When is it time to consider changing jobs?

When good jobs are scarce, the sensible thing is to hold onto what you’ve got. But in normal times, a job should propel your career and not be just about money and prestige. When should you consider changing jobs? Here’re a few telling signs.

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. Also where your job requires you to do everything by the book and thereby stopping you from ‘owning’ it and adding value. In such situations, it’s worth discussing with your manager, how you might enrich your job. If this does not yield any useful prospects it might be time to start looking for a job better suited to your needs.

A COMPANY’S 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 that.

APPEAL OF A FRESH CHALLENGE: You don’t want to become a relic. So don’t supress a 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 join a Board or even run 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 might jump from frying pan to fire.

WHEN YOU LONGER CARE: Signs that you might have lost interest in your job includes watching the clock, complaining often, becoming easily distracted and just finding it difficult to be excited about what you do. I am not talking about feeling this way from time to time but when this becomes regular. When this happens it’s 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?