Know the right time to leave so that you are able to move in the right direction.
Landing a new position is exciting. But, sometimes employers say things they shouldn’t just to attract your attention. When landing a new position, there are several factors we should keep in mind. The competition is becoming tougher—you would not like to land a job that doesn’t allow you to improve.
If you’re currently employed, or you’re looking for a new position, here are seven signs to help you identify if a job is beneficial for you. These signs will allow you to determine when it’s the right time to leave so that you are able to move in the right direction. Quitting can be scary, but it’s scarier to be in an awful job for the rest of your life.
You Can’t Be Yourself
Being in a job that doesn’t allow you to be who you are and affects your essence is a job you should leave right away. When employees don’t feel comfortable, they yield poor results and complain constantly. You would not like to be in a place where you can’t even say a word. That’s not healthy.
For a web designer, feeling comfortable and expressing oneself is essential. They need to let their ideas flow so they can create exceptional sites. Otherwise, they won’t give employers what they need. Nowadays, customers’ demands are higher, and dynamic websites are indispensable to meet their requirements.
You Have No Growth Opportunities
Growing is a natural process in life. If you’re in a job that doesn’t allow you to grow, you’re changing the way life should be. Being in the same place, doing the same task each day at the same time, is called absolute monotony. And to have a healthier life, you should avoid it. Having no growth opportunities is among the main reasons for leaving a job, and you must keep that in mind.
Analyze the situation and see what you can do. You can ask for another position in another department that could help you grow personally or professionally. If there no chance of solving the issue, then you should leave right away. Look for vacancies that provide you with more than just a salary. After all, being able to grow is what keeps us motivated.
The Work Environment Is Awful
When the work environment is awful, there’s a big chance of feeling frustrated and being in a bad mood. When everyone around you vibes negatively, no matter how motivated you can be, I can assure you that after a day or two, you’ll start to complain.
On the other hand, when the work environment is great, you’ll keep a good mood as you’ll love the workplace. You’ll perform better, and you’ll only attract good things. Being optimistic is key to achieve happiness in life. So, if you’re looking to be on the right path, you should be in a job that can help you increase your motivation, not lose it.
You Can’t Use Your Strengths
Nothing can frustrate you more than being in a job where you can’t use your best skills. When employees can’t use their strengths, they feel their job is useless. Not because they aren’t helping the company to improve but because they feel they don’t belong. Imagine a baseball player washing dishes or a software engineer washing cars. Those indeed are great jobs, but as they are not using their best skills, they won’t improve professionally.
If you’re in a job that doesn’t allow you to use your strengths, ask your boss if you can collaborate in another project. Sometimes it’s about being flexible in finding the solution. However, if your boss refuses, its a warning sign for quitting right away.
The Company Doesn’t Promote Learning
In 2020, learning has become vital to remain competitive. If you’re looking to have better job opportunities and overcome future challenges, you need a job that provides you with learning opportunities. Nowadays, many organizations allow their employees to enroll in coding bootcamps to update their skills. As they allow students to learn in-demand programming tools, they can help companies to innovate.
If you can’t develop your professional skills at your current job, talk with your boss and see if the company can provide on-site courses. They are a great way to keep employees up to date. If you can’t solve the problem, you’d better start searching for a new job.
Your Responsibilities Make You Feel Constantly Overwhelmed
Overwork can have adverse effects on your health. If your current position makes you feel overwhelmed, you should make a pause and analyze the situation. Admitting you can’t handle all your responsibilities can be hard on your pride. But, it’s always good to ask for help when needed. Don’t let your job make your life a nightmare.
When employees feel frustrated and overwhelmed, they perform poorly. So, don’t sacrifice your mental health and wellbeing for nothing. If you feel you have too much on your shoulders, ask your boss for help. See if there’s any chance to take a break and have fewer responsibilities. If your boss refuses and keeps assigning your more tasks, it’s a clear sign for leaving your job right away.
You Don’t Feel Valued
Employers should constantly demonstrate how valuable workers are. If the company doesn’t appreciate your work or you feel you are not valued, this is a good reason for leaving. Don’t work for people who are not going to appreciate your efforts. You deserve better.
Apply for companies that allow employees to feel valuable. Some companies give their employees bonuses because of their good performance. It’s not about being the employee of the month; it’s about feeling part of a big family. Companies like Google constantly incentivize their employees to keep them motivated and increase employees’ job satisfaction.
Considering these signs will help you to find a job that best fits your needs. Don’t forget that sometimes you should be flexible. Try always to fix any problem before making your decision. If there’s no chance of finding a solution, you shouldn’t hesitate to start a new job hunt. After all, feeling passionate about what you do and comfortable in the workplace is crucial to achieving happiness in life.
Artur Meyster is the CTO of Career Karma (YC W19), an online marketplace that matches career switchers with coding bootcamps. He is also the host of the Breaking Into Startups podcast, which features people with non-traditional backgrounds who broke into tech. Follow Artur on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Photo sourced from Magnet.me.
