Most employees are undecided about whether they should change careers or stay with their current employer. It’s not uncommon for people to decide it’s time to change jobs; in fact, research from the United States shows that people change jobs frequently throughout their lives, and some even have multiple careers. The question of whether it’s time to change jobs is still a difficult one to answer, and it should be based on a number of factors.
Many people make this decision because they are dissatisfied with their current position. Before deciding that it’s time to change jobs, think about what’s causing your dissatisfaction and whether it can be fixed at your current workplace. Perhaps you are underpaid, and you can improve your situation by negotiating your salary. You could be unhappy at home, which is causing you to be unhappy at work. Before jumping to another job or quitting without one, give this some thought, perhaps by writing or making a list of the positives and negatives in your current position.
The reasons listed below are some of the most common indicators that it’s time to change jobs. You might not be getting enough pay for your experience or dedication to your job, and the company shows no signs of increasing your pay. You might not get along with your coworkers on a social level. You have managers or management who do not manage constructively or well, causing you a lot of stress or dissatisfaction.
Another reason you may want to change jobs is if you are aware that your company is planning layoffs. If the company is planning to lay off a large number of employees, it may be in your best interest to move on to a better company or career as soon as possible. Most people who have been laid off from a large company cite the difficulty of finding work when they are unemployed as a reason for taking another job while they are still employed. Alternatively, if you believe you will be fired soon, changing jobs now may save you from having to say you were fired on your resume.
The problem with changing jobs is that, as most people know in these uncertain economic times, layoffs are common. When you start a new job, you usually lose seniority in the company. This could affect how likely you are to be laid off in a new job environment, and it could make the prospect of changing jobs terrifying. When you think it’s time to change jobs, you should weigh the risks versus the benefits, and you might want to set aside things like hiring bonuses for emergency funds in case you change jobs and then lose them.
You should also determine whether a problem is caused by your work environment or your work as an employee. Changing jobs may not solve the problem if you are regularly disrespectful of others, late to work, or absent from work, or if you have a history of being unable to get along with coworkers or managers. Examine your work history to see if you should change the way you work rather than the location where you work.
According to some career counselors, you should always be looking for your next job because many people advance in their field by switching employers. Furthermore, many people believe that if new and exciting job opportunities arise, you should always consider changing jobs. This is generally sound advice, and having an active resume or a headhunter looking for your next great job doesn’t hurt. Even a weekly scan of the newspaper or sites like Craigslist can reveal whether you are being fairly compensated and cared for at your current job. It never hurts to look around and see what else is out there in your field, as well as to get your name out there to employers who might be interested in you now or in the future.