When is it time to change jobs?
When the job is a dead end: When you are not learning anything new, not getting opportunity to perform new tasks, having limited opportunity for advancement and growth or where your job requires you to do everything by the book, stopping you from ‘owning’ it. In such situations, it’s worth discussing with your manager; how you might enrich your job or failing that, start looking for a job better suited to your needs.
A company that’s going nowhere: If management of where you work is unfocussed, pays lip service to developing your potential, not interested in your initiative, you could be caught in the drift. Good management will believe that staff need to be supported to grow for the organisation to do the same. So, if you feel like your organisation is going nowhere, that whether you achieve anything in your job or not is ‘no big deal’, it may be time to go work for a company that cares about those things.
Appeal of a fresh challenge: You don’t want to become a relic. So do not suppress the desire to do something new. This may not automatically mean that you leave your job. You could take on roles outside your organisation such as joining a board, running your own business or project on the side. If multi-tasking is not your thing, then moving on to another job is something to consider. Be clear about what you want in a new role; otherwise, you’ll jump from a frying pan to the fire.
When you no longer care: Signs that you might have lost interest in your job include watching the clock, complaining often, becoming easily distracted and just finding it difficult to be excited about what you do. When you feel this way regularly, it is only fair to you, your career and the organisation you work for to move on.
Now take action: How can your current job draw on more of what you can offer?
