Before I began working freelance, I went through a curious workplace dynamic. I’d start a job all excited and happy, then in the span of three short months, I’d get totally disillusioned and feel miserable. The rest of my time at the job was spent figuring out why I was feeling that way and trying to muster up the courage to quit. Careers have their ups and downs. If you feel like something’s not right and it lasts longer than a few days, chances are, you’ve got to move on. Here are five subtle signs it’s time for a job change.
1. You could do your work blindfolded
Being good at your job is essential. In fact, it boosts our confidence and makes us feel on top of the world. There is a point, however, where we become too good for the job. The right job for you is the one that stimulates you. If you do the same task every day, you will begin feeling like a hamster on a wheel.
I worked as a hotel receptionist in Barcelona at some point, and every time a guest came in, I’d check them in and have their key ready by the time they approached the desk. Why? I had been carrying out robotic commands for eight hours a day, six days a week. All I needed was one look at the guest to know what type of ID they carried and what floor they were going to. If you feel like you’re stagnating, break out the old resume, polish it and apply for tougher positions that offer better growth. Here are some relevant resume examples to get you going.
2. You stop socializing with the team
Often times, you’ll unconsciously move on from your job long before you muster up the courage to do it in real life. The first thing that happens is a nosedive in your level of engagement with the coworkers. It’s not like you’re trying to be antisocial on purpose. It’s just that every time you see those people happy with their positions, you begin to wonder why you don’t feel the same.
Naturally, you start avoiding their company so you don’t feel like a loser. This has happened to me so many times that by now, I am fully capable of catching it fast and starting to look for new gigs. You’ve got to be quick about it too because your colleagues will catch on and ask you what’s wrong.
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3. An innocent cough looks like pneumonia to you
That’s because you’re looking for excuses to ditch work. No joke, I used to think I was having a heart attack every Saturday when I had to go to a job I hated. Don’t attribute your boring situation at the office to health problems. After all, health comes first. Just admit to yourself that you are perfectly fine, but don’t care to do this job anymore.
Unfortunately, most employers don’t offer such a thing as a “mental” day off, so you’ll be stuck at your desk regardless of whether you like it or not. The best solution in this case, is to spend a weekend really looking for jobs instead of vegging out and watching Netflix. Once you find ones you like, apply. Always make sure to separate health from emotional stress. Otherwise, you risk putting yourself in danger.
4. You're spending an unusual amount of time on LinkedIn
A sign that you’re ready to move on from your job is an increased activity on LinkedIn or other job boards. I’m not just talking about job hunting and applications. It starts way before that. First, you stalk all of your college classmates to see how you stack up compared to them. Then, you start analyzing your own profile and looking for a common thread between the jobs you’ve held. Maybe you’ll end up reminiscing about your college internship at some point. No problem with that.
Casually browsing through LinkedIn is a sure sign that you need a new job. So is checking out the ads for available positions. Take it a step further and start a conversation with someone from the company or with a common acquaintance. See where it leads you. Just remember to be discreet so you don’t get fired.
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5. You take every opportunity to leave town
Assuming that you’re not obsessed with travel, looking for a change of scenery is a certain indicator that you’re bored of your job. When I had a sales job in Boston, I took every chance to go out on the field. The farther, the better, I thought. My favorite escapes were the overnight trips to New Hampshire which felt more like college field trips than actual work (in part because we went to happy hour a lot). If you find yourself in this situation, you either need to take a vacation lasting at least a week or find another job.
Remember, there’s nothing wrong with wanting a change. This is how we grow and become successful. Just make sure to know when the moment has come and take action.
