Let’s be honest: there is almost always going to be a few things you don’t like about your job. But at what point should you start looking for a new one? Here are five signs that you may need to start considering looking for a new job:
1) Your Work Drains You
Almost every job is going to drain you a little bit; that’s why it’s called work. Your job shouldn’t drain every last bit of energy out of you, though. If you are constantly coming home completely wiped out and barely have the energy to crawl into bed, it might be time for a change. If you go through Marcus Buckingham’s Strength Finders book/course, you will realize that if you are focusing on your strengths you should feel energized, not drained. Having read the book, I would highly recommend Now, Discover Your Strengths
2) There is No Room for Advancement
One of the advantages that large corporations have over small businesses is that there is usually layers and layers of management. I say advantage in the sense that there is plenty of room for advancement. Beyond that, if you work at a large corporation there is often many other areas in the business that you can move to if you are unhappy. A ten-person small business usually doesn’t offer the same ability to “rise through the ranks” that corporations do.
3) You Don’t Work Well With Your Coworkers
The people you work with can make your day at work awesome or painful. Working at a job that isn’t that much fun or anything you are really passionate about can become a whole lot more manageable if you have coworkers who you truly enjoy being around and working with (I didn’t mind my first job at Pizza Hut mainly because I got to work with some of my friends!). On the other hand, even if you really love the work you are doing, you may have long, painful days because you don’t get along with the people you work with. Coworkers are, in my opinion, one of the biggest factors when it comes to how enjoyable a certain job is.
4) Your Work Bores You
If you dread going to work each morning/afternoon/evening because your job is boring, it might be time to either make a change to your responsibilities at work or to look for a job that will challenge you. This issue can possibly be fixed by getting additional responsibilities added to your current role. Alternatively, if you work at a job where you do a lot of work in Microsoft Office, Photoshop, or any software program you can find ways to challenge yourself through gaining advanced skills. Perhaps the lure of higher pay will motivate you enough to overcome your boredom?
Ultimately, though, if you dislike your work enough and you have already started your career, it may be time to look into changing careers through going to grad school, learning new skills, or networking into a new field. It may seem daunting, but life is too short to spend most of your time doing something you hate, and many have switched careers before (even doctors have turned into actors).
5) You are Under-appreciated and Underpaid
This goes along with “you don’t work well with your coworkers,” but is mainly about your manager and those who you report to. If you are killing it at work and going above and beyond your duties day in and day out, but never are recognized for your effort, it may not be the best place for you to spend your time.
Also, if you are working at a job where your pay is not really linked to performance, or where you are getting paid lower than market value, it may be time to look for a new job. Life is too short to work at a job where you are not rewarded properly for your effort.
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What can you do if you find yourself in one or more of the scenarios above? There’s a few things:
1) Think of What Work You Want to be Doing
I hear many people complain about their jobs and what they are doing for work, but at the same time are not sure what they ideally would be doing for work. People ask me if I love my job and my answer is that I enjoy aspects of it and would rather be doing it than any other job I could be doing (i.e. delivering pizzas, working in retail, etc…okay that’s not the only jobs I’m qualified for but I think you get the picture). It’s not so much about loving your job, but figuring out what the best job is for you right now.
Instead of focusing on your current job, think of your job in relation to other jobs you are qualified for. What else would you rather be doing? What jobs are (realistically) out there that fall under that umbrella?
2) See What Else is Out There
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If you feel you are not getting paid a competitive wage for your work make sure to double-check what others in your job and industry are making. One site that is really great for this is glassdoor. They have a ton of information on what people are making at different jobs.
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Check job boards and talk to recruiters. One strategy that everyone should use regardless of whether or not they are happy in their current role is to look at jobs they would like to have 1-3 years down the road. Look at the qualifications listed and see what you are lacking today that you can start working towards. The earlier you do this the better.
3) Talk to your Manager
This is a no-brainer; sometimes you may not be happy because of a simple misunderstanding. If you are bored at work talk to your manager about additional responsibilities. If you are getting burnt out, talk to your manager about getting some additional support, or at the very minimum make sure he is aware of your work load. If you are not getting a competitive salary, share your concerns with your manager and make it known that you would like to know what steps you need to take to get a raise. Sometimes a short conversation can make a huge difference.
Have you ever been stuck in a job or career that just wasn’t working for you? What did you do?
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Photo by ian munroe
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Good post DC! This is exactly where I was at a year ago. Stuck in a miserable job that was going no where. It sucked going to work everyday and it was getting to the point that it was affecting my health. To make it even more fun the person who sat next to me groomed himself at his desk and at meetings for that matter. I know, gross! Not that I would suggest this to everyone, but I ended up leaving to expand my wife’s business. I am actually starting a post series on it next Monday.
@FrugalRules I am looking forward to reading your posts about leaving your job and the small business! I have heard horror stories of people clipping their nails at their desk and whatnot…absolutley uncalled for.
