10 Signs It’s Time to Look for A New Job
What are the main signs that it's time to update your resume?
On average, Americans change jobs every 4.2 years. And, since we spend over 8 hours a day at the office, the working environment should be comfortable and stimulating, and the job itself should give you an opportunity to advance in your career. Unfortunately, not all jobs are like this, and you may find yourself wondering “Should I look for a new job?”.
Changing jobs is a serious decision, and it should be well-weighted. You don't want to burn bridges in a rush because of a moderate misunderstanding with a boss. On the flip side, it makes no sense to stay too long in the role that is completely unfulfilling, in a toxic environment, or experience health issues because of work-related stress. The current job market is highly competitive and your job performance does not secure you a good transition, promotion, or career change.
Today, our professional writer resumes will show you the main signs that it's time to move on and hand in your notice. There are quite a few good reasons to change a place if you do not feel any job satisfaction, the same position pays more elsewhere, or you are simply looking for new challenges.
Experts know better: Career growth opportunities
When you need to find a new job ASAP, the quality of your resume matters more than you think. A resume that is focused, keyword-enriched, and result-oriented will bring you more interview calls. The talented resume creators from Resumeperk.com will create your resume from scratch, showcasing your potential effectively for hiring managers. The writer will take all your suggestions into account and will work on your resume until you're satisfied. We can help you land a job with a new company by updating your job search documents, including a LinkedIn profile.
When to think about a new job? 10 warning signs you need a new job as soon as possible
Quitting the job is a tough decision for many. When you are accustomed to the location, coworkers, and daily routine, you may start convincing yourself that things aren't actually that bad. However, staying in a job that doesn't fit you or causes excessive stress may be costly for your career and health in the long run.
From psychological discomfort and toxic leadership to unfulfilling tasks and lack of room for growth – take a look at our expert list of signs that you should be on the lookout for a new employment or gig:
You were overlooked for a promotion
This is always discouraging. You've worked towards that promotion for over half of a year, put in unpaid hours and late nights, and your boss has given a hint that your chance is pretty good. Yet, that long-awaited role was given to someone else, maybe someone less experienced or qualified. No matter the reason that person was promoted. If the promotion wasn't granted to you as promised, it means that the company decision-makers don't value your contribution and impact. For you, as a professional, this should mean that you need to put your skills to use in another company that will appreciate and compensate fairly for your knowledge. If you feel stuck in your role, you need to make the next move!
You don't learn new things
We grow as professionals when we are constantly given new tasks, handle challenging projects, and are pushed out of our comfort zone. If you do the same circle of responsibility repeatedly since the first month on the job, it means two things. Firstly, you don't develop in your chosen career path and stagnate while your peers acquire new skills and go through the ranks. And secondly, you're likely to feel unmotivated to do the same job month after month altogether. If there's no opportunity to attend training, ask for extra responsibility or to build on your skills in any other way, it's better to look for an employer who offers these opportunities. Even if the company culture or the company values are in line with your own, your well being, family life, and opportunities for growth still matter!
Your responsibilities have grown, but not your salary
You were hired to answer calls, manage correspondence, and oversee the boss's schedule. Now, your responsibilities also include managing social media and calculating salaries. The workload has become enormous, but the pay remained the same. Does it sound like you? Then, don't wait until you start experiencing burnout and have a talk with your boss. If they refuse to give a raise or to ease your workload, start sourcing for opportunities elsewhere. If you've grown in terms of skills significantly, you'll be able to find a better-paying position with ease. A new position is an option too, especially if you feel your current one is no longer good enough. Updating your resume to look for new jobs? Check out how to list your communication skills: https://resumeperk.com/blog/communication-skills-resume-10-skills--how-to-list-them.
You feel depressed about work
Your job isn't meant to be a lot of fun every day. Yet, it also shouldn't be a constant source of pressure and irritability. Feeling sad and devastated at a single thought that you need to be in the office tomorrow? Do you often complain about the new boss or a stressful project? These aren't the signs that you should hand in the notice immediately. Yet, they surely mean that you need to stop and analyze the reasons for stress.
Suffering physically and worry about your mental health
Work-related stress may show itself in multiple forms. You might have difficulties getting to sleep, wake up from nightmares, or experience other sleep problems. Stress can also cause physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches, or high blood pressure. And finally, you might experience mental health symptoms such as depression, anxiety, or moodiness. All these signs mean pretty much the same: the stress at work is too overwhelming and you need a break. Or, ideally, a new job that wouldn't cause health issues and would allow to maintain a high quality of life.
