Six reasons not to quit your job — and signs that show you should

Kenya: Feeling unfulfilled in your current role might make you want to take the first opportunity to change jobs that comes along, but it might not be right for you. Here are five bad reasons to change jobs:

1. Job envy

You may have heard from friends about how much they love their job, or they may have got a pay rise that has made you feel envious. However, they probably aren’t telling you about the downsides: increased hours, bigger workload or added stress.

Every workplace is unique and you can’t compare your career with people around you. Make sure if you are going to leave your job, it’s not just because you’re trying to keep up with your peers.

2. Boredom

You may be feeling unfulfilled in your current role, that you are on top of things and your work now seems tedious.

If that is the case, do you need a completely new role? Or could you stay in your current job, ask for more responsibilities, aim for a promotion, or sign up for extra training? That way you’ll have more options when you do look for a new job.

3. Feeling overworked

The opposite to feeling bored is feeling overworked. A heavy workload and the stress it brings can be a major reason for making people unhappy with their job.

Consider whether there will be quiet periods in the future when the workload will be more manageable, or if you can talk to your manager and see if he or she can help by extending deadlines or adjusting your workload.

4. Having a bad day or week

Bad days happen. Even if you work at a job you enjoy, it’s inevitable you will have the odd bad day when everything seems to go wrong. It may even stretch into a bad week or a bad month and leave you feeling that a new job is the only answer.

However, you should think about the good days you’ve had in the role, and figure out whether the things that made them enjoyable are still there. Don’t let a few off periods rush you into a snap decision.

5. Disliking co-workers

Jobs are a huge part of our lives. We spend most of our time with people we work with and it’s always preferable to get along.

 

As with any group of people, there will be individuals you won’t get on with. But is there a need to change jobs because of a person or two you’re not keen on? Unless you have had a huge falling out, there are ways to tolerate interacting with a colleague you don’t like.

You should try to keep contact with people you don’t like to a minimum. If that’s not possible and you’re forced to work closely with someone you hate, keep it professional. Focus on what you are at work for, what you need to do and want to achieve.

6. Feeling undervalued

Being successful in your role will make you want to aim higher. If you feel your success isn’t being recognised, you may think it’s time to move somewhere else.

However, patience is a virtue and a period of good results doesn’t mean you will be promoted or given a pay rise immediately. Concentrate on keeping the momentum of your impressive productivity going and you should eventually get the recognition you want. If you still don’t, you’ll be in a strong position when it comes to looking for a new role.

Screaming signs

However, there are times when the signs are screaming that it is time to get a new job.

1. Work is making you ill

Achieving the perfect work-life balance is not easy, and even if you are fortunate enough to leave the office at 5pm, this does not guarantee an automatic switch-off from the stresses of work. Of course, we all have times of heightened pressure in our careers,but the point at which it is starting to affect your health, either mentally or physically, is when you know it has gone too far. Health is just too important to risk.

2. You have exhausted promotional opportunities

Career progression will always remain more important to some people than to others, but for those of you who have plans for big things at work, there can be nothing more frustrating than a job that is leading nowhere. It can lead to demotivation and damaging self-doubt.

But before you make any decisions based on a perceived lack of opportunities, be sure that you have truly exhausted all possibilities. Bosses aren’t mind readers. They are often too wrapped up in their own career goals to give proper attention to those of others, so you will need to be proactive in initiating an honest conversation.

3. You lack the passion to perform at your best

A huge number of people fall into jobs and industries rather than targeting them consciously. Sometimes this can work out well, but it can commonly lead to a feeling of disconnect.

Unless you feel sufficiently motivated by the industry and your role within it, you will likely be outperformed by those who are. Before making the decision to leave on this basis, consider your career values, and how they need to be tweaked to improve your situation.