It can be difficult to know when to start looking for a new role.
This article outlines some of the subtle signs that it may be time to start looking for a new role. It’s easy to remain in a role due to loyalty, procrastination, or because you dread updating your CV, or attending interviews. Whilst sometimes it may seem easier to delay a career move, it is always best to start looking for a new role as soon as you see the early signs, so you can take the time to find the right role, rather than waiting until you are desperate to leave.
Some of the signs it’s time to update your CV and apply for new roles are:
You’re always complaining about work
For most people, the first (and most subtle) sign is that they start thinking negatively about their job. Work then starts to dominate their conversations with friends and family, whether it’s discussions about pressure, their boss or their colleagues.
Next time you’re chatting to friends, notice the topics you discuss, and if work starts to dominate the conversation, consider a preliminary job search to see what other roles are being advertised.
You don’t feel challenged
Challenges provide an opportunity to develop our skills, self-confidence and resilience. When a role starts to feel mundane, it usually means that you have achieved as much as you can within that particular role. If you like the company, it may be worth speaking to your manager to see whether there are any new projects or tasks which you can be involved with. If not, perhaps it’s time to look for a new role.
At some points in your life, you may not want a particularly challenging role, perhaps you have a young family, caring responsibilities, or health challenges. Perhaps you are planning a family and your current company offers a generous maternity or paternity package, which is more important to you than career development.
You feel unvalued
Perhaps you feel like your manager and colleagues don’t appreciate you or recognise your contribution. Perhaps you have been overlooked for promotion, or feel like you deserve a higher salary, or bonus. Regardless of the reason why you feel undervalued, this can be a gentle nudge to take action.
If your concern is related to salary, it is worth comparing your salary to others within a similar industry and location to ensure you are being paid the market rate for your experience. This is called salary benchmarking. You can look at the salaries advertised for similar roles, or use a salary benchmarking tool. Michael Page has a tool on their website which compares your salary to their average for placements over the last three months. You can then use this data to try to negotiate your current salary, or you may decide to apply for other roles.
There’s no career progression in your current company
Some companies are very supportive of employees career development and provide sponsorship for professional qualifications, encourage employees to move around the business to broaden their experience and provide regular salary increases so they retain their high performing employees. Other companies may only give minimal salary increases in an attempt to control costs. If there are no opportunities to progress your career within your current company, it may be time to explore new roles.
Your career progression has stalled
When you’re not moving forwards, it can feel like you’re stagnating. If you are keen to develop your career, it is helpful to create a long and short term career plan which outlines the skills you need to develop. Once you’ve developed the required experience, you are ready to progress to the next career level. Reviewing your progress regularly against your career plan, keeps you on track by preventing you from staying “too long” in a role where you are no longer learning or developing your skills. Once you feel like you are no longer developing your skills and experience, it may be time to move to a new role, perhaps at a larger company with more opportunities.
Your role has changed
Over time, roles change, whether through a restructure, or through acquiring new responsibilities. If you are spending more time on tasks which you do not enjoy, it may be time to start looking for a new role.
The company is struggling
If work is slowing down, the company is being acquired by another company, or you’re aware of a forthcoming restructure, it is often a good idea to start looking at other opportunities which are likely to offer better job security.
You dread Mondays
The most obvious sign that it’s time to update your CV is when you dread going back to work after the weekend, or a holiday. This often starts subtly, you may find it difficult to switch off from work, some people may start to feel anxious.
Time to look for a new role
Most people have learned as much as they can from each role in 2–3 years, and are ready for a new challenge. At this point, it is time to update your CV and start applying for more senior roles. You may find it helpful to read the articles on CV Writing and Interview Skills.
Do you need professional assistance in writing a stand-out CV, or improving your interview skills? I offer a full CV writing service, interview skills coaching and career coaching sessions – please don’t hesitate to contact me.
