Career Coach: Stay or Go

With the labor market humming along, you may wonder if it’s time to change jobs. The following four statements, which I hear from my clients often, can help you determine if it’s really time to switch things up in your work life:

“I got up one morning and didn’t feel like going to work.” How you feel on just one day is not a good indicator of whether you should change jobs. But if you feel this way for a few months straight, that’s probably a signal that something is wrong and that you should start looking for a new opportunity.

“I live for the weekends.” If the best part of your week is always the weekend, think about whether your job has run its course and no longer provides you any satisfaction or reward. If you truly dread returning to the office on Mondays, consider whether your workplace is toxic; if so, start searching for a better work environment.

“My job is no longer challenging, and there is no room for growth or advancement.” If you can do your job with your eyes closed, it’s probably time for you to look for a new challenge. You may need a larger scope of responsibility. If that is not available where you currently are, it is time to change jobs so that you can continue to grow.

“I’ve been here for five years.” It has become the norm to change jobs every few years, but if you have a great work environment and a great job, keep it. Stay abreast of the job market just in case you are forced to move on through a merger or layoff.

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