1. Have I gone as far as I can go? If the possibilities for advancement and responsibility - and higher salary - are no longer existent in your present job, it may be a good time to investigate a move to a new position with greater growth potential. While you're searching, consider adding some new skills to your resume to make you a more attractive candidate.
2. Are my abilities worth more in other places? Working for a small business or a not-for-profit organization may have many perks, but salary isn't usually one of them. Sometimes, moving onto a job at a larger firm or company can mean improved wages and benefits that smaller or nonprofit operations cannot offer.
3. Is my health being affected by staying in this job? Stress can come from a variety of sources, including a brazen boss, a toxic work atmosphere, unreasonable expectations - just to name a few. If you dread going to work each day, finding a new job may be the best way to break free of those constraints that can have a negative affect on your mental and physical health.
4. Am I bored at work? You may excel at what you do, but if it's all become very routine, you may lose interest. Without interest, boredom can quickly set in. Taking on new roles and responsibilities, either in a current job or a new one, can keep energy and enthusiasm high. Learning new skills can prepare you to take on more.
5. Am I part of a dying industry segment? Face it: No one wants to admit that the company or business they love is losing ground. And generally speaking, healthcare is a booming field. But with the constant onslaught of technology, it's not unusual for jobs to become extinct, or to change so much as to be unrecognizable. If that's happening where you are, it may be time to find work in an area with more sustainability, even if that means retraining and acquiring new skills.
Thinking about changing jobs? You are not alone. Statistics from the Bureau of Labor say that, at any one time, 75 percent of the workforce is on the lookout for the next opportunity. And career experts say the average worker changes jobs at least seven times during the wage-earning years. Moving from one position to the next not only opens the door to increased salaries; it also banishes that “daily grind” and creates enthusiasm and excitement about the work itself.
Along with a possible increase in salary and opportunities, there are other reasons to consider changing job tracks. Read over the following questions, and then see Page X for our suggestions.
1. Have I gone as far as I can go?
2. Are my abilities worth more in other places?
3. Is my health being affected by staying in this job?
4. Am I bored at work?
5. Am I part of a dying industry segment?
