ALT-2 Signs you need to Change your Job
With the world screaming how lucky you are to be employed in the current economy, it may be hard to hear the signs that you need to change your job. Rather than dry to drown out the cacophony, ask yourself these three questions to decide once and for all if its time for a change. Remember that there always are opportunities beyond your office doors, ones that are a better fit and that desperately want you as an employee-they just need to be found.
Sign You Need to Change Your Job 1: What are your loved ones saying?
If your family, friends, or significant other have jobs themselves and are complaining about how much you work or about how your work-life balance is negatively affecting them, then they are right, full stop. If they raise their concerns and you don't believe them, it's time to leave your job. The inability to recognize let alone admit that your priorities may be straying too far away from home and too close to the office indicates a psychological impact-either your own or as a result of your work environment-that is not healthy and must be cut off.
You may feel a sense of peer-pressure either from the working habits you saw from your parents growing up, from consciousness of the fact that in this economy so few others have employment, or the sense that everyone else at your workplace is staying late and coming in early. In any case, you need to stay true to your personal boundaries-boundaries that are easy to forget after tow or three 11-hour days at the office, and boundaries that are loved ones are only too happy to remind us of. Once they've been crossed and you've denied it, it's time to talk serious changes with your boss or move out.
Sign You Need to Change Your Job 2: What are your co-workers saying?
Winds of warning blow loudest in the valleys-listen to co-workers and especially those that may be new to the company and have worked elsewhere. They will be familiar with industry standards, and will typically be honest with those that haven't had the benefit of their experience and seem to be struggling. When industry veterans are complaining (to say nothing of veterans of the same company), chances are the problem isn't with you, it's with your workplace. Don't ask questions, just walk away. It's a cultural malady and will not improve.
If you're not fortunate enough to find a transparent colleague, be sure to listen to the language of the office as well. Inevitably, you will hear key phrases that indicate the true nature of your workplace. They are hardly subtle, and should never be taken lightly. Take note of when and in what context you hear the name of your company used as an adjective: "That's so [Company Name]," "Typical [Company Name]," etc. Are the statements made in reference to last-minute deadlines, interpersonal drama, all-nighters, or unbearable bosses? What do you hear when you or others leave at 5pm? Is it "Have a great night!" or "For real? Leaving already?" This type of language all translates to the same thing: time to change your job.
Sign You Need to Change Your Job 3: What is your body saying?
And what is your physician saying? Common symptoms of depression include a lack of motivation, physical fatigue, loss of appetite, changes in weight, and loss of interest in activities that previously felt fulfilling or enjoyable. High stress and anxiety can manifest in everything from difficulty sleeping or concentrating, to difficulty breathing and lowered sex drive. Time at the office can even progress to the point that it negatively affects your diet and exercise level, as you may feel there's less time to work out, cook, or eat out, and you become more sedentary, more reliant on quick high-calorie foods and caffeine in the form of soda, sugar, or coffee. These symptoms are hard to miss, and even a pair of them is enough to cause concern. If you can be honest with yourself and sufficiently inventory the physical and emotional effects your job is having on you, you can raise the issue with your human resources rep or supervisor and determine once and for all if you can change your situation or if you should bid the business farewell. If you are looking at regular therapy appointments or prescriptions as occupational expenses, you're in the wrong line of work, and it will only be a matter of time before you leave by your own volition or not. Out of respect for yourself and your loved ones, take the time to seriously consider what your bottom line is with your health and stick to it.
If you've asked yourself these three questions and the writing is on the wall, don't panic. Remember that there are tools that are at your disposal and that you don't need to rush back into the job hunt if you're not ready. Consult HR and your supervisor first, then connect with trustworthy and discreet employees who have recently left or arrived at the company for job search tips, before turning to networking events, Linkedin job search, friends, and family. You will most likely not be on the hunt as long as the news would imply, but even when the search gets tough, remember that the reward is self-respect and a step closer to manifesting the real and fulfilled you.
