Being in the wrong job can make life miserable. Sometimes people stay in the wrong job and don’t pursue a new one because they don’t like change. Change is scary.
But if you stay in the wrong job, you will be doing yourself no favors. In fact, you might make yourself physically ill. Stress can do a number on your physical body. And on the practical side, staying in the wrong job prevents you from growing and advancing in life.
If you have read this far, chances are you are in a job situation that is not ideal for you. What you need to do is be honest with yourself and look at your situation.
Many professional job placement researchers have determined there are a number of red flags that are letting you know it is time to get a new job. Let’s look at six red flags. As you go through them, see if they apply to you personally. This exercise could be the first proactive step to saving your career and your happiness before a crisis forces you out of a job.
Here are six red flags warning you to change jobs. The first four relate directly to you and the final two are big red flags related to the job itself. If you like your job right now, apply these six red flags to it and see what you think:
#1 - You dread going to work and can’t wait to leave
Your feelings are telling you something here. There is something wrong if you do not feel like going to work each day. Depression can be caused by consistently being abused, misunderstood, ignored, or bored. Do any of those apply to you? When we feel like we cannot be ourselves on the job, this also makes us feel unhappy.
Most people ignore their feelings and stay in a job they hate. This is unnecessary. You don’t have to be miserable to be gainfully employed.
#2 - The job doesn’t match your strengths
Many people take a job because they feel desperate and don’t think they have time to be particular. Or they want to move up in the company and take on a new role that does not match their strengths.
You can have skills, but that doesn’t mean you enjoy using those skills. Happy employees are those who are in roles that match well with their personal strengths. If you are in a job where you hate what you’re doing or feel like you are being “wasted”, it is time to look for a new job.
#3 - The job is unfulfilling or feels “beneath” you
When a job feels beneath you, chances are you are an ambitious person. You have big dreams for your career. Maybe you are an entrepreneur at heart? If you feel like starting your own business, don’t ignore that. Many people have successfully launched out of a job into their own business.
If your job feels “beneath” you, chances are the company missions statement doesn’t motivate you. Perhaps the product or service your employer is selling makes you feel “icky” or possibly uninspired. You will never be fulfilled working in a job like that. If this red flag is waving at you, don’t ignore it.