8 Signs That It’s Time to Look for a New Job

Having been in a job I’m unhappy with for 9 years, I can certainly speak from experience when it comes to knowing when enough is enough. I consider myself an expert when it comes to finding reasons to quit.

Here are 8 signs that you need to find a different job:

1. You area miserable S.O.B.
   Now, there are plenty of miserable people in this world and there could be a million different reasons for it. However, if your job is sucking all the joy from your life and is making your and your coworkers lives miserable, it’s time to move on. Work won’t always be a bed of roses and one needs to persevere, but there are limits. 

• You dread going into work.
  Most people, if they had the choice, would opt not to go to work everyday. That’s completely normal and reasonable. If you’re anything like me, you probably try to think of as many ways you can get out of work as possible. How to you feel when that alarm clock goes off in the morning? Tired is fine; full of fear and stress is not. 

• It’s affecting your health.
  If you work with asbestos or in a coal mine, your job IS affecting your health. However, if you’re a desk jockey and are not subjected to carcinogens all day long, that doesn’t mean your health won’t be compromised. Chronic stress has some serious adverse health effects. 

• It’s stealing your dreams.
  If you find yourself settling for a job you hate, it’s time to wake up. Maybe you’re too lazy to try to find another one. Maybe you’re worried about job market conditions. Maybe you don’t have the confidence to go out and make it happen for yourself. Whatever it is, change it. Do not give up on your dreams, EVER! I am not saying to quit and then look. I am saying that you should at least allocate some time to looking for another job and then making a move when the timing is right for your family, finances, etc. 

• There is no room for growth.
  We all strive to better ourselves, or at least we should. Personal growth is something that every individual should experience. If it’s being stifled by your job, it’s time to pack it in. If you feel that regardless of your efforts and results that your current position is destined to be your only position, consider moving. 

• You know it’s the wrong job.
  When you were in high school and working at Wendy’s or KFC, you knew it was temporary. However, when we’re in the real world, we work for a living. We spend 40+ hours each week in our jobs. If we have chosen one that we know is not the right one for us, we must take action. It may take us 15 years to find the right job, but we need to find what makes us happy. 

• It’s not aligned with your values.
  Working at a job you don’t like just for a paycheck is one thing. However, when you’re in a job that is not at all in line with your values or morals, that’s a real problem. For example, I work in the financial services industry. From what I’ve seen over the last 9 years, the primary theme is greed. It’s amazing how prevalent greed is in this business and it makes me sick. I don’t consider myself greedy, so being around money hungry sharks every day is a real problem for me. If your company stands for something that you don’t believe in, it’s time to get that resume out. 

• It’s a complete waste of your time.
  Time is the most valuable commodity on earth. Yes, we all have to work for a living and that takes up our time. But, when the job we are working in is nothing more than a means to an end, it’s a waste. Go find something meaningful that will do the world some good. Be different, be bold, make a difference!

Whatever the case may be, if you are extremely unhappy in your current job, do something about it. Don’t tell me about the unemployment rate or the “security” of your job. Your daily sanity is worth more than that.

Go find something you love to do!

Written on 12/30/2010 by Steve Roy. Steve is the owner of EndingTheGrind.com, a blog about escaping the daily grind of a 9 to 5 job, building an online business, and living your passions. You can also find him on Twitter at @EndGrind.

Photo Credit: RLHyde