A certain amount of turmoil, trepidation and week-day morning blues is part of the territory in any job. Usually this is tempered by moments of euphoria, excitement, satisfaction and a general sense of purpose and accomplishment. So how do you know that it is really time to leave a dead-end job and not a momentary slump or burn-out you are experiencing? Below Bayt.com outlines 12 key factors that indicate it may well be time to move on.
1. Your health is suffering
Whether it’s your mental or physical health that is being significantly impaired by the stresses of the job, heed the early warning signs and don’t wait until the symptoms are long-term and severe. Common symptoms include being chronically fatigued, insomnia, poor concentration, inability to focus and chronic headaches, backaches and/or stomach pains.
2. The demands of your job are unrealistic
If you find yourself doing a job that is best suited for two people or more and you have been unable to marshal the resources or support to lighten the workload to a more realistic level, it may well be time to leave before you completely burn-out. This state of affairs may be due to a recent merger or acquisition, cost-cutting activity or simply oversight by your boss; whatever it is, don’t allow yourself to be taken for granted and make sure your boss is made aware of the nature of the burden you are carrying before you call it quits and seek more realistic job responsibilities elsewhere.
3. Your relationship with your boss is damaged beyond repair
It may be that you have allowed your relationship with your old manager to turn irreversibly sour over the years through poor communication skills, laziness, unprofessional conduct, poor judgment or simply inertia to invest in the relationship. Perhaps a new boss has replaced your old boss and you simply cannot get along with him despite your best efforts or he has made it clear that you do not feature in any of his plans for the department. Needless to say, your future prospects with the firm are largely impaired if your relationship with your manager cannot be salvaged and it is better to leave before you find yourself increasingly marginalized or forced to the door.
4. Your relationship with co-workers is damaged beyond repair
Have you lost all interest in your colleagues lately and begun to find yourself left out of team projects, group discussions or even the office grapevine? Do you find it increasingly difficult to get along with your peers and have trouble completing projects or meeting deadlines because of this? Have you lost the respect of your work colleagues through misconduct, poor performance or poor team-playing skills? You may be better off learning from this experience, starting afresh elsewhere and committing to never let the situation repeat itself.
5. Your relationship with your key clients is damaged beyond repair
Burning bridges with key clients, as with anyone you work with, is highly unadvisable and may be a very valid reason to leave graciously. If you have acted unprofessionally, unethically or persistently underperformed for a key client or any number of important clients, you may want to spare your firm further embarrassment and leave before the clients do.
Other reasons it may be time to quit include:-
6. You have consistently been overlooked for a raise or promotion
7. The job is unchallenging
8. The dread factor is very high
9. There are no opportunities for growth and career progression
10. The company or your boss is unethical
11. The company is in a state of permanent decline
12. You have permanently lost interest in the job you are doing
Visit Bayt.com Career Center for more articles and guides and career advice
