How To Know When It’s Time To Move On

Leaving a position can be difficult for many reasons: loyalty to an employer, attachment to your team, even uncertainty surrounding the job search. Regardless of those difficulties, however, it’s better to recognize early when it’s time to move on. Staying too long can result in leaving on bad terms, which no professional needs to do.

Here are 5 signs you should start scouting new positions:

You are no longer challenged in your role.

It’s difficult to feel challenged at work when you’re the most senior person on the team. According to U.S. News & World Report positions in tech are among the top jobs in the nation and are full of opportunities to problem solve. If you’ve found yourself in a role where that’s no longer possible, it’s time to search for a new environment where you can expand your skills and grow.

You feel underpaid and the opportunity to advance is bleak.

It’s important to continually seek opportunities to move up or advance your career. If the possibility of increases in salary or responsibility in your current role is low, it’s time to move on. That’s especially true if you’ve been passed over for a promotion with no good reason.

Your concerns aren’t being heard or appreciated.

It’s one thing to not feel challenged at work, but it’s especially deprecating to feel your voice doesn’t matter. If you’ve expressed concern about specific issues or a desire to be more challenged and those concerns are not being heard, it may be time to find an employer that will provide more opportunity to create impact.

You’re bored at work.

If you’re going to work every day and staring at the clock, that’s not a good sign. Regardless of whether you’re the most senior person on your team or not, it’s critical that you feel challenged on a project-by-project basis. If you’re not – and you’ve communicated to your supervisors you want the chance to work on more stimulating projects to no avail – it’s time to polish your resume.

You’re no longer happy coming to work.

Whether it’s due to a toxic work environment or sheer boredom related to your role, no one wants to spend time in a position they don’t enjoy. Your mental health and well-being should be top priority. If you’re compromising your happiness during working hours, there are plenty of positions – especially in tech – that can offer an alternative.