5 Signs it’s Time to Get a New Career

Making the decision to quit your job and find a new career can feel like jumping into cold water or ripping off a Band-Aid.

There are many reasons why people hesitate to look for a new career. We get used to our jobs, change can be difficult, a position with a new employer can be just as bad, and sometimes it’s difficult to gauge when enough is enough.

If the signs are there that it’s time to move on and find a new job, the best thing to do is leave and start anew somewhere else. Don’t wait until you’re absolutely miserable and entrenched in a work routine you hate. Save yourself the time and unhappiness by recognizing when the moment has arrived to start looking for a new career.

If you’re unsure of what those signs are, here are five big ones that should signal that it’s time to pull up the job listings again.

1. You’re Thinking About a New Job

Everyone has bad days at work where they may consider the benefits of a different job. However, if you’re thinking about quitting your job on a regular basis, it’s time to recognize that something is up. There’s a reason you keep thinking that, and it’s likely that deep down inside you know that you really do need a new job.

Follow your instincts here. If you find yourself fantasizing daily about finding a new job, it might be time to open up the job search engine and upload your resume.

2. There’s No Room for Job Growth 

Surveys show that employees find opportunities for advancement in their career important – in fact, one of the most important work factors. Feeling stagnant at your place of work can be a crushing experience, making it difficult to bolster enthusiasm for the work you do.

If you’ve been at your workplace for several years and discovered there are few opportunities to grow and advance within the company, then it may be time to try your luck elsewhere. There’s no shame in wanting to be engaged in the work that you do, and employers should be mindful of that. Without challenge and growth, there is little reason to stay with a business.

3. You’re Constantly Complaining about Your Job

Complaining about work now and then is normal, but take note if you find yourself ranting about your job on a daily basis to everyone you know. If you can’t have dinner with a friend without bemoaning every aspect of your job, then surely it is time to leave and find a new career.

Don’t expend your emotional energy venting about your job all the time. If you’re that unhappy and there are no hints that the negative aspects will change, then take action. Be mindful of how much of your conversations involve the drama and trials of work.

4. Stress is Taking a Toll on Your Physical Health 

There are normal amounts of stress, but sometimes the effects can become too much. A Forbes survey reveals that 42% of employees have changed jobs due to stress. The physical results of excessive stress over a long period of time are nothing to take lightly. If you’re having a difficult time falling and staying asleep because of how much you worry about work, then something about your situation is wrong and needs to change.

Sleep and mental health is directly related to physical health. Being constantly tired and sick might be a warning sign that your job is affecting your overall well-being. Lack of appetite and increased alcohol intake might also be linked to high levels of stress. If you find yourself experiencing any of these stress factors for months on end, it may be time to admit that a new career is necessary.

5. You Feel Unmotivated and Unproductive 

Checking social media obsessively? Playing games? Staring despondently at your computer screen? If everything you do at work bores you and you have a hard time concentrating, maybe it’s not you – maybe it’s your job.

Being engaged with the work you perform is important. If your company isn’t bothering to try to connect you with your work, then maybe you would be better off finding a new position elsewhere. If you have a difficult time staying focused on your daily tasks, this may be a sign that it’s time to move on.

The Next Steps

If you’re experiencing a majority or all of these signs, start looking for a new job now. The first step is seeing what’s out there. Take a look at national and local job sites, and search for opportunities that may work for you.

Start networking online with prospective employers, and look for ways to clean up your professional profile. Of course, stay at your job until you are offered a new one, then turn in your two weeks’ notice.

You’ll likely find that if your current job isn’t right for you, even the act of job hunting will boost your spirits.