Don't Quit - 6 Signs You Should Stay in Your Current Job
You’re unhappy in your job and it’s getting you down. You feel like it’s literally sucking the life out of you, and you just don’t feel like you have the right level of work life balance anymore.it’s really cutting into your social calendar. Talk to friends and family or ask Google, and it’s easy to justify why you should just throw in the towel. Life’s too short, right? But wait. What if you could fix your current job situation instead?
There’s room to move up...or laterally
If you love your company but your job not so much, don’t jump ship too soon. If there’s mobility in the company for you such as a promotion or even a move sideways to a different area, don’t underestimate that benefit. Staying with a company makes you more attractive for training and promotion, so being loyal and playing a long game could be a wise move. Plus look out for our next publication newsletter for tips on how to change careers with the same employer.
Are you in a negative spiral?
Venting and moaning. Do you feel like that’s all you do? It’s not hard to fall into a mental rut, especially if you are hanging out with colleagues who love to gossip and grumble. By surrounding yourself with negativity, it could be you’re not getting a clear picture of how things really are. Think about the positive aspects of your role, document your achievements and shift your focus so you become part of the solution. OK, so positive thinking won’t solve everything, but it will help you understand if it’s you or the job that needs a change.
All work and no vacay
Working long hours takes a toll. You may lose perspective and focus, especially if you haven’t taken your vacation days. Plan in some vacation time now before you burn out. Once you’re refreshed and rested, it could be all you needed was a few days off to regain your clarity. Just remember, vacations are most effective with as little checking of your email as possible! Also, research shows that we do not get the full benefit of vacation until day 8 but the average American executive only takes a 5 day vacation, when he/she takes one. So think about extending your time off if you can swing it
You haven’t spoken to your boss
There are numerous reasons why you might think it’s time to show your job the door. Perhaps you feel overloaded, or not challenged enough? Maybe your salary is the kicker. If you haven’t yet connected with your boss, this is a sure sign not to quit yet. Go in with a plan and make dialogue with your boss a regular thing. That way you can share your achievements and check priorities. And when it comes time to ask for that raise you won’t be going in cold.
You’re out of balance
It’s not healthy to expect your work to fulfill you completely in all aspects of your life. Life is all about balance. If you are unhappy in your role but can’t figure out what needs to change, take a look at what you do once you've clocked out. If you’re flopping on the sofa every night with take-out and binge-watching your favorite seriesGame of Thrones, it might be time to shake things up. Try out some goat yoga, or just get some exercise in. The positive benefits of achieving goals in your personal life can flow over into your professional life too. It’s a win-win!
The stress factor
If you’re stressed out at work there’s no doubt that’s tough. You want it to stop and the quickest way to do that is to leave. But let’s face it, stress in modern life is everywhere and it will find you again. Make your situation an opportunity to learn coping skills right now that you can use through the rest of your career. Develop strategies such as learning techniques for managing your workload, meditation or even making sure you don’t lunch al desko every day. By making enough small effective changes in your work life, you can manage stress without having to quit.
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Nation's Executive Search Group is sought out by leaders in Enterprise Risk Management, Marketing Services and Decision Analytics for mission critical sales and marketing leadership talent. For more information, email or call Rob at (410) 827-0180, rmilner@nesgroup.net