Matters of the heart typically shouldn't matter at work. But, as it happens, there are some uncanny similarities between an impending break-up and a job that you're just not that into.
No, we're not alluding to regular screaming matches, infidelity, and bed death; rather, we're referencing other reasons that you might have a wandering eye. For example, perhaps you and your company just don't want the same things, or maybe there's no way to take your work relationship to the next level.
Regardless of the red flags that could signal the fact that it's time for a job change, you can take solace in knowing that research has surfaced proving that workers who stay with a company beyond the two-year mark earn 50 percent less.
So if one of these telltale signs applies to your situation, don't hesitate. Make the decision to see what else is out there and consider changing jobs.
1. Your Work Relationship is a Dead End
You may not be asking for marriage or kids, but it can feel just as demoralizing if you're in a role where there's no opportunity for growth or learning.
What's more, in an economy where jobs are increasingly under threat thanks to automation and technological evolution, more and more and workers are rightfully worried about how to get the skills and training they need to remain relevant and successful.
Not to mention, continuous or lifelong learning is not only critical to feeling happy at work, it's critical to feeling happy in life.
So if you're in a job that feels like a dead end, it could be time to get your resume ready.
2. You Just Don't Want the Same Things
Much has been written about the Millennial obsession with a sense of higher purpose at work, but when investigated further, it turns out that the other generations aren't so different. Everyone wants to feel like their work has meaning.
So if your values don't align with those of your employer, and you don't feel like you're working toward a common goal or mission, then it could very well be time to jump ship.
If you feel that way, you aren't alone. A whopping 60 percent of Millennials say they would leave their job if they were not engaged.
3. It's Killing Your Vibe and Stifling Your Strengths
As Daniel Pink puts it in his book Drive, humans are motivated by the idea of mastery, or the act of getting better and better at something. He refutes the idea that we're driven by extrinsic factors like money.
Meaning, if you're in a situation where your job doesn't call on you to use your strengths and further solidify your skills, you may find yourself struggling to find the willpower to work hard – or to even get out of bed and go to work each day.
Like pouring energy into a relationship that doesn't inspire you to be a better person, concentrating your effort on tasks and duties that don't play into your own noteworthy abilities is draining.
If you find yourself in this situation, it's never a bad idea to look at some resume examples and get your job search toolkit ready to rock 'n roll.
4. You're Not Getting the Respect You Deserve
According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), getting the respect you deserve at work is, for the third year in a row, one of the most important contributors to job satisfaction.
This means everything from earning a good salary to working in a space that's diverse, non-violent, and free of sexual harassment and inequality.
Similarly, it's critical that you feel like your work environment is one that demonstrates fairness and leaves room for you to introduce opposing views and ask questions.
Just as respect is a central tenet in any healthy relationship, it's fundamental to being happy at your job.
5. You're Being Controlled
As the old saying goes, people don't quit their jobs, they quit their managers. And if yours is as controlling as a jealous partner, then it's likely time to find either another boss or another employer.
More specifically, as many as one in two people leave a workplace to get away from a terrible manager, so you'd absolutely be in good company if this is your reality.
And finally, as people tend to bring their work misery home with them, you may very well find that even your relationship with friends and loved one starts to suffer when you're unhappy at work.
Needless to say, it's better to end it with your boss so that you don't have to call it quits with the people who you care about most.
6. You're Bored
We've all been there. There's nothing wrong, per so; you're just a little bored. Okay, really bored. Is that enough of a reason to move on, though?
As is the case with relationship advice, most career experts caution against moving on to something new and exciting without first exploring how you can infuse some novelty into your current work situation.
However, if you've tried your best to breathe some life into your daily routine, and it's just not working, you may find that you're in danger of raising red flag number one: finding yourself in a dead end job.
What's more, research has shown that we thrive on things that are interesting and fun. So being bored is actually a valid reason to change jobs—as long as you've put in the work to try to improve your life at work.
Ready to Change Jobs?
If by now you're convinced a break up is inevitable, you need to start preparing to get back on the horse. That means, first and foremost, creating a resume that sells your unique value and grabs the attention of time-pressed employers. Use our resume builder to get started today!
