Should You Consider Changing Your Job?

Changing your job at a time of crisis might lead you in a tricky situation, especially if you are not particularly unhappy with your current employment.

Nevertheless, there might be some clear indications that it is time to move on and look for something new. Here are several reasons which could indicate it might be time to move on:

• Your current job is no longer compatible with your personal life and/or economic situation: You are finding it hard to make ends meet. Be realistic, the crisis has caused many companies to freeze salaries while increasing responsibilities. It might well be the case that new employment would not affect your paycheck. Do your research well to be able to make a real market comparison between your current state and potential future offers.
• The future perspective of your current position fail to meet your professional satisfaction: You balance the positives and the negatives and the latter tend to outweigh the former. Do not rush to conclusions but rather weight the importance of these factors with respect to your professional satisfaction. If the job is good but you can never find a stapler and the printer is out of ink, probably the negatives do not win over the good sides.
• Your working environment has changed and it affects your performance negatively: Your company has changed significantly since you were hired. Your company could have undergone significant modifications – a buyout, a change in philosophy, etc. You might be going to the same office but feel like you are working for a different company. It might happen that sometimes you also find yourself no longer feeling comfortable working with your colleagues and it affects you negatively on your performance. If you find it difficult to adapt yourself to the new environment, think carefully about your situation and if you are truly unhappy, consider a change.
• You want to experience something new because the current job is burning you out: It could be that your job is stressful and boring, or that you feel that you are losing your professional competitive edge. You are not performing at your best or your current employment does not allow you to grow further. Although we all go through our highs and lows, some of which might last weeks or even months, losing your drive could be a significant indicator that your job is just not right anymore. Try consulting your boss on whether there might be a possibility to change responsibilities, undergo training or move to another position. If neither of these is applicable, maybe you should consider updating your CV.

Changing your job is a key decision that should never be taken lightly. Make sure that you are convinced that there is nothing you could do within your company to improve how you feel before you resort to drastic measures. A new job is not a guarantee. Thus, keep it clear in mind the reason you want a change in your employment. There are no tricks but to do sufficient research before accepting a new job to make sure that it has what you look for.