On the Job Too Long? Be Wary of Losing Yourself
You’ve landed the job of your dreams, or at least the job you think will bring you to the next level of your professional journey. You wake up in the morning, excited to get to work, In the early years, when you see the clock says it’s almost time for you to leave work, you wish more time was left because the job fulfills you like few things you’ve experienced. The time will come to have a relationship, start a family, and buy a house in a little while, but for now, you’re all in on this new position and what it will bring to you.
Fast-forward five years. The manager who sold you on the company’s culture left a few years ago, and you’re on your third manager, none of whom inspire you. You severely overestimated your ability to grow with the company because it has not grown at the projected rate. And now, you count the minutes until the clock says 5 p.m. so you can return to your empty apartment.
The worst part is — you’ve seen this building for a long time. You’ve felt the resentment grow inside you, and at the same time, you’ve felt your energy and zeal for life wane. It’s not your diet, your relationship with friends and family, or anything like that. You know the answer. It’s your job. You’ve stayed too long, and a little piece of you feels like it dies every day you step through the company’s front door.
Or maybe you’re not this far down the path yet. If not, you’re much luckier than the person I’ve described. Either way, you need to get off the path you’re on if you’re feeling unfulfilled. Your professional life is not a one-way road. You’ve seen what this path can lead to, and it’s bitterness and negativity.
Assuming you’re reading this on a computer, grab a notepad and pen or copy the following list to a word processing program. I’ve compiled a list of 33 signs that it’s probably time to consider leaving your job. Every time you see a statement that reflects how you feel, make a mark.
33 Signs That It’s Time to Leave Your Job
The company is circling the drain.
You feel like nothing you do is ever enough.
You dread going to work.
You could do the job with your eyes closed.
You’re always worried about money.
You complain outside of work about work.
You find yourself justifying why you stay.
You’re bored most of the time.
Any sense of victory or accomplishment is gone.
On a deep level, the job doesn’t speak to you.
You find yourself watching what you say.
You’re always worried.
You’re making careless mistakes.
You don’t laugh as much as you once did.
You’ve stopped caring, and you’re OK with it.
The overall environment is negative.
You never want to go to work.
Your skills are largely ignored.
You can’t picture yourself retiring there.
Other companies are showing interest in you.
There is no room for advancement.
You wonder if it’s taking a toll on your mental or physical health.
You’re overqualified.
You wouldn’t advise your friends to work at your company.
You procrastinate more than you work.
The smallest things are feeling overwhelming.
Your company doesn’t reinvest in you with training.
Layoffs may be coming, and you don’t care.
You feel ignored.
You look at the clock more than twice an hour.
You don’t trust the people you work with.
You stopped calling it a “career” — It’s just a “job.”
You’re still making marks and reading this list.
How many marks did you make?
5 or less – You have a bad day here and there, but you need to make sure they are few and far between and not a pattern. Figure out if the problems you see are fixable.
6 to 12 – The writing is on the wall, and you should actively be looking elsewhere for employment before things start spiraling downhill.
13 to 20 – Something has been holding you back from finding another job, but you’ve got to get over it because your work — if it hasn’t already — will soon take a physical or mental toll on your health.
More than 20 – You’ve got to get out of there, ASAP. You should not be spending this much of your life miserable, underappreciated and in a bad situation. The paycheck is not worth it, and you do not want to turn into someone permanently scarred by a work experience.