Career Question: Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

Career Question: Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

Most, if not all, have experienced many periods of ups and downs during their careers. There are times that we feel bored all day at work and fairly wretched to do our duties over and over for 5 or 6 straight days. Moreover, getting up everyday for work feels like always waking up on the wrong side of the bed.

Some professionals desperately need and want to change their careers for different reasons. But in most cases, people want to shift careers because their present job is no longer enjoyable, and getting stuck in the same old rut made them feel miserable. If you feel that you’re in a dead-end job, maybe it is time for you to let go and crave for a better career.

Here are some thoughts to ponder on whether you should stay in your current career path or go and find a better opportunity:

1. Experiencing Job Dissatisfaction

Are you consistently unhappy, bored, stressed, and you dread going to work every morning? Evaluate your career situation and find out the things that makes you unmotivated at work. If it’s your duties itself, the people, and the office culture makes you anxious and dislike your job, then perhaps a change of working environment is needed.

2. Longing for a Career Growth

You lack motivation and enthusiasm to do your work because you’re no longer challenged. When you feel too comfortable, it greatly affects your productivity and work performance. Look for new directions that potentially excite and interest you. Don’t get stuck in a comfortable job. Instead, find a place where you can use your full potential. Somewhere you can improve your learning curve and you will feel valued. You are meant for something else, something better in the field that fits you.

3. No Clear Career Goals

Don’t stay in a job if your only reason for working is to pay your bills. Because if you do, you’re only working for money. Working for money is exhausting and frustrating. Your salary can’t make up for the unhappiness and stress you experience all the time at work. Don’t settle for less if you can achieve more. You can get both, job fulfillment and higher paycheck, if you have a clear vision of your goals and you know where to find it.

4. Lack of Job Security

There are rounds of lay-offs happening twice or thrice a year, no increase pay, no promotions, company benefits are no longer available, and the company’s morale is getting low–these turn of events will surely make you a bit worried about your job security. If you have that gut feeling that something is wrong with the company’s management and they’re not disclosing it to the employees, it’s best to secure a new job.

5. Health Is at Risk

Suffering from job burnout can lead to a serious health problem. If you hate your work so much then quit and move on. Don’t just wait for nothing until it kills you. Too much stress will only make your mind and body break down. Remember, no job is worth risking your physical, mental, and emotional health.

Changing career is a very difficult decision. It requires a lot of courage, determination to succeed, and adaptability. Do not leave your present company just because of a simple discontentment or misunderstanding about your work. Weigh things out and leave only for the right reasons. It’s not easy to land a job in a competitive industry so before you hand in your resignation letter, you have to secure a new job first.

 

[Photo Credit: tvN ]