7 non-obvious signs that tell you you need to change jobs

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

You drink liters of coffee, over and over again make mistakes and constantly ask yourself: "Is that all?"

1. You blink too slowly at your desk

And also drink 3-4 cups of coffee, which for some reason "does not work." In fact, a bad coffee machine, seasonal hypovitaminosis or an uncomfortable pillow have nothing to do with it - you are just bored at work. And in order to "cheer up", perhaps you should just do something else.

Try to realize how routine your work is: are you doing the same thing or performing different tasks in the workplace? Ask yourself in the morning if there are at least a few tasks on your list of tasks for today that please you and on which you want to spend energy. If not, draw your own conclusions. The plus of freelancing in this regard is obvious: different clients and different tasks allow you to revive routine processes and add creativity to your work.

2. It seems to you that something is wrong with your colleagues

And with everyone. You don't get feedback when you really want it. You are embarrassed to ask for help, because once you have already realized that nothing good will come of it. In the end, you are simply not interested in the people who work next to you. And after work you go to do yoga, and they go to the beer bar. Or vice versa. In general, you get the idea.

Perhaps the problem is the lack of a culture of communication in the team, but, most likely, you are simply out of place.

Find yourself a professional space that you feel comfortable in. Of course, your colleagues do not have to become good friends to you, but the "average temperature" in the team should suit you.

3. You often say, "It's just a job."

Who said that from nine in the morning to six in the evening on weekdays, you absolutely must be happy? Maybe work has become a routine or you don't see any prospects at this place. Or maybe the ideas of the new management are at odds with yours - it's okay, "it's just a job."

You say that and, in essence, you delete from life 40 hours a week, during which you convince yourself that everything is in order.

To understand that 40 hours is actually a lot, write down the tasks that you do with sincere pleasure, and count how much time per week you spend on them. Most likely, you will be surprised by the number and realize that you are doing “just work” that you are not happy about, about 10 times more than what you like. That is, you live for yourself only by 10%. Sounds kind of sad, doesn't it?

4. You are putting in too much effort

And more and more often you understand: it's hard for you at work. It seems that you are not engaged in physical labor, but the feeling after a working day is as if you were unloading bags of potatoes for a day.

You explain to yourself that intellectual work requires more energy than any other, or that your project is now in its most active phase.

Let's face it, you get tired simply because you don't pull, or you have all the company's problems on your shoulders, or you are burned out. Or - most likely - this particular job is very stressful for you.

We are not saying that it is not normal to get tired in principle: we are all human and we have the right to feel empty from time to time. But if for a long period all you can do after a working day is to fall on the couch, it seems like it's time to think. Or at least take a vacation.

5. More and more often you ask yourself: "Is that all?"

Is that all for what you spent five years at the university, defended your doctoral dissertation, completed advanced training courses, attended seminars and conferences? Do you not feel that many of your knowledge and skills are being implemented in any way, or do you feel the ceiling against which the top of your head rested?

A person who is developing always has the risk of underestimating himself and settling for less.

Review your professional background in your head - or just open your resume (hopefully well-written) - and remind yourself that you are a tough guy. List everything that you know how, and then, perhaps, it will become clear to you that what you do in the office is not all.

In this case, it will be right to stop being shy and talk to your management about professional ambitions.

6. You make mistakes all the time

And, it would seem, nothing serious: a small typo in the contract, the e-mail address was entered incorrectly, the phone number was carelessly written on a piece of paper - there is either a four, or a seven - then you will figure it out. Yesterday they seemed to remember that the meeting was scheduled for noon, and today they told the client that it was an hour later. Everyone, of course, will wait, but …

It's just not a matter of mistakes, but a lack of concentration.

When you understand the importance of what you are working on, you automatically concentrate. And if this is not the case, most likely, your brain is simply detached from everything that happens.

Therefore, it is in your best interest to switch to tasks that will hold your attention and that you want to do well. Then the phone number will be written down clearly, and the contract will be rechecked one more time.

7. You are just happy with everything

We know that everything is really good with you: you have been in this position for 5-7 years already, your seniority is on, the insurance is good, promotions, bonuses based on the results of the year. The team respects you, you share the views of the company.

Here's just a small nuance: in the last couple of years you have been a bit like Eeyore's donkey, who seems to live without problems, but is constantly sad. Do you get it?

Do you have a feeling that your work has long turned into a notorious comfort zone, which is scary to leave, and staying in it means getting stuck? Does your activity bring the drive that you had before, or are you “just happy with everything”?

Remember that in order to grow, you need to feel discomfort from time to time. That positive discomfort that makes you try something new, improve the old and step up a notch, even if it seems that there is nowhere to go. Steve Jobs was once fired from the company he created - and we know what the result was.