Signs it’s Time to Find a New Job

Unsurprisingly, relatively few members of the workforce are truly passionate about what they do. For these individuals, jobs are simply a means to an end, and if given the choice, they’d gladly leave them behind. Still, the fact that many jobs are unfulfilling doesn’t mean that you should remain in a career that provides you with absolutely no personal satisfaction. So, if you’ve come to notice any of the following signs, it may be time to seek employment elsewhere.

Stagnant Wages 

With cost of living on the rise all over the country, stagnant wages can place a considerable strain on finances that are already burdened. So, if your employer has consistently refused to provide you with pay increases that are properly suited  to the cost of living in your area, you may need to find a new job out of pure necessity. If you’re reasonably happy at your current job, make at least one attempt at appealing to the relevant parties. Should your formal request for a pay increase be rejected, proceed to seek out other opportunities. A sizable portion of Americans are financially insecure, but if a full-time job is insufficient to cover cost of living, it isn’t worth your time or effort. 

Stagnant wages often go hand-in-hand with a lack of benefits. So, if you suffer from a disability for which your employer doesn’t currently provide coverage, consider seeking out long term disability insurance plans on your own.  

Mistreatment 

Unfortunately, mistreatment runs rampant at countless workplaces in the U.S. While there are varying degrees of mistreatment, many employers have no qualms about treating workers as poorly and paying them as little as they are legally allowed to. So, if you’re regularly berated, belittled or singled out at your place of business, it may be time to think about finding another job. 

Mistreatment can also come from a number of different parties. For example, while such behavior is often attributed to bosses, it’s hardly unusual for coworkers to engage in it, as well. Additionally, if mistreatment rises to the level of outright abuse or harassment, you may want to consider weighing your legal options. Sometimes, the only way to get employers to take certain behavior seriously is to place them on the receiving end of a lawsuit.   

Overwork 

Since American culture tends to celebrate overwork, many of us have trouble differentiating between reasonable and unreasonable workloads. However, if your workday doesn’t end when you leave the office and regularly continues well into the night, you’re likely dealing with the latter. These types of workloads make it impossible to maintain any semblance of a healthy work/life balance and can lead to a host of problems pertaining to both physical and mental health. Even if you like what you do, such unhealthy hours are practically guaranteed to suck any and all enjoyment right out of your job.   

Lack of Passion 

For many of us, jobs are merely a means to an end. Although we don’t particularly enjoy working, we carry on out of necessity, not genuine passion. Still, if you have absolutely no passion for your profession or current employer, a new job may help provide you with the satisfaction you seek. Not everyone is in a position to leave their current job due to a lack of passion, but if you have the educational background, skillset and financial security to do so, seeking out greener pastures may prove well worth your while.

Additionally, continuing your education and earning an advanced degree can effectively pave the way for a more rewarding career. For example, a master of science in accounting degree is likely to boost your employment prospects exponentially. 

Although very few of us truly love our jobs, many members of the workforce are able to carry out their job duties effectively and efficiently – with minimal-to-average amounts of professional dissatisfaction. So, while it’s perfectly normal to be fairly lukewarm on your career, you shouldn’t remain in a job that causes you profound stress and/or unhappiness. Depending on your employer, workplace and general attitude towards your job, it may be in your best interest to consider new career paths. If you suspect this to be the case, simply keep an eye out for the previously discussed signs.