Here are five signs it might be time for a new job:
Your boss is abusive
If you’re wondering if your boss is abusive, that’s likely a sign he or she is. If your boss is abusive (verbally, mentally, physically or sexually) I wouldn’t count on it changing. By all means, address the issue with your boss and HR. However, the truth is companies aren’t very good at dealing with abusive bosses (or even abusive employees).
Research tells us 75% of employees state their biggest work stress is tied to their supervisor or boss. If that’s true for you because your boss is abusive, you need to resist the temptation of trying to “tough it out.” Even if you could, why would you subject yourself to that? Having an abusive boss is a clear sign you either need to find a way to end the abuse or leave.
Your boss doesn’t care about your success beyond your job
If you’re doing great work but your boss doesn’t appreciate it, that’s a red flag you shouldn’t ignore. Your work ethic and performance might be stellar—but that doesn’t matter if your boss doesn’t value it. A boss that doesn’t care about helping your career advance sure isn’t going to be singing your praises to those who determine your raises and promotions.
Before you decide to leave, set a time period (say three months) to improve your relationship with your boss and give it all you have. This isn’t fair, but if you don’t do your best to improve your relationship with your boss, you’re not being fair to yourself. With that said, if your boss doesn’t demonstrate a new-found concern for your success and well-being, it’s time to leave.
Your job is driving you down the road to burnout
It’s one thing to work sixty-five plus hours month after month if you love what you do and you’re paid accordingly. One of my clients was working seventy hours a week and there was no clear end to that dark tunnel. He loved what he did, but it was burning him out after seven months and he left for an equally great opportunity that didn’t consume his life. More and more employees report working far too much to the detriment of their health and family. If that’s you, perhaps it’s a sign it’s time to get your life back.
You’re bored with the work
That’s a blunt way of saying you lack passion for your work. I’m not suggesting it’s time to find another job just because you’re bored. Identify the cause of your boredom and fix it if you can. Are you learning and growing? (If not, it’s no surprise you’re bored.) Are you in the right role? Do you need more responsibility and challenge? Do you need to better appreciate how important your work is (no matter what it is) and be proud of it?
If you’re still bored after addressing these issues, that might be a sign you need a radical change in what you’re doing or the company you’re doing it with. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can excel if you’re not passionate about what you’re doing. You might be thinking your boss is happy with you, but I’ve never met a boss that respects a team member who is just “getting by.” It’s far better you find a job you’re excited to wake up for than to wait for your boss to come to his or her senses and tell you it’s time to go.
You’re not fitting in
If not fitting in is a pattern with you, you don’t need to leave your job, you need to change yourself. You can only blame your boss or co-workers so many times. However, if you’ve been in your company six months or so and you just don’t like the people you work with or you don’t believe in the company’s vision and values—it’s just not working.
You can try to force it, but sooner or later you have to be honest with yourself and admit you’re only human.
You can’t force yourself to like people you just don’t like. Accept that you’re not going to change others and you’re not going to change your company culture. If you’re more the spontaneous and wildly creative type person and your company is a “by the books” and “buttoned down” type of company, you and your company need to part ways.
Find out what kind of job will make you the happiest, take our career quiz.
