5 Signs It's Time to Find a New Job
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers change jobs so often that the median tenure at any given company is approximately 4 years. The days where workers work at one or two jobs in their lifetime is over. The reasons why people leave are endless. Some are trying to advance their careers, while others are fed up with their jobs. In some cases, boredom is the root cause. You may feel similarly. But how can you tell it’s time to leave?
Job hopping is at an all-time high, as reported by NBC News. And younger workers think it’s a great strategy! About 63% of workers have a favorable opinion of switching jobs frequently. Why? Most of the time, it’s to further their careers, but there are also other reasons why a job change may be recommended. If you’re experiencing burnout, for example, or are unexcited and unmotivated in your current position, it may be time to look for a new job. Let's look at some great reasons to move on.
Not Excited Anymore
Nobody is excited about their job 100% of the time. There are always going to be ups and downs. When there are more lows than highs, however, you may have an issue on your hands. Not being excited to go to work and/or dreading going to work is one of the first signs of occupational burnout. If ignored, burnout can affect health and relationships, so it's nothing to ignore. It may be that there are ways to reinvigorate the position, but if there's just no way, moving on may help breathe fresh air into your work life.
Lack of Opportunity
People who stay at the same job for years may find that they never move up or get much of a raise. In fact, workers who switched jobs enjoyed an increase in salary of about 5.2% compared with 4.3% for those who didn’t in 2017, according to Monster. So, if you’re not moving up in your career where you’re at, it may be time to look for a new job. Consider whether or not it's you or the job. If there are opportunities and you're just not pursuing them, it may be time to reach further and dig deep into your own ambitions. But if there are no opportunities or you're being passed over, maybe it's time to go where you're more appreciated.
Lack of Motivation
When you just don’t feel the love anymore, it’s often time to move on. Feeling extremely unmotivated or experiencing a lack of interest in work-related activities is another sign of occupational burnout. This is especially true if you’re in a job that you used to enjoy. Kind of like the above where you're just not feeling it, but on the more extreme end—a lack of motivation drains us and makes us feel like we'd rather be anywhere else. This may be a sign of the first stages of burnout.
Stress
The cardinal signs of stress include headaches, back pain, dizziness, digestion issues, anxiety, crying spells, depression, irritability, substance abuse and sleep difficulties, among others. At first, you may not connect these physical symptoms to stress or to the job. But if you’re experiencing any of these issues and there is no medical cause, it may be time to evaluate everything, job included.
Lashing Out
Your family suffers when you hate your job. Feelings of unhappiness, frustration and irritability spill out onto those you love, leaving them hurt and confused. Why? When you have too much to handle, your emotional overload naturally affects those around you, including your children. They, too, may even begin to display signs of stress and worry. If we're unhappy in our jobs, we may be making everyone around us miserable, too, and do they really deserve that?
The decision to find a new job is not one to take lightly, but you shouldn’t put it off either. Make an honest evaluation of the current circumstances. If there are more reasons to leave than there are to stay, it may be time to move on—and the odds are you'll be better off for it.
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