Some people are fortunate enough to land the sort of job that seems to bear the ‘I love my job’ tag. Others are not quite so lucky – for them, the most apt description for their career life can be something like 'making the most of my job mobility' and here we are talking about people whose reasons for wanting to change jobs are borne out of necessity and not out of a mere desire to add diversity to the 'jobs held' portion of their resume.
There are plenty of reasons why you may get dissatisfied with your current job and these can actually be the motivations behind your decision to quit and seek employment elsewhere. Some of these are described here.
1You Simply Loathe Going to Work
This is one of the most common signs that it is time to quit your job. There are a couple of ‘symptoms’ that accompany this sign including you getting irritable more so when you are thinking about the job. People who hate their jobs will hardly have time to enjoy their weekends simply because their thoughts are focused on how dreadful the following week is going to be. They also tend to have difficulties getting out of bed and even when they do report to work on time, it is because they want to avert work troubles and not because they experience sudden bursts of motivation. If you hate your job it is most likely that you spend the day finding fault with anything and everything. Do your current employer a favor and find another job.
2Your Current Job Bores You Stiff
We are all different when it comes to what we enjoy about our working experiences. Some people flourish in jobs that are repetitive in nature while others can hardly take any more of the same after a period of time; they need a fresh challenge. If you are one of those who gets bored in this manner, then it is advisable to seek another job that will replenish your creative juices. Such people may have some of the best remuneration packages around but these won’t count for much without the challenge they crave.
3You are Constantly Stressed Out
One of the most prominent causes of stress at the workplace has to do with the fact that all the multiple projects you have been involved in never seem to materialize but rather they taper out as loose ends. Some people will naturally want to see what the final result of what they have started will be – the very thought of leaving a task undone causes them to feel restless; the lack of resolution makes them feel stressed. Your current workplace may be somewhat disorganized such that consecutive projects tend to be abandoned midstream. In this case it is worthwhile to take your skills elsewhere where there is more organization.
4You Feel Burned Out
Burn out normally follows after you have accumulated considerable levels of stress – this is most likely what awaits a person who exemplifies point no.3 above. As long as there is no effort to make a fundamental change to positively affect the manner in which things are done at such a workplace, no type of break or vacation will permanently free you from stress and burn-out. Even the most resolute will soon succumb to depression and lack of motivation. Don’t wait for these to blight your career life – move on!
5The Fact that You Can Earn More Elsewhere Can Really Nag You
Some employers are quite unappreciative of the fact that some of their staff are extremely good at what they do and, therefore, very critical to the company’s operations. They take these facts for granted and continually insist on paying such professionals way below their job market rates. You may be one of these professionals and you may really love working at your current firm, albeit receiving less than what you can get at so many places elsewhere. You can’t work with such thoughts indefinitely without starting to feel discontented and spiteful of your employer. This is another sign that it is time to quit your job.
6Your Current Work Environment is Morale-Sapping
There are some work settings that simply drain away your energy and motivation to work productively regardless of how hard you try. It may be the drab colors that adorn your makeshift cubicle office – which may incidentally be just one of the thirty that are cramped together in a huge hall. It may also have to do with some of your workmates who simply can’t do without a daily drink after work – which is quite okay provided they don’t take one too many and come to the workplace the following day reeking of cheap liquor. Don’t take the fight to them if you have a better option – it is time to quit and seek a work environment whose culture will bring out the best in you.
7A Frustrating Boss
This reason doesn’t need much explanation especially if you are one of those who don’t believe in the concept of workplace sycophancy. As long as you feel qualified to get a more professional workplace elsewhere, don’t allow a nasty boss to stifle your career progression.
8What Should You Do to Avoid Making a Wrong Decision?
Although the urge to quit may be strong thanks to these and other reasons, it is always prudent to make an emotion-free decision to walk away. You should only walk away when you have thought through the consequences of your action exhaustively. What are your chances of getting a new job in an industry where hiring opportunities are sparse? How are you going to provide for your family? Have you prepared yourself with new skills that will make you more marketable? Have you saved enough money? What do you intend to do - get another job or become self-employed? These and more are the eventualities you should consider when the signs that it is time to quit your job start troubling you.
