Do I Need A New Job? story in the July 2010 Issue of Explore TACA

Do I Need A New Job?

By Wyatt Myers

It's a question we've all asked ourselves from time to time. Now, here's your surefire guide to knowing whether there's still hope—or it's time to move on.

There's nothing unusual about considering, or even taking, a new job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, American "baby boomers" did it to the tune of almost 10 times on average just between the ages of 18 and 36. Growing evidence suggests that the next generation is changing jobs even more frequently. "According to industry reports, over 20 percent of adults express a high level of dissatisfaction with their current position, and more than 50 percent of adults look for a new job each year," says Peg Hendershot, director of Career Vision (CareerVision.org).

But these numbers are only slightly reassuring: They don't replace the apprehension we feel from giving up the sure thing for the great unknown—the job we know versus the challenges that might lie ahead.

If you find yourself looking forward to that "sure thing" less and less every day, then it may be time to find a new place of employment. We surveyed a panel of career experts to determine just when is the right time to take the plunge into a new job.

The sky is falling company-wide
Beyond what's happening to you on a personal level at work, the most glaring indication that it's time to start looking around is if everyone else is panicking. "If you ever sense that your department may have layoffs—if they cut budgets drastically, put hiring on hold, or there is not a whole lot of work to keep you busy—these are all signs to start looking internally in another department or externally," says Carly Drum, the managing director of Drum Associates (DrumAssociates.com). "Also, if the company is outsourcing several departments and cutting costs internally in other areas, this may be a sign of a merger or acquisition. This can be a great opportunity for employees-or it can cause layoffs."

Reviews = bad news
Some things (like layoffs, budget cuts and outsourcing) are out of your control. But if one of the things you can control, your performance and salary review, has turned sour, then it may be time to explore your options. "Performance reviews are a good time to see what your supervisor thinks of you. Often during the review process, your supervisor will point out things that you need to improve on," adds Drum. "If they give you the impression that there is no upward opportunity for you in your current role, it may be time to look for another job."

Your role in the workplace has changed
One of the most frustrating realizations for an employee is that a great situation has now gone bad. And people have wasted many months attempting to regain that lost glory.

Tom Gimbel, president of the Chicago-based staffing and recruiting firm the LaSalle Group, offers five other roles that you never want to play in the workplace: the Dunce (always making mistakes); the Martyr (always your fault); the Passed-Over (always missing promotions); the Old Fogey (always asking, "What's a blog?"); and the Never-Any-Credit (always getting snubbed).

You feel trapped
Few warning signs are as dangerous as the feeling of being trapped in a dead-end job. The result can be a slippery slope of frustration, apathy, and worst of all, inactivity. "When you are in the wrong job, you lose the ability to see a way out. You become consumed with your unhappiness and forget that something better is around the corner," says Deborah Brown-Volkman, PCC, a career, life and mentor coach and the president of Surpass Your Dreams, Inc., (SurpassYourDreams.com). "If you were in the right job, your thinking would be clearer."

You're dreaming of greener pastures
Not only is changing jobs common, even completely changing career paths has become standard in the world's ever-evolving job marketplace. According to a recent survey of almost 2,000 global executives, more than three in five anticipate making a major career change at some point in their lifetimes.

When you're constantly considering that career change now, that's a clear sign it's time to start exploring it more seriously. "If you find yourself dreaming of a role that your current job isn't really preparing you for, it's time to think about the track you're on," says Vince Thompson, a principal at the consulting company Middleshift.

Politics trump performance
Nothing is as perplexing to the average employee as giving it your all, only to see those around you get ahead. Unfortunately, it's an all-too-common reality in today's hostile business environment: Managers will promote their friends and allies over those who work the hardest. "If promotions and assignments to the best projects are determined by favoritism and politics, rather than performance and excellence, that's a sign somebody is stuck in a dead-end job," says Neil Fiore, a career coach and author of Awaken Your Strongest Self (NeilFiore.com).

You look at the week ahead with dread
While all these signs are worth considering, as is often the case, perhaps the greatest warning sign is the simplest. And it comes to us courtesy of Diane Lewis of Executive Dimensions: "My big test is this: Take a look in the mirror, and ask yourself, 'How do you feel on Sunday night?'"

Make a graceful exit
Kerry Patterson, a workplace expert and coauthor of Crucial Conversations, offers the following tips to exit stage left in a dignified fashion:

1) Don't try to fix your boss. If the main reason you're leaving is your boss, it's too late now to try to remedy the situation. You might be able to help matters in other ways (see You're dreaming of greener pastures).

2) Don't try to get even. Though this may feel like a great time to exact your revenge, it's best to keep those lips sealed. Any bad blood could hurt you in ways you can't now imagine.

3) Don't burn your bridges. Any confrontations with bosses or coworkers could lead to poor references for a future job. So remain professional, and only approach your boss when you have an offer in your hands.

4) Don't bad-mouth your previous boss. In interviews for potential new jobs, bad-mouthing only reflects poorly on you, not your current boss. Since you've decided to move on, it's time to let these feelings go.

5) Do request an exit interview. An "exit interview" is the time when you can make a difference and prevent your replacement from going through what you had to endure. Be honest and stick to a noble motive — even though you're leaving, you want to see the organization improve.

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