Signs it’s time to get a new job

By Charles Dundley
You don’t have to be in your 40s or 50s to experience a life crisis. Staying at the wrong job could push you into a crisis, even make it hard to roll out of bed and head into the office Monday through Friday. If you spend your days dreaming about working somewhere else or if you are easily angered when given new projects, it might be time to move on.

Other signs that it might be time to move on and get another job, a job that suits your personality and career goals include:

• The last time you worked on an interesting project was more than six months ago. Although you’ve asked your supervisor to assign you different projects, she hasn’t given you anything new to work on. She’s also started cancelling the weekly one-on-one meetings you once held with her.
• Work you do is so repetitive, you could do it in your sleep. In fact, a robot could do your job.
• During performance review discussions, your manager stares at you blankly when you ask about your career path. It’s an even worse sign if human resources has no insight about your career plan.
• It’s been more than four years since you received a salary increase, even a minor salary increase. This could be a sign that it’s time to start looking for work elsewhere. It could also be a sign that your supervisors don’t value your work or that they think you’ll never leave (so why pay you more money?).
• Newly hired workers whose jobs are comparable to yours are paid more than you starting on day one, and you’ve been at the firm for three or more years.

To turn the tide, you could try speaking with your supervisor again. If that doesn’t work, reach out to human resources. Be prepared with concrete ideas on ways your job could be improved. For example, you might be able to cross-train in another department, work with a mentor or take on a more senior project.

Also, start looking for new work elsewhere. It doesn’t hurt to look. Make sure your resume is strong, definitely current. Let your confidential networks — people who know you well, people you can trust to keep the fact that you’re looking for new work to themselves — know the types of jobs you’re looking for. When given the opportunity, consider going on job interviews, so you can get a feel for what recruiters and hiring managers are looking for.