According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average worker currently holds ten different jobs before the age of forty, and this number is projected to grow. Today's youngest workers are predicted to hold twelve to fifteen jobs in their lifetime.
It’s very rare that someone will find a ‘job for life’ straight after education in an organisation where they will progress and stay for the rest of their career. Knowing when the time is right to move to another job can be tricky and there are many reasons that lead people to that decision. Whether you are looking for a step up in your career, or you’re unhappy in your current role, here are a few of the most common signs that indicate it could be time to look for a new job:
You dread Monday morning
It’s normal to have the Monday morning blues after a weekend away from work, however if the thought of Monday fills you with dread each week, this can be one of the warning signs that it’s time to look for another job. If you’re not happy at work, it’s also likely this that is affecting your performance. Find a job you enjoy and feel better about Monday mornings.
Progression is limited
If you’re waiting for a step-up at your existing company, it’s important to evaluate the likelihood and timescales of that happening in line with your ambitions and goals for the future. Many people will stay with an organisation hoping to eventually move up the career ladder and look back years down the line and realise they’ve not progressed any further.
If you are ready for the next step in your profession, looking for vacancies at other organisations will give you a better chance of reaching your professional goals. It doesn’t matter how much you like working for your current employer, if it’s not going to fulfil your career ambitions, you may find that it’s in your best interest to look for progression elsewhere.
You don’t feel challenged
Are you really good at your job but the day-to-day tasks are no longer challenging enough for you? If this is the case, why not ask your employer for new training opportunities or a new project to work on. If there is nothing else you can do, seek new opportunities that will be more mentally stimulating.
Stress
It’s completely normal to feel stressed at work from time to time, what’s not normal is when it becomes part of your daily working life. According to a survey by Metlife 30% of employees say they “feel burned out” at work, and 64% of employees report feeling at least five of the signs of burnout as defined by the World Health Organization.
If you’re in a position where you feel overworked, have lack of support, and you can’t see things improving, look for a new opportunity that won’t put strain on your mental wellbeing.
You have already thought about leaving
There are many reasons why people decide to look for another job but if you’ve already been thinking about whether now is the right time to move on, take this as a sign it’s time to start looking for something new. It can be difficult to come to a decision if you’re worried about the pressure of interviews, cv writing and uncertainty, but the benefits of having a better working life outweigh short lived anxieties of the initial recruitment process.
If you do decide to look for a new opportunity, our specialist recruitment team at Metalis are always on hand to assist with your job search, give advice and guide you through the process. Take a look at our google reviews to see what our past candidates have to say about our recruitment service.
