Is it time for a Spring Review of Your Career?

February is the month of ‘love’ followed by March which heralds spring fever. As the days get longer and we emerge from a bleak winter for many of us, it is a time of reflection especially related to our career. 

While deciding to leave your current position and search for a new opportunity elsewhere can seem like a nerve-wracking experience, it may be time to take the plunge if the passion you once had for your role has fizzled out. If your thirst for advancement is stronger than ever, but your employer just isn’t fulfilling your needs, then now is maybe when you choose to make a change. 

Here are five signs that your job just isn’t doing it for you anymore.  

1. You Dread Mondays

We spend most of our waking hours at work, so it makes sense that we would want to pursue a position that allows us to explore our interests and showcase our skills. If you spend every Sunday night in a state of panic, dreading the sound of your alarm the next morning, then this is a clear sign something is not right.  

Even if you do not regard your professional schedule with a feeling of dismay, but you spend most of your time at the office feeling overwhelmed and depressed it is time to rethink your options.  

2. Your Skills Are Not Being Used

If you have trained all your life and you have all the talents required to excel in your role, but you are still only another staff member at your chosen business, this might leave you feeling unfulfilled and unhappy. While an opportunity for advancement might not be available immediately, when you are ready to take the next step in your career plan, you can always ask your line manager for more responsibility.  

If time continues to pass by and you find that you are not moving anywhere new in your current role, then it is time to ask your specialist recruitment team to help you find a company that’s willing to take full advantage of your particular education and experience.  

3. You Feel Out of Place

“Culture” is particularly vital to job satisfaction today, particularly among millennial employees. If you do not feel as though you fit well with your team or you are always struggling to be understood by your peers, then this can quickly lead to frustration.  

While you do not always have to like the people, you work with to feel happy at work; you do need a generally positive atmosphere if you are going to feel motivated and engaged every day. There’s always the option to look for a different position with a brand that shares your personality if you are struggling to feel at “home” where you are.  

4. Your Company Will Not Invest in You

There are plenty of things that can have an impact on how happy you feel in your chosen role. “Employee engagement” is a term that’s become something of a buzzword for the recruitment industry, but there’s a reason why this phrase is so crucial. Engaged staff members are happier, more committed and more creative at work.  

If the organisation that hires you is not committed to doing what it takes to cultivate engagement, then this may be a sign that they do not take their people seriously. If that is the case, then you’d probably be better off looking for employment with a company who recognise the benefits of engaged employees and who would welcome your skill set and ambitions.  

5. You Just Can’t Grow

Finally, in a good relationship, two people learn how to grow together, complementing each other’s strengths and weaknesses on the path to a mutual goal. The same thing is true in a business relationship.  

The whole point of a great career is that you regularly find new ways to enjoy yourself, expand your talents, and become better at what you do. When your boss recognises your need for growth and implements the development strategies you discussed in your induction plan, you feel satisfied and appreciated.  

If there’s no room for you to grow in your position, and despite your best efforts, you cannot unlock any doors for new training or education opportunities, then it is likely time to move on. 

Ultimately, only you can decide whether it is time to bring your professional relationship to an end or not. Sometimes, all you need to do is listen to your instincts, and you will realise that something just isn’t right. Whatever you do, don’t settle for a career that makes you unhappy. The right role is out there; you just need to find it.