Great post! W recently quit his job that he held for over 5 years. It was a hard decision, mainly because his benefits were too good, but the constant harassment and being in a union wasn’t worth it for him.
@SenseofCents Yeah that does not sound like it would be worth it. Good to hear that he quit and moved on from that situation!
This is great advice. Let’s be honest, very few people actually love their jobs. But there’s a difference between not loving your job and being so miserable that you need to leave. This is making me think of a Dilbert comic, but I can’t find it online!! I just remember the last frame is Wally hanging by a noose thinking “yea, this is better than work.” Sigh, now I’m just going to be reading Dilbert comics all day.
@Gen Y Finance Journey My friend and I email each other Dilbert comics at work. More than once I have laughed out loud in my cube!
I’ve had some bad jobs in the past and am glad I looked for a new one. My current job is the best job I’ve ever had and I never would have found it if I didn’t look.
@Money Life and More Good to hear! There’s nothing like leaving a bad job for one that you like.
I’m currently stuck in a job that has no advancement possibilities and not in my field (serving). Just graduated this year and I’ve been doing some freelance work in my field to try to build a good resume and get another job. Probably will still serve a night or two a week since it is great money !
@GillianatMAG My sister was a server (she still does it from time to time I think) and the tips are really good usually. I don’t blame you for wanting to do it a couple nights a week even after you get a different job.
Underappreciated and underpaid is so common nowdays since employers have a much larger worker pool to go fishing in. Good companies / leaders treat their employees right – that’s the type of place I’ve always wanted to work in.
@Veronica @ Pelican on Money Companies have to realize that even though the pool is big of potential employees, they are still competing with a TON of other companies over the “best” of that large pool. They can’t be lazy and they have to treat their employees right if they want to retain top talent.
Talking to your manager is something that people are probably afraid of or don’t think about, but can really help. If your manager is even halfway decent, they’ll want to be your advocate. And perhaps you have some skills for a position that they might not have considered you for.
I find that in life in general, just asking goes a long way :)
@iHeartBudgets I hear you on this, it’s definitely not easy to bring up unpleasant topics to your manager (or topics about you wanting to do different work!). Even if it goes bad, it will only confirm that you should look elsewhere. Win-Win.
Having been on both sides of the spectrum, there is no better feeling than waking up on a Monday morning excited to go work. The key for me was having the self-confidence to look for better work as a bad job can really drain that from you. Good tips.
@KyleJames1 Agree 100%
You make some great points! I would say I left my last job for 2 reasons. Too much stress, and being asked to go work on site at a client’s office that was running what was starting to be considered an illegal business (long story). Owner’s of that business were eventually caught and arrested. So glad I didn’t go there.
@TacklingOurDebt WOW! Illegal business? Very interested in hearing this long story.
For me, the advancement and development is what motivates me. If I couldn’t see that, I would completely lose interest I think
@SavvyScot1 I get bored easily as well. If I’m not learning something new or fine-tuning skills, I lose interest quickly.
I’ve had jobs where I absolutely felt sick to my stomach going every day. That’s a definite sign that you should leave your job. I lasted 6 months, which was about 5 months more than I should have. I think one thing people do have to realize though is that no job is absolutely perfect and free of politics, drama, crappy co-workers, etc. Knowing that helps one adjust to many situations.
@Beachbudget That’s really unfortunate. EVERYONE deserves a job where they can at minimum not dread going to.
@DC @ Young Adult Money It was a long time ago! Now even though freelancing is hard, I still am a million times happier than that one stint in that one job. And it taught me a lot about the things I NEVER want from a job. It was a huge growth experience. that’s the positive point of view. ha ha!
I was stuck in a job I hated just for the money, I took over a year to plan my future and save as much as possible. To know what I really wanted, I checked back on moments in my life when I was really happy and designed my future around that.
Yeah.. I have been there… You should always keep an eye on the market to see if there are better opportunities out there.. Life is too short to spend your days in a job that you hate..
@seedebtrun I agree about life being too short. So many people work in a job that they hate. But if they just spent time with themselves to find what they like they could be a lot happier.
My current job is less than ideal. I did an internal transfer within my company to another site to change my work hours back to 9-5. Now the hours are better but my boss is pretty demeaning and condescending to the line staff. I’ll definitely be here a year or less, but am holding on until I at least get the hours I need towards my next professional license. Then I’ll probably start looking again.
Have a plan for sure, but I agree life is too short to stay stuck in a job you hate. Make steps in another direction or you’ll wake up old and angry one day.
I gave up a JOB years ago. Started my own business and run it on my own terms. With multiple clients I am virtually recession proof; increasing my clients increases my income. Nope, could never go to work for someone else again.
Lots of good points here. I remember after University when I struggled to find a job back in the UK I worked in a place that started out ok but later dreaded going in. It wasn’t the co-workers as I normally get on well with others. It was that the job was boring, not challenging and I really couldn’t see myself there for the long haul. If one is so lucky as to move on I say go for it, you only live once! Great post. Mr.CBB