If your job is putting you to sleep it’s time to wake from your slumber and start looking for something new. Here are our top 10 warning signs that it may be time to make a career move.
1. Stuck In An Infinite Loop
We understand that your job can’t always be fun and exciting, but if your job has stopped challenging you and feels more like a boring chore that you have to repeat every single day, it’s time to dust off your CV and get yourself back into the job market. Your job should in some way fulfil you – sitting in a dead-end job will negatively affect your life, even outside working hours. Getting a new job might give you a renewed sense of purpose and as an added bonus, have positive effects on your career and life goals.
2. You’re Invisible
You feel like you’ve lost your voice in the crowd and you might as well be made from glass. Your company is also not using your skills and experience to their advantage. Have you been overlooked when it was promotion time? Being ignored by your peers, manager or boss can have devastating effects on your self-esteem. If your once-trusted opinions are no longer being taken to heart, start looking for a way out.
3. Sick Of Being Sick
It’s a well-documented fact that people that are unhappy with their jobs call in sick more often. It’s sometimes the easiest ways for employees to avoid a toxic working environment. Although a short-term solution, it’s not going to remedy the situation at work so if your job is literally making you ill, it’s time to take a hard look at alternative employment.
4. This Is The End
You’ve been in more or less the same position the past few years and so far, no interest has been shown in your career development. You feel like your job has stagnated and salary increases, training and job responsibility changes is non-existent. If you repeatedly ask for a change in job roles, more responsibility and upskilling, but falls on deaf ears every time, it’s time to start looking at other opportunities.
5. Complaining
If you are constantly complaining about your job to other colleagues, family and friends there’s something wrong at the office. Try to have a conversation with your manager/boss. If things don’t improve or get resolved over a period of a few weeks/months (be patient and give it a real good go), it’s maybe time to find a new job that’s more in line with your own career objectives and working ethos.
6. Unfair Treatment
If you are blatantly being overlooked when promotions and new hiring takes place are big warning signs. It can be as simple as your boss not liking you or that you clash with one of your team members. If you no longer feel part of the team and genuinely experience unfair treatment that’s limiting your career and potential, find a new job first, then leave.
7. Day-Dreaming (too much)
It’s good to dream and day-dreaming can actually help with the creative process and problem-solving. But if you are day-dreaming too much it could be a form of escapism from your current real-life situation. Avoiding the issues you are facing, be it at work or personal life is not doing you any favour. Stop day-dreaming. Keep a journal. Make goals and go for them.
8. It’s Personal
Do you feel that your personal values don’t match up with your companies? It might have been great at the start, but companies and their cultures evolve, just like we as people do as we get older. Maybe your company merged or hired new management?
9. Losing Control
If you feel that you are not in control of your career anymore can be a really scary feeling. There are many things in life we can’t control but your career, success and job-happiness are fortunately not one of them. Yes, there might be obstacles in your way (skills-level/location etc) but if you truly want to change your career to a more fulfilling one, there are ways to achieve it. Explore the options. Look at the pro’s and con’s and seek advice before making a decision.
10. Permanent Monday Blues
Depression or anxiety as a result of your job is unacceptable and should be remedied by all means possible. If you’re generally a happy person but getting up for work makes you want to stay in bed or hide away from the world it’s time to look for a new job. Personal and job-happiness are very closely intertwined so make career decisions that prioritises your mental health and overall happiness.
Ready to make a career move? Check out 1000’s of SA’s freshest jobs here or download our job app for Android or iOS now.
