Knowing exactly when it’s time to up and leave a job can be a tough. It’s a hard decision to make, but sometimes it does have to be made. It can be easy to settle into a job and get comfortable even though it may not be the best for your career. Today we’ll be listing five reasons you should consider leaving your job. We’ve listed them in order of severity, so the higher on the list, the bigger the issue.
1. You’re Not Growing or Learning
First and foremost is the problem of your job becoming stagnant. It’s important to always be learning new things, or taking on new projects. If you’ve realized that your job is consistently the same basic work day in and day out, you may want to consider other options. If your current place of employment isn’t helping you grow as an individual, it’s not helping your career. A good employer will realize that continuous learning is an important component of a successful career, in addition to benefiting the company.
2. You’re Not Happy
Do you dread going to work every morning? If it’s a chore to motivate yourself to roll out of bed, and you can’t remember the last time you woke up excited, you’re probably not happy with what you do. Before you consider the job a lost cause, you should look at the symptoms of your unhappiness. Does it stem from a lack of equivalent compensation? Or is it just the work itself that you don’t enjoy? It may be possible to shift around your responsibilities to find more satisfaction in what you do. After you try some of these possible solutions and still find yourself unhappy, it’s time to look for another position.
3. You Don’t Get Along With Your Coworkers and/or Manager
You may think this reason should be classified as two, but the basis of this issue is the same. For whatever reason, you clash with either your coworkers, or your boss. Individually, not getting along with your boss or coworkers is troublesome. Beyond that, if you don’t have trouble with both parties, it’s a wonder you’re still working there.
Being able to co-exist with others and work happily with them is an integral piece to most jobs. When that positive interaction is absent from the workplace it can have hugely negative effects. If you’re having people problems at work, you should consider talking them out, or looking for a new place of work.
4. Promotions & Raises Aren’t Possibilities
If you continue to take on more responsibilities without ever seeing any compensation to match, it may be time to run for the door. A good company will show their appreciation for your continued growth. This isn’t to say that they’ll come right out and give you a promotion or raise. It’s entirely possible they would entertain a raise or promotion, but you may have to bring it up first. If you’re completely denied during that discussion, it may be appropriate to worry. At the very least a good manager will give you a date to expect an increase by. However, if you keep hearing things like ‘further down the road’, ‘eventually’, or ‘when we re-evaluate’ it’s likely you’ll never see it. It’s at this point you may want to consider other options. Just keep in mind if you’re looking for an increase in compensation or a promotion, you have to earn it first!
5. You Have Other More Exciting Opportunities
The last reason is certainly not as pressing as the others, but it still needs to be considered. If you have other exciting opportunities you are looking it, you may want to entertain them. You just need to weigh the costs against the benefits. Are you content with where you are already? Does it meet your needs in terms of compensation and growth? Looking into new opportunities always runs the risk of exposing that you’re searching for a job and land in hot water with your current employer. So if you do start entertaining other options, just be careful.
Keep in mind it’s also possible that the golden opportunity winds up being a ‘grass is always greener’ scenario. If you do end up applying for a new position even though you’re currently content, just be mindful of your relationships and how your departure would affect your current company. It’s smart to avoid burning bridges unless absolutely necessary. You never know when someone may show up in your life or career again!
Lastly, it’s important to remember that one of these reasons on it’s own may not be a doomsday scenario. You may take a pay cut to focus on a skill, or work at a dream company to pad your resume. Or you may love what you do but not get along with your boss. Professionals juggle these pros and cons everyday, and they don’t necessarily spell disaster. However, if you’re checking off more than one or two reasons on this list, it’s possible your current position is holding you back. Just make sure you always carefully consider the implications of leaving and starting a new job on both your previous employer, and yourself.
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