How to Know When to Move On
Posted on October 06, 2021 by Shelley Langille, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
Do you feel stuck in a job that no longer serves you? Perhaps this article can help you determine if it's time to find a position that does.
How to Know When to Move On
Making the decision to move on can be a difficult choice during challenging economic times and, in fact, during a pandemic! For many, it feels safer and easier to stay put. However, if you’re not in a comfortable environment that aligns with you values, rewards your hard work, and is fulfilling, what are you waiting for?
If you’re working and not feeling fulfilled, valued, or have lost the love for your job, what do you have to lose seeking out something that better aligns with what you want? Looking for something better when you have a steady paycheck is exactly when you may want to consider exploring your options. Before the universe decides for you, your health is affected, or you get to a breaking point.
Yes, you may have to deal with rejection. However, if you gain a healthy relationship with rejection and recognize that it’s not about you, you can mentally prepare yourself in the event you don’t get a response to every application you submit. It could simply be timing; a preferred candidate was in place or there’s something better waiting for you. Nothing venture, nothing gained. The upside? What if you GET that job of your dreams because you took that chance? Or secure a position that gets you closer to your dream job? I can guarantee you it will be worth it, and you may look back and think, “why didn’t I do this sooner?”
In my opinion, there are thirteen factors, and questions to ask yourself, that may be signs that it’s time to move on.
1. You are not following your passion or true path. How important is this to you?
2. Your values are not aligned with those of the organization, or your ethics are being compromised. How does working in a misaligned company serve you?
3. The work environment is unhealthy, physically, or mentally. Perhaps you have a boss or colleague(s) who are disrespectful or even worse, bullies. How does the leadership of the organization handle those people and that behaviour? If they let it slide, how does that work environment feel to you?
4. You dread going to work and everything feels overwhelming. You may feel anxious on Sunday night, have difficulty sleeping and have a hard time getting up in the morning. How do you manage those situations and what are the feelings behind the angst?
5. You’re underusing your skills. You have education and/or experience to bring to the table – are those being utilized? If your skills, abilities, and gifts aren’t being valued, how does that move you forward?
6. There are no opportunities for growth. Do you want to move up and gain new experiences?
7. You’re grossly under-compensated. Research average wages for your role – is your salary in the range?
8. There are substantially better opportunities available at another organization. Do those opportunities interest you and do you have network connections who could help you secure those other roles?
9. You can’t picture yourself there long term. Ask yourself why?
10. You wouldn’t recommend working there to your family or friends. If you wouldn’t want your friends or family working there, why is it okay for you?
11. You need more work-life balance. How is this important to you and what can you do to change it?
12. The company’s future is in jeopardy. Challenging economic times and the pandemic have seen many organization struggle or fail. Is your loyalty to a failing organization going to serve you in the end?
13. A pros and cons list to assess your job or role can provide clarity and the motivation to seek out something more fulfilling. Have you done a pros and cons list to get clear on which side is weighted most heavily?
It’s not uncommon for any of us to experience the above on occasion. It’s when those feelings and experiences are chronic and affect your physical and mental wellbeing that it may be time to think about moving on.
There’s much more to say on the subject and each point. To learn more please contact me at Shell@SeeShellConsulting@.com.
