Feeling Restless? Tools For Deciding Whether It Is Time To Look For A New Job

Every professional gets restless from time to time. No matter how much you might like your job, it is natural for job satisfaction to ebb and flow.  So what do you do when that sense of restlessness sticks around longer than usual? Is it time to look for greener pastures, or you should you just continue to ride it out? Here are three things you can do that will help you determine whether it is time to start looking for your next job:

Make a List of Your Likes and Dislikes

You may have some ideas of what you like and dislike about your current job, but putting these items on paper can help bring your current satisfaction level into focus. Make two columns and list what you specifically like and dislike about your job, and what you do not like about your job. Once you have the list, rank them in order of importance. This way you can visually see a list of not only what you like and dislike, but what you find important in your professional career. You may realize that the likes heavily outweigh the dislikes, or that there are only a few things keeping you from taking your talents elsewhere.

Map What Your Career Path Would Look Like If You Stayed With The Company

Your desired career path may have changed since you started with your company, so it is good to confirm you are still on-course. Do you see a path from your current position to reach your goals? Is there a clear ladder you can climb in the company?  If you have a clear path you can follow to your goals, it may be worth riding out your restlessness. On the other hand, if you find that you are likely to be stuck in the same position without a clear way up, it may be time to move to a place where you will have more future options.

Consider Your “Sunday Night Blues”

It’s natural to not look forward to going back to work on Monday. In fact, three-quarters of all American workers get what some people dub the “Sunday Night Blues” as the weekend comes to an end. Considering that a majority of people are satisfied with their jobs, getting those Sunday blues is not necessarily a sign that you should look for a new job, but unpacking what exactly is giving you the blues can be worthwhile. It’s one thing to dislike your commute, or if you are dreading a certain project that has been giving you headaches, but if you shudder at the idea of another week doing your normal workload, or dealing with your boss/co-workers, that may be a sign that you need to look for another job.