Having a stable job is one thing that is of utmost importance in the life of any young person who wishes to be independent. These jobs can come in the form of the usual 9-5 that keeps people busy throughout the day. For some people, these offices serve as a way to live their best life because their dreams and visions align with the job. Some people find that they receive everything from validation to a sense of security from their jobs. This is all well and good as long as the job gives fulfillment. There are others, however, after doing these jobs for a number of years, feel rusty and uninterested in what is going on at the workplace. Productivity and enthusiasm immediately reduces, and then all of a sudden what the boss thinks does not matter anymore. This may mean that it is time for a job change.
Signs you have outgrown your job
Outgrowing a job simply means you become thirsty for something more and different from what you are doing. It is not necessarily a bad feeling. Just as a person cannot, in good faith be stuck at the same area for years and years without wanting any change is the same way people need changes in their job after a while, especially if no positive changes and incentives are given.
Differentiating between a bad day or bad week and a complete lack of interest in the job you are doing might be a tricky issue. The decisions made in such times are of utmost importance especially since you wouldn’t like to do anything that you would regret for the rest of your life. Here are some deal breakers that might suggest that there is the need for you to move on.
- No chance to grow- At the beginning of a career, promotions or pay raises are usually awarded within 2 to 3 years based on productivity in the corporate world. Higher up the ladder, it takes 3-5 years to land a promotion or a pay raise. If none of this is happening, you may feel stuck and unappreciated for your efforts, especially if you are doing your absolute best. It may be time to try out greener pastures with better offers that match your skill set. People like looking to a form of compensation and incentive for working harder. If you are getting none of that, it may be time to move on.
- The former satisfaction the job gave is no longer there- Waking up in the morning for a job can be difficult, but it is even far more difficult to show up for a job where there is absolutely no satisfaction. Most people spend a great deal of their lives at work. There should be something about the work that makes it just a little worth it to give it another go each day. If none of this is happening, it might be time to drop the ball and go searching for something that feels more fulfilling.
- You are not getting any opportunities to learn- The human mind is one that needs a constant challenge. Being at a job where you do not feel like you are learning anything new might make it more difficult to stay at the job. The lack of challenges might be because you are not getting any new opportunities, or because you are at the top of the ladder when it comes to new experiences. Having ‘seen it all’ in this case can wear out even the most dedicated workers.
- You cannot wait to go home after work- The clock becomes your best friend. You spend your hours looking at the clock, willing it to strike ‘5’o clock’ for you to pack up your bags and rush home. While this happens to even the most dedicated workers sometimes, this happening constantly means there is nothing keeping you at the job. You might want to consider leaving.
How to handle outgrowing a job
Leaving may not necessarily be the smartest thing to do immediately. It will be on your best interest to begin by investigating why you feel the way you do. Is it caused by your job, your want for a raise, or a total career change? It will be better to take steps to rectify the things that make you feel less challenged at work, for instance, asking for new opportunities at work, being sure whether a change in environment or a leave is what you need.
Finally taking steps to find what you truly want is what you should do. Jobsora.com is a job search engine which pools together vacancies from all over town. You can use this website to look for other opportunities that may be lucrative and linking up with the original companies via the links you find. This is a good start to figuring out what you may need to help your situation.
Lastly, never leave a job without having a plan. Prior to your leaving, you should have an idea where you are going. Whether it is in the form of a new job, a plan of how to seize your dreams, or time you can afford to figure things out on your own. No matter what it is, do not let one bad job hold you down.