits you fantasize about every day.
This problem is especially rampant among wannabe entrepreneurs, who imagine the challenge and satisfaction of running their own businesses. However, if entrepreneurship is your next career step, you might consider sticking with your boring day job for another year or two to enjoy personal financial stability while your startup gets on its feet.
You Haven’t Learned Anything New
Humans like to learn and grow, especially in their line of work. When improvement is no longer possible, feelings of boredom and discontent flourish. Thus, if it has been eons since you last learned new knowledge or gained a new skill in your job, it might be time for a change.
Your goal should be to find a workplace that places training and professional development as a top priority. In fact, you can even look for positions that offer education benefits. Many employers are happy to assist you in earning an online MBA or another enviable credential. This is a win-win: They gain an employee with enhanced knowledge and skill, and you continue to be challenged by new concepts.
You Aren’t Appreciated in Any Way
One of the best ways to motivate workers is by showing appreciation – a lesson you should learn soon if you hope to be a business leader. Thus, if your bosses have failed to appreciate your hard work and dedication, you probably aren’t feeling driven to perform at your current job. When you begin your job hunt, you should try to interview workers at organizations where you might apply to determine whether they feel sufficiently appreciated and therefore fulfilled in their positions.
Your Feedback Is Ignored
All employees benefit when an organization is profitable, so when any employee has an idea that would improve the business, higher-ups should listen attentively. If your thoughts and opinions are falling on deaf ears, you should find an employer who is more interested in taking your feedback to heart. Again, asking current employees about the corporate culture and their experience giving and receiving feedback is the best tactic for finding a better employment opportunity.
You Are Always Overstressed
Work should be challenging, but it shouldn’t be constantly overwhelming. Chronic stress has significant impacts on your mental and physical health; it can result in depression, heart disease and other dangerous conditions. In the short term, too much stress can demotivate you and turn work into a grueling chore. If any aspect of your current work environment is causing your stress levels to remain untenably elevated, you should pivot toward a career that ensures you a healthier atmosphere – or at least more PTO.
You Sacrifice Your Life for Your Work
Though some people live to work, most people work to sustain their desired lifestyles. Unfortunately, many of those in the latter category fall into a pattern of working so hard that their life suffers. If your career pushes you to compromise your life for the sake of work – and if you aren’t willing to make such sacrifices – you should find a new job. However, it is important to note that if you dream of entrepreneurship, you might kiss a typical work-life balance goodbye.
Your Bosses Value Suspicious Qualities
Though you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, you can form opinions based on its summary. You should consider the basic values of your current business leaders: Do they strive for transparency, or do they hold secrets close and often spread lies? Do they reward creativity, or do they celebrate mindless obedience over all? If your bosses don’t share your values – indeed, if they seem to perpetuate practices that act contrary to your needs and wants – you need to find new employment or build a business that upholds your corporate beliefs.
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