You feel left out
Have you been excluded from management meetings or from the circle of people making decisions related to the project? Do you seem to be the last person to know that the project terms have changed and the two people replaced? Are you excluded from out-of-work activities with colleagues such as going to pubs or playing baseball on weekends? If you feel that you no longer have an influence on work matters and the relationships with colleagues leave much to be desired, your career isn't going well. Try to have a conversation with someone, or start looking for a new gig straightaway.
The company isn't doing well
If the company is encountering financial or other difficulties, keep your hand on the pulse. Say, if there were already one or two rounds of layoffs and it didn't resolve the situation, you might be sacked during the next one. Similarly, if the company has been acquired, it may mean mass shortages as well. In either case, you don't want to go down with the ship when it sinks. Start looking for other options, revise the business etiquette tips, and update a resume. The earlier you start searching, the higher the chance that you'll find a new job sooner, avoid unemployment, and won't have to explain the company shutdown during an interview.
You've been considering a change for some time
Do you often find yourself thinking over finding a new job, checking out the vacancies, or even daydreaming about starting your consulting business? If these ideas have been roaming in your head for some time, it shows that something subconsciously doesn't satisfy you. Whether you feel that the job doesn't make you happy or feel that it would be better for you to pursue a new career path, don't ignore these thoughts. They mean that you are ready for a change and already know the answer to the question “Should I get a new job?”
You're not getting feedback and had enough of a toxic work environment
Feedback from your supervisors is essential if you want to learn from your mistakes and grow as a professional. It shows you areas for growth, giving you an opportunity to gain skills necessary for career advancement. And in this regard, getting no feedback slows down your development, since you have no idea how good your performance is and are not sure which areas need further work. Another common situation that should warn you is getting a negative performance review. If your previous reviews were pretty good and the latest one wasn't up to scratch, it might mean that the company is preparing for downsizing, and it's a perfect time to start looking.
The company doesn't bring new hires
Did a marketing manager, a research associate and an accountant leave the company last month but weren't replaced by the new hires? Do you have to perform someone else's duties in addition to your own without a pay increase? A situation like this implies that things aren't going well in your company – maybe, there are financial problems, an acquisition is planned, etc. In either case, it's one of the signs you need a new job. Since the company isn't stably doing well, you might be sacked and will have to look for a new job in a hurry. Follow the situation closely and start browsing new opportunities early on.
How to prepare for a job search?
Many professionals dread the job-hunting period. Yet, with a good deal of preparation, you'll manage to find a new job really quickly. Here are the exact areas you should work on:
✓ Make sure your resume is up to scratch.
Order professional resumes editing to have your old resume improved by an expert or even get one written for you. The quality of your resume makes a world of difference in getting it noticed by the recruiter. A good one will immediately distinguish you from others.
✓ Polish your public speaking skills.
You'll need persuasive communication abilities during networking, whether in person or at professional events, for interviews, and more. If speaking about your strengths and articulating professional values is difficult for you, it's time to start practicing.
✓ Take an online course or sign up for training.
Keeping your skills fresh is highly important for employability. Browse a few job listings to identify which skills employers look for in potential hires, and work on the areas where you lag behind. The newly gained skills will look impressive on your resume, let alone the fact that the candidate with an extensive skill set has more chance of getting the job.
✓ Sign up for the industry news sources.
Has it been a few years since you were last time searching for jobs and feel that you're out of the loop? Sign up for the printed media, online magazines, and social media pages for professionals in your industry. It will help you to stay updated on what is going on in the field, as well as give you ideas of topics to discuss during an interview.
✓ Update your social media.
Clean up the recent posts on your private Facebook or Instagram profiles which may be seen as inappropriate by the target employers. Update the LinkedIn page with the information about your current workplace – or create a profile if you don't have one at all. The attractive social media pages increase your interview chances.
Can your resume land you an interview?
It's hard to objectively evaluate your own resume and to understand if it's really informative and attractive to employers. Our resume experts can help with it. A British or American resume maker will review your resume and recommend what should be improved about it to boost your interview chances. We offer resume review services free of charge. If you are interested in getting a custom resume created for you by an expert, take a look at our services and prices. Finding a new job does not need to be a stress. With our help, all you need is the motivation to pursue your dream job. With our resources and expertise in resume writing, we can impress you with the quality of our services.