How to Know Whether It’s Time to Change Jobs
Unfortunately, we live in a time when finding a job has become one of the most popular conversation topics. Not only are a lot of people unemployed, but there’s a growing number of discontented workers who’d gladly change jobs for different reasons: stress, bad relationship with the boss, dissatisfaction with the salary level, impossibility of building a career, etc.
However, people often cannot objectively perceive their situation at work. While comparing it to previous or other people’s experiences helps to put the job in perspective, “subjective feeling” is usually the decisive factor in the level of the person’s satisfaction at work.
If you’re having trouble figuring out whether you should hold on to what you have, or put an effort into finding something else, carefully think about the following:
- What is your relationship with your boss, and what is your stress level at work? If your boss is a reasonable person to whom you can say anything you want (respectfully, of course), that’s a big item in favor of staying where you are. If stress at work is non-related to your boss, but stems from the actual workload and daily responsibilities, it is something you need to analyze: is it possible to minimize it? If not, and it affects your after-work life, you should first discuss it with your boss. If the problem persists, finding another job is a reasonable decision, because health should always come first.
- What is the atmosphere where you work? Is it relaxed and work-friendly; are your colleagues positive and encouraging? Or, are you experiencing tension, uncomfortable and embarrassing situations on a daily basis? It’s very important how you spend those eight hours each day. If the atmosphere is far from ideal, your obligation is to try to change it. If your attempts continue to be futile, looking for another job becomes a legitimate action.
- How do you perceive your job? Is it an exciting work where you always learn new things, or is it a boring activity where you automatically repeat the same actions day in, day out? This is where a lot of people are having too high expectations. Having career ambitions, working to move up, and striving to excel at work are all positive motivations, but sometimes people need to realize that work, after all, is only a part of our lives whose function is primarily to help us earn money for that other part of our lives that usually has, or should have, more content and meaning. You can’t expect to have amazing fun at work.
- Last, but not least, the question of salary. Do you think you are underpaid? Do you feel your boss and your company are exploiting your skills? Money is usually the second most important reason for quitting (right after stress), and if you feel like you can do better, that is certainly a valid reason to try to offer your skills to an employer who’ll know how to use them better and appreciate them.
There’s also one more thing you can think about, if you haven’t already:
Are you in a line of work that you can do online, or that you can do on your own, starting your own business? Being one’s own boss is probably the best option, if a person can pull it off. It allows you to plan your own hours, to manage the work in a way you think is best, and to enjoy all the profit. Of course, that comes with having to risk and endure all the losses, but it’s probably worth it.
Work is a big part of our lives, and no wonder most of the stress we feel is related to it. It’s important to do everything in our power to make it as pleasant as it can get.
Author bio:
This article is written by Ana Brady – a mother, wife, and content writer for a project on piggyback labels. When she’s not working or playing with her children, she’s spending time in nature or working on her blog.
By: Ana Brady
