We all encounter challenges at work. Some of them are simply obstacles that must be overcome. Do so, and your job satisfaction will likely rise. But other difficulties are signs that you should dust off your résumé and look for a new job. It’s important to know the difference.
Here are five situations that indicate it’s time to move on:
1. YOU HAVE A BAD BOSS
Fifty percent of people say they’ve quit a job because of a bad boss, but there are many ways a boss can be “bad.”
Early in my career, I reported to an executive who undermined me in every way he could. When we traveled, he even criticized me for not walking fast enough. Nothing I did received his approval. Nobody would speak up in meetings because he would shoot them down. I asked myself, “Is this a person I want to work for?”
My answer was no, but there was a catch: He was a strong mentor who taught me a lot about speech writing. I had to balance the good and the bad. As a result, I stayed on for two years, until I had learned what I needed to from him. Assess your bad boss and move on when it suits your goals.
2. YOUR BOSS IS NEEDY
This situation is often difficult to navigate. A needy boss can make you feel valued because he or she is likely to say, “I need you here,” or “Thanks for doing that extra work on the weekend.” Such bosses, while appreciative, can be detrimental to your career because they encourage you to stay in place and never move on.
I once coached a woman in a bank who was at the director level, and she had an opportunity to move on to a VP position in another department. But when she told her boss about this opportunity he said, “Don’t take it; I need you here.” So she stayed with him, and 10 years later she was still with him in that director position.
Needy bosses can make you feel important, and they sincerely believe in you. But beware: They prefer that you stay put and not move on in their department or in any other. They are career crushers. Don’t let them blindside your career.
3. YOUR JOB IS BORING
The third situation you should move on from is a boring job.
Take some time to figure out what makes your job boring. Perhaps it’s because the work is repetitious; you’ve mastered it and find no excitement from it. Or you may find the people in your department boring. There’s no pleasure in being with them, no collegiality.
If you experience boredom in your current role and there’s no room to make your job more interesting, it’s time to move on. You will die on the vine if you stay, and the longer you stay the more difficult it will be to “sell” yourself to the next employer. As I write in my latest book, The Job Seeker’s Script, you have to approach job interviews by telling an exciting story about yourself. Being bored will kill your chances of doing so and getting hired.
4. YOU ARE INVISIBLE
The fourth job situation you’ll want to exit from is invisibility. To be promotable, you need people to see your accomplishments.
To be seen you must take on new initiatives and successfully lead projects, regardless of your level. Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo’s former CEO, tells people in her autobiography, My Life in Full, to “become visible to people outside your work group. People should be saying, ‘You know, she really did a fantastic job.’”
Ask yourself whether the work you are doing is recognized as important and valuable. If no one sees what you’re doing, you’ll reap no rewards from your work.
Does your boss give credit to you in front of others when you’ve done something that makes a difference? Do you get to meet with the executive you’ve prepared a report for? Do other leaders or department heads know the impact of your work? In short, is your contribution recognized by others? If not, it’s time to move on.
5. THE JOB IS A POOR FIT
Fifth, if your current job doesn’t fit your interests and aspirations, you should start looking for something different.
You may be a specialist who has been promoted into management, but you really want to be a specialist. Or you may yearn to lead a team, but you haven’t been given an opportunity to do so. Or you may feel at odds with the culture at your current company. Adam Grant says it’s always good to ask yourself: “Do I want to become more like the people here?” If not, start thinking about other possibilities.
If your current position is a poor fit, you probably won’t do your best work or receive favorable recommendations from your boss and others. And staying is likely to derail your career. You may find it easier to “settle” and live with a poor fit, but in the long run you won’t reach career nirvana if you stay put. Undertake the self-analysis that will lead to positive change, and have the courage to seek out positions where you can flourish.
