How to Know When It’s Time to Leave Your Job
Oct 23, 2019 • Kyzia Maramara
Sometimes you just know that you gotta go, but that doesn’t mean it makes the decision any easier. Determining the right time to move on from a job might be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do in your career, especially if you don’t have a new job waiting or a freelance gig to break your fall. But don’t sweat it out (or do). If you’re simply just trying to survive rather than doing your passion, consider what the situation is telling you.
There’s negative energy all over the place
It’s human nature to complain about tasks at work but if you notice your negativity hasn’t gone away for a long time, and you even bring your bad mood home lashing out at your family, it’s a sign that something is definitely wrong. You should know where to draw the line between work and personal life. Once the line gets blurred and you bring your problems from one side to the other, it’s time to take a breather and evaluate your situation.
It’s a toxic workplace
Feeling bad about your job and your workplace is normal but when the entire staff is in the same mood with the same complaints, the negative energy will just keep swirling inside the office like an evil tornado. A toxic workplace is dysfunctional, often with a boss that’s unreasonable or too controlling. It won’t take a genius to know that spending 9 hours or more a day in that kind of environment will suck the life out of you.
You drag yourself out of bed every morning
You don’t necessarily have to wake up singing and dancing but if you keep hitting that snooze button and dragging your feet, it might be time for a change. Bad days are normal but being unmotivated for the longest period of time is a red flag. Another red flag is when you’re tempted to use those sick leaves every day!
You’re being asked to do tasks above your salary grade
The importance of a job description is that it will put borders around you, the tasks you should focus on, and your salary. Before signing that dotted line and giving your time and effort to the company, you must make sure these borders are clear otherwise your employer is free to move them around. If you keep finding yourself exerting much effort or even doing other people’s jobs and not being rewarded enough for it, know your rights and pack up!
You’ve been there for so long, you’re too mechanical and comfortable
Lasting for so long at a job could both be good and bad. Good because more experience means you get to bring more knowledge to your next endeavors and bad because you’ve probably grown stagnant in your career. If you’re already comfortable, it’s generally a bad sign. Your company should provide you with a strong career path; working without one might hurt your career in the long run. Remember that you should be always looking for opportunities for growth.
Your work is taking a toll on your mental health
With the advent of technology, work is getting more demanding than ever. Easy access to the internet means your bosses are expecting they can reach you anytime anywhere regardless if work hours are over. The stress from a huge workload is real and if left unattended could lead to a serious case of burnout. No matter how high paying or prestigious your job is, it’s not worth sacrificing your mental (and physical) health for.
Your job snuffs out your creativity
When you first started your job you were probably motivated as heck, you had an inspiration board full of ideas you couldn’t wait to apply to your work. But after the glitter and the confetti settle down, you find that your bosses have ideas of their own and voicing opinions won’t really go well with the higher-ups. Finding a job is important but so is having freedom and space to cultivate your skills.
You’re reading this article
If you’ve clicked on this article, chances are you’re already unhappy and thinking of leaving your job. Why not trust what your gut is telling you? Count the signs and make the cut.
Did we miss other signs that it’s time for someone to move on from their work? Share them with us below!
