Happy New Year! The new year is a time for self-reflection and change. If you’re not happy at work, it might be time to change things up. Are you bored or distracted? Is it time to gather your self-discipline and focus your efforts or is it time to pursue a new challenge elsewhere? It’s a new year, and it might be time for a new job, it’s your choice.
Here are the five signs you’re stuck in a dead-end job.
There’s no room to grow
There other frustrated employees around you seeking advancement, but there aren’t enough opportunities for promotion. Either the management doesn’t move people up, or they don’t allow them to expand their roles. People are relatively stagnant, and their job description is fixed. Instead of taking on new challenges and learning new skills, everyone does the same thing day after day with no end in sight. If no one else is moving up, you probably won’t either.
Your ideas are shut down
If you’re making suggestions for better efficiency or productivity that aren’t welcome, chances are you’re stuck in a dead-end job. A good manager who’s interested in your professional development would support your innovative ideas. Even if your vision isn’t possible for some reason, they’ll explain to you what those reasons are and point you in the right direction, eager to see what you come up with.
You’re being given last-choice jobs
In other words, your manager is assigning you the work that should be theirs, but they don’t want to do themselves. That’s probably a sign that you’ll never be moved up because your employer is using you as a crutch. Otherwise, if you get promoted, who will do those undesirable tasks?
Your manager isn’t supportive
If you’ve approached your boss in the past to discuss your ambitions and professional growth and they didn’t seem to care, you’re probably in a dead-end job. A supportive boss would help you find professional development—courses to take and seminars to attend—as well as offer you new responsibilities and roles that will stretch your skills and teach you more. Even something as simple as offering you constructive criticism and productive feedback when you make a mistake is a sign that your boss is supportive and wants to see you improve. If they seem satisfied with the status quo, they’re probably not looking to advance you.
Other people are leaving
If there’s pretty high turnover at your company, people being hired and leaving a short time later, they’re doing so for a reason, so be on the lookout for what that is. Either the company’s a sinking ship, there’s some morale problem, or there’s a management problem. Regardless of the issue, if other people are leaving en masse, consider that a red flag and start updating your resume.
For more tips on making a career move that optimizes your skills and talents at the same time, it keeps you engaged and fulfilled, contact our team today.