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Changing jobs can be a scary thing.

When you change jobs, you’re leaving behind the familiar for the unknown, which can be scary enough. You are also often leaving behind job security; skipping out on a job you could do for a long time for one you could have trouble getting the hang of.

However, if you are stagnating in your career or if your workplace has become a House of Horrors, changing jobs is a must. Here are a few ways to tell if it’s time to make the leap:

You aren’t feeling inspired

You can find inspiration in even the most simple, repetitive jobs. You can be inspired to get recognition as a great contributor and earn a promotion. Or, maybe there’s a possibility you can take on more interesting job duties.

However, if you don’t have anything to look forward to, it might be time to start looking for a new job.

The work environment has become toxic

If you’re always looking over your shoulder, trying to figure out what others are saying about you or your contributions are more likely to receive scrutiny and criticism than praise, it’s time to find a new job.

A toxic work environment can have devastating consequences not only for your career, but for your mental well-being as well. Don’t be a hero and tough it out. Just get out.

A vacation wouldn’t help

Sometimes, all it takes is a week-long vacation to make you appreciate the better points of your current job situation, and other times a break won’t help at all. If you think a long vacation won’t recharge your batteries – it’ll only put off the misery, then it is time for a change.

You haven’t picked up new skills or achievements in a while

In order to grow your career, you need to be gaining new skills or racking up new accomplishments with some regularity. If that isn’t happening, you need to ask yourself if a holding pattern is what you want for your career right now.

Update and review your resume to see the number of accomplishments or new skills you have picked up in the past 12 months. If there aren’t any, you could be stagnating in your current job.

Try improving your situation by looking for ways to innovate around you or taking on new kinds of projects. If those opportunities aren’t available, and talking to your manager about stagnation doesn’t help, it’s time to start looking.

Is the grass actually greener?

If working the same job with a different employer wouldn’t improve your job satisfaction, it might be time for a more drastic career move. You may need to pursue a different career altogether, go back to school to pick up the education necessary to advance in your current field, or you may need to strike out on your own and start a new business.

At Action Group Staffing, we regularly help people in various stages of their career, from entry-level to nearing-retirement. Please contact us today to find out how we can help you.


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