Not every job is meant to last forever – even if you thought it was the perfect job for you. Like relationships, it can take a while to find the one that fits best, and in the meantime there will be a few that just don’t work out. If you’re currently sitting at your desk, unsure whether you’re in the right place, we’re here to help. We’ve put together a list of six ways to tell you’re ready for a new job.
You’re bored out of your mind
While you may not want to feel out of your league, if you’re so bored at work that the most exciting part of your day is checking Facebook or tweeting about the new shoes you want to buy, you could be in need of something more challenging. We understand that things are slow if you’re just learning the ropes or if you’re in between projects, but if you feel like you could accomplish all of your daily tasks blindfolded and with one hand tied behind your back – it’s time to start updating your resume.
You have no life outside of work
Work gets busy for all of us, and there are times when everyone is expected to take on extra tasks or pitch in to finish up something on a tight deadline. But if you can’t remember the last time you saw your friends or family and the only living creature you spend any non-work time with is your cat, you might want to consider looking for a less consuming job. It’s great to want to throw yourself into work, especially if you love what you’re doing, but not having any life outside of the office is unhealthy and can eventually cause more stress and anxiety than it’s worth.
Related: 4 Horrible bosses you don’t want to end up with
You’re in a bad mood – all the time
One of the biggest red flags when it comes to knowing whether you should leave your current job is how happy you are. We all have bad days and there are always aspects of every job (even the ones you love) that leave something to be desired. But if you’re walking around miserable, dreading going into work and loathing every minute that you’re there, start typing out that letter of resignation — post-haste. Being miserable 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week is not acceptable where quality of life is concerned. If you’re that unhappy in your job, work toward finding a better one.
You’re underutilized
It can be very frustrating to know that you have skills that would benefit your employer but you’re not being given a chance to use them — especially if you were hired for one thing but you’re getting stuck with administrative tasks. If that’s the case, ask for some one-on-one time with your boss or supervisor and explain you’d like to be given more responsibility. If no one takes you seriously, and you’re still relegated to menial tasks, it may be time to move on. If you don’t, you’ll just resent your workplace even more.
Related: Is your female boss killing your career?
There’s no room to grow
The problem with some jobs is that as much as you like what you’re doing and who you work with, there’s just no room to move up. That might be OK for a while, but what happens when you’re itching to do more and expand or better use your skills? If you’re already at the top of where you can go in your company but have started to crave something more, look at your current job as a stepping stone and resume-builder rather than somewhere you have to stay for good. If you’re not feeling challenged, you’re just going to end up feeling unhappy.
You dream about quitting
If you’re already at the stage of wishing for a new job or even dreaming about doing anything but what you’re doing, we suggest taking those sleep-induced thoughts of change seriously and figuring out what you want to do next. Wishing you didn’t have to go to work in the morning isn’t going to help you – you need to be proactive when it comes to your career. Polish your resume, get some references together and start applying for anything intriguing that comes up.
It can be hard to leave a regular paycheck, but if your sanity is at stake, switching jobs is a risk well worth taking.
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