It’s been termed, ‘The Great Resignation’. During April, May and June this year, the U.S. Department of Labour recorded that a total of 11.5 million workers quit their jobs. In the UK, one in twenty workers resigned from their roles post-lockdown.
So, what’s going on? COVID-19, that’s what! In the last 18 months, millions of office workers have spent long periods of time working from home and guess what? A lot of them liked it. The greater flexibility of working hours, the chance to do some housework throughout the day, the lack of a long commute in rush hour traffic – what’s not to like, right?
Others have found that working from home has been a struggle. These workers have missed the hussle and bussle of working in an office environment and have found it difficult to work remotely, conducting all of their meetings online. However, the pandemic has given these people a chance to reflect on what their career priorities are and has provided them with the time to focus on what they want to achieve in the future. In many cases, this has led them to hunt for a new job or even an entirely different career.
With the majority of companies now calling time on working from home and demanding a return to the office, are you feeling like it may be time to look for a new job? If you’re on the fence and unsure of how you’re feeling about your job right now, then you’re not alone. Whilst major considerations such as benefits, job security and flexibility are all important, there are a whole host of other elements to think about when deciding whether to go on the hunt for new employment.
In today’s blog, we’re going to look at the top signs that you’re ready to leave your job and look for something new. It can be tricky to decide whether to leave, especially if you’ve been with a company for a very long time. Starting anything new can be scary and intimidating so you want to make sure that you’re leaving your job for the right reasons.
Your Job Has Changed Significantly
Many things have changed during the pandemic and the responsibilities of your job could well be one of them. With staff furloughed and team members quitting for pastures new, it’s possible that your job role now looks significantly different to when you first started it. You may have extra responsibilities, an increased workload or both to contend with.
The question is, have you been adequately compensated for taking on these additional tasks? Or have you been working two jobs for the price of one? Is this a temporary solution or is it likely to continue? Are you enjoying it or finding it overwhelming?
If you have been burdened with extra work and have had no conversations with your manager or HR team about pay increases, a change to your job title or a promotion, then you really need to start having them. If you’re unhappy with your circumstances and really don’t enjoy doing all the additional tasks, then talk to them about it. If they don’t come back to you with what you want to hear, then it may be time to look for something new.
You Find Yourself Frequently Bored
We’ve all been there. Work has been slow and you’ve had to deal with the same issues over and over again. You feel like you could do your job with your eyes shut. You’ve lost the passion for your role that once made your job feel exciting and something you looked forward to doing.
If you feel this way on a regular basis then it may be time to change things up, particularly if you feel like you’re not being challenged in any way and your motivation has ground to a halt. If you generally like the company that you’re working for, then why not have a conversation with your line-manager and ask them if there are any new opportunities available or projects that you could become involved with? You may be surprised to find that they have new roles coming up that would be of interest to you.
If you have lost all love for the company in general and maybe even the industry that you’re working in, then it’s definitely time for you to look for a new direction. You may even want to reach out to a company such as careershifters who will be able to provide you with advice on shifting careers and help you to review your transferable skills. There are jobs and careers available that you might not even be aware of and some expert advice could help you to find the job of your dreams.
You Dread Going to Work
If you’re waking up in the morning and your first thought is ‘I don’t want to get out of bed’ or ‘I just can’t face it’ then you definitely have an issue with your job. If you’d rather call in sick then face another day with your colleagues then it’s time to question why you’re feeling this way. Our advice is to put together a list of all the things that are making you not want to go to work (even if you’re working from home).
Are there things on the list that can easily be resolved? Is your list made up of personal fears rather than things to do with work? If you have a lot going on in your life right now then it’s always best to talk to someone about it. Go and see your doctor and explain how you’re feeling. It could be that you may be experiencing depression or a similar health issue and they can help you with that.
If your list is filled with many negatives about your job than it could be time to hand in your notice. There is no point in being unhappy with your work. We spend the majority of our lives working so it’s important that it’s satisfying and enjoyable. If you’re constantly unhappy with your job and nothing can be done to change it then brush off your CV and start following a new path.
You’re Constantly Stressed
Our health should never be sacrificed for our job. If you find yourself consistently stressed or worried about meeting deadlines and managing your workload, you may be finding it difficult to switch off. Stress isn’t just a mental malady and can affect you physically as well. If you’re experiencing stomach aches or upsets or headaches on a regular basis, then it may be time to seek help from your doctor.
If your work is having a negative impact on you both physically and mentally then you should first talk to your line manager or HR department and explain the situation. If the company or company culture is not supportive of your needs then it’s time to get out. There are plenty of companies that value their employees and support their needs – go and join one.
You Bring Your Negativity Home
If you come home from work at the end of the day and find yourself constantly talking to your family about how shit it is then it’s definitely time to move on! Your friends and family will probably try and support you at first and look for solutions you can use but if nothing works and you’re still unhappy, they will eventually lose patience with you for not doing anything to change your situation.
Bringing your negativity home will sour your family life. Your partner and kids don’t deserve your bad mood or your anger at your situation. Take the bull by the horns and quit. It’s not only your happiness that’s important. When your negativity starts to affect your loved ones, you need to do something about it, fast.
You Dislike the People You Work With
Working during the pandemic may have enabled you to see members of your team in a new light. Perhaps they showed you their true colours? Or they were always difficult to work with but working remotely has exacerbated the situation? Whatever the situation, if you’re constantly finding it difficult to work with your team and your boss, then it’s time to re-evaluate your position.
If you’ve tried to build bridges and settle your differences but their behaviour has not changed, it may be worth reporting the issue to HR. However, if it has gotten to the point where you need to contact HR then it you may be working in a toxic environment and going down that avenue could make the situation worse. Don’t let yourself be driven out of the organisation by other team members but do prioritise your happiness above all else.
You Have Little Work/Life Balance
Do you find that your working hours stretch on a daily basis? Do you struggle to find the time to spend with family and friends? When work takes over your life it can be all-consuming and exhausting. If you’re regularly working late into the evening and on the weekends then it’s time to take a step back and question your priorities.
No job should infringe on the time you spend outside of your working hours. Being diligent is great but the more you make a habit of it, the more you will find your company will start to expect it from you. Draw a line in the sand and just say ‘no’ early on or you could end up with more work than life.
If you are now in the position where your company also wants you back in the office full-time, this may infringe on any kind of balance you’ve managed to strike whilst working from home. With many companies now offering hybrid working with 2 or 3 days in the office and the rest from home, you have every right to challenge their thinking, particularly if you’ve hit all your deadlines and smashed all your targets. If your company isn’t willing to give a valued team member a certain degree of flexibility then it’s time to look for one that will.
Our jobs are an integral part of our lives, so it’s important to be happy in our work. Although it may be difficult to make the leap into looking for a new role, don’t ever be afraid to start a new chapter in your working life. Now that we have lived through a pandemic and spent a considerable amount of time working from home, it’s time to look at what the future holds. Only you can decide on the next step…
SJB
So Just Be 