Kelly, a program manager at a Midtown nonprofit, has spent the past three years diligently working her way up the organization’s ranks — only to recently find herself pondering an escape route.
“Basically, I’m dying to get out of here,” says the 27-year-old, who’s fed up with her job’s heavy administrative component and concedes it’s unlikely to improve. “I’m conflicted because I really respect my bosses, but at the same time I’m eager for a change. I feel trapped.”
Her situation — feeling stifled, unfulfilled and increasingly tempted by the idea of a change of scenery — is a familiar predicament for countless employees, including those who’ve clung to their jobs during the recession and may be starting to feel their options are broadening. But how do you know when the itch to move on is not just a passing fancy, but a real indication that it is time to hit the road?
“Those feelings of restlessness and discontent are there to guide you,” says career coach Jeanne Grabowski. “It’s your job to listen to what they’re trying to show you.”
But that doesn’t mean it’s time to bail at the first glimmer of dissatisfaction, any more than a spat with your boyfriend means it’s time to start dating. While there are no hard and fast rules for deciding when it’s time to move on, career experts cite a number of red flags to look for, both within your company and within yourself.
You’ve reached a dead end. Once you’ve achieved the things — a title, a level of expertise — that attracted you to your job in the first place, a lack of further growth opportunity can be a deal-breaker.
“If you can’t move up or at least move horizontally and continue expanding, then maybe it’s time to look for the next opportunity,” says Russell Bishop, an executive coach and author of “Workarounds That Work: How to Conquer Anything That Stands in Your Way at Work.” “If you stay past what you hoped you’d get [from the experience], you’re going to start frustrating yourself.”
You don’t want your boss’ job. Things often look different from the top. So ask yourself, does the view from up there appeal to you?
“If you look at the people above you and realize you don’t enjoy the functions they have,” it could be a signal that you’re spinning your wheels, says executive recruiter Vedica Jain-Qalbani.
The thrill is gone. It’s one thing to get the occasional “case of the Mondays”; it’s another to have a hard time remembering what you even liked about your current gig in the first place.
Alexandra Levit, workplace speaker and author of “New Job, New You,” recommends asking yourself this question: “If you didn’t need the money, could you walk away from your job tomorrow and not look back?” If the answer is an unambiguous yes, “it may be time to move on,” she says.
For Toby Tucker Peters, who enjoyed nine years as a fashion editor at InStyle, a sudden lack of passion was hard to ignore. Especially when she found herself in the front row at John Galliano’s Paris runway show and realized all she could think about was how much she missed her family.
“That was it for me,” says Peters, who left the plum gig to start her own golf-clothing line. “I knew it was time for a change.”
The ship is sinking. Sometimes it’s not you, it’s them — like when trouble is brewing on a companywide level. If you see signs of deep-seated problems — heavy turnover at the senior level or impending layoffs — it may be wise to jump ship before things go from bad to worse, notes Jain-Qalbani.
The strain isn’t worth it. A dose of stress is a normal part of many jobs, but when your work becomes so draining that your personal life is taking a hit, it’s time to reevaluate.
“Ask yourself, ‘What’s the value I’m getting from being in this job versus what it’s costing me internally?’” says Bishop. “If you have to schedule two hours with your family on Saturday because you’ve got so much work to do, that’s not going to work out so well over time.”
You’ve got a plan. Even in the most hopeless situation, “don’t leave just to leave,” warns Grabowski. “Leave with purpose, clarity and direction toward the next step in your career.”
It worked for Harman Kochar, who after two years at a consulting firm felt like he was “driving on cruise control — everything was fine, but there was no challenge.”
Realizing he was eager for an entrepreneurial pursuit, he spent a few months dreaming up business ideas and bouncing them off venture-capitalist friends. By the time he gave notice, he had a handful of viable options — one of which became NookOut.com, the restaurant-deal site he launched in February.
You’ve already checked out. If you’ve reached a point where you’ve started disengage from your work and colleagues, the end is probably nigh, says Grabowski. Beware if you’re building resentment toward your boss, isolating yourself from colleagues or otherwise mentally “quitting.” Such behavior can not only “perpetuate your dissatisfaction,” she says, it can hurt performance to the point where you find yourself being asked to leave before you’ve had the chance to decide on your own.
MAKING THE BEST OF IT
If you’re in a rut, it might be possible to improve your lot without leaving. In his recent book “Workarounds that Work,” executive coach Russell Bishop offers these tips:
* Identify the complaint. Pinpoint what you think could be improved — maybe communication among your team needs work, or you covet a different department.
* Look within. Consider what you can do on your own to improve your lot, be it researching solutions, talking to others, even just changing your outlook. It can create an upward spiral, notes Bishop: “Somebody will notice that you made something better, and that may turn things around.”
* Go to the big dogs. Immediately running to higher-ups is a common mistake, says Bishop. Instead, approach bosses only when you have solid examples of how you’ve tried to fix your situation and can suggest solutions. “You become a contributor, and not just another whiner,” he says.
* Make lemonade. If nothing works, use your actions as talking points when you interview for a new job. Instead of complaining, impress hiring managers with your efforts.