Are you excited to go to work each day?  Do you jump out of bed ready to meet a new exciting challenge?  Do you have passion for what you do?

I hope so, but if you dread each Monday and find yourself counting the days until Friday then maybe it’s time to consider a new role?

I find that many people are just ‘content’ in their role.  Unfortunately, this leads to complacency and that’s the danger zone.  Complacency tends to generate excuses (“I’ll put up with this for just another few months”; “I just don’t have the time to do a job search right now”) and this leads to an easy but unfulfilling compromise where fear holds you back.

I have seen too many smart and talented people who have stayed in ‘just okay’ jobs for too long.  Then when they decide to move on, they’ve been out of the job market for so long that they can’t even take the first step to update their resume let alone apply for jobs.  They’re gripped by fear of re-entering a new and very different market place from what they know.  They have forgotten what it’s like to be interviewed.  They might feel inadequate compared to their peers and speculate that it’s too late for them to change.  These feelings of fear can be overwhelming and the easy way out is to postpone the search, ignore the matter at hand and to stay in your less-than-perfect job.

My advice to anyone who wants to advance professionally is to do this – Do NOT get complacent.  In fact, be sure to check in regularly with yourself about your career happiness and your goals to ensure that your job is giving you the satisfaction that you want, and need.

So, what are the tell-tale signs?  Do you relate to any of these?  If so, remember that a good recruiter can guide you through this time, calm the fear and assist you through the process.  Find a good one and ask for their help.  If they’re not willing to spend a little bit of time with you, then find someone who will.

1. You’re Living the Status Quo

You have been in the same company and position without any advancement for the past three years.  If you want to move your career forward, and put yourself forward for positions over the years, but have been overlooked, then it’s time to look elsewhere.

2. You’re Not Learning

This is a big one for me.  If you’re not continually improving and challenging yourself this is a sign that you need to move on.  You should be learning something new each day and improving on your core skills.  If you are having to constantly ask to be involved in a new project or to attend conferences without much success, then this is a sign your company is not invested in your career development at the level that you want them to be.

3. Feedback

The best manager will spend the time with you to offer advice, guidance and positive reinforcement. If yours doesn’t then you owe it to yourself to look elsewhere.

4. There is a Constant Exodus

The revolving door situation where you find you are attending going-away drinks every other Friday?  Does everyone around you seem to be looking for a new role?  If you notice a pattern of disgruntled employees (especially the good ones) this usually indicates there are better jobs out there and you should take note.

5. Regular Restructuring

If your company is constantly announcing a re-org or shuffling management around this may indicate leadership issues.  Sometimes re-orgs are a good thing and offer employees a chance to stand up and shine but more often than not, they signal turbulence.  A recent candidate told me that she had four managers in the space of 12 months!  Now, that can’t be good.

6. Head-hunters Want You

Those annoying In-Mails, LinkedIn requests and Emails from recruiters may not result in a new job but don’t ignore them completely.  If you are receiving a number of contact requests from recruiters then your skills may be in demand.  Do some market research and call these recruiters back as they are the best source of information as to what’s happening in the market place.

7. It Just Doesn’t Feel Right Anymore

Beyond all of the above, I always say to people to ‘follow their gut instincts’.  If you feel you may be better off somewhere else, then go exploring, see what’s out there and at least find out what your worth in the current market place. Acquiring relevant market information will help you discover whether your gut instinct is supported by the evidence.

Before you go handing in your resignation, I encourage you to speak with your manager and see what internal opportunities there may be for you. However, if you are meeting a brick wall then it may be time to move on.  Considering we spend the majority of our lives in work, you owe it to yourself to at least evaluate your job situation.  Even if you are perfectly happy in your current job you should make it a habit to check in with yourself or with a trusted recruiter at least every six months.  Not only is it a good opportunity to review your accomplishments and regularly update your resume, but you’ll also keep on top of the current market conditions in your industry.

Best case scenario you will find more satisfaction out of your current job, or you’ll discover new, exciting opportunities!