Knowing when it's time to go

Knowing When It's Time to Go
by Roberta Chinsky Matuson

Change is difficult for many of us, so we often ignore the signs that indicate it is time to move on. Often, it isn't until a work situation becomes unbearable that we finally decide it's time to change jobs. By the time we reach this point, we feel desperate and are willing to take the next thing that comes along, which might not be any better than the situation we left. If you learn how to recognize the signs that indicate it is time to leave a job, you will be able to plan your next step rather than be forced to make a quick move just to get out. So what are some of these signs you should watch for?

1. Key personnel no longer ask for your opinion.

If you used to be invited to participate in meetings where important decisions were made and you are no longer invited, it may be time to think about your other options. Management may have lost confidence in you. If your opinion is no longer valued, how effective can you be in your role?

2. You have been passed up for a promotion.

Your company has been grooming you for a better position and has assured you that you are next in line. But they fill the job with an outside candidate. Somewhere along the line, someone has not been totally honest with you. Is this really the type of organization you want to work for? Can you be guaranteed this won't happen again?

3. You have gone from being a stellar performer to doing nothing right.

You have always been praised for your work. Now every time you complete a project, you are told you are not meeting expectations. Has there been a change in management lately? Perhaps the new team would like to bring in its own people? Why wait to go out on a bad note? You might want to start putting your feelers out now.

4. The plum assignments keep going to other people.

You are in your job because you want to learn. Yet every time an opportunity comes up for a challenging assignment, it goes to someone else. It is clear that you are the one in the department who will be doing the lower-level work. If you have already mastered those skills and it looks like your situation won't be changing, it may be time to find a position where there is actually room to grow in your job.

5. Your boss tells the staff he is open to suggestions. But is he open to suggestions from you?

You are constantly suggesting how to improve your department. Your suggestions are ignored. It is obvious that your opinion is not being valued. Ask yourself again, why are you still in this job?

6. A larger company is buying out your company.

Although management insists there will be not be any staff reductions, you will need to look at the reality. Do they really need two of you? Remember, you are much more employable if you are currently working. If you are not willing to move to the new corporate office, then perhaps you should see what other opportunities are available close by.

7. Everyone in management seems to be bailing.

Do they know something you don't? Do your best to find out what is really going on and then decide if you should start looking.

8. Work is not fun anymore.

This is perhaps the best sign that it is time to move on. After all, you spend most of your waking hours at work. If you no longer enjoy what you are doing, then why are you still there?

Keep your eyes and ears open for these signs and make sure you keep your resume updated, just in case your time to go arrives sooner than you expect. Being prepared will make the transition that much easier to make.