After a few years in the same job, one day you may find that your enthusiasm, high work
standards and general attitude have been gradually deteriorating.
This may have come about following changes in the workplace that you don’t agree with –
maybe your skills have outgrown the role, or you’re no longer being challenged and the
enjoyment is waning.
It’s important to acknowledge these feelings and identify if this is just a temporary rut or a
permanent hole. But how do you know that it really is time to move on?
Mondays are as boring as Tuesdays and Wednesdays and...
If you’re dragging your feet into work every single day and arriving in a mood best described
as a mixture of extreme boredom and impending doom, then it’s probably a good time to
consider whether you should be there at all.
Think about:
What’s changed in your job that’s made it so boring? Has anything changed at all, or
have you naturally outgrown the role?
Can you address the boredom within your current job by seeking more responsibility
and challenges, or have you hit a wall?
Is this boredom going to change as your job moves past where you are now, or is this a
forever feeling?
Your confidence is flagging and your enthusiasm is rock bottom
Where once you were a keen worker, leader or problem-solver, you now just do the job
you’re told to do and leave it at that.
If, for whatever reason, your confidence and self-esteem are being eroded by either the
people around you or the tasks you are being asked to do, then this needs to be addressed.
If there is nobody to talk to, or no solution to finding the flexible, creative and innovative
person you once were then it’s clearly time to look elsewhere.
Are your skills really suited to this role?
Take a good hard look at your skills, including the soft skills that make up such an important
part of your personality. Assess if they are being put to the best use, or if you’re just boxing
them up to survive to the next pay day.
Is your personality suited to the job and workplace culture around you?
Is this job making the most of your talents and, if not, can this be remedied within your
current role?
Does the job you’re doing go against your personal beliefs and values? Is this a
mindset you can realistically change?
Whatever your feelings about your job, don’t deny them. Address them, deal with them
and try to make a change.
Is your job meaningful enough for you to keep it just for income?
After another boring day at work, you head home only to feel like you’ve achieved very little
more than earning another mortgage payment. There’s nothing wrong with that if you can
cope with it, but some signs you may be urgently due for a change could be quite obvious
once you think about it.
Consider:
Do you believe in the outcome of what you’re doing? Is it worth the energy you’re
investing?
Have you simply outgrown your role? Nothing ever stays the same, and that includes
you. Don’t be afraid to admit that, after years, your job is now beneath you and your
skillset, and it’s time to go elsewhere.
Is your job just a bad fit for you? This may include the tasks themselves, which either
stress you out or bore you completely, or it may be the workplace culture.
Do you just want more? Go and find more. There’s plenty of it out there.
Are there other options? Are you hanging out in a rut because there are brighter times to come in the near future,
such as a promotion, or are you just too scared to leave and step into the unknown or don’t
know how to? If the latter is the case, then it’s time to face reality and overcome that fear or
be forever miserable where you are now. Make an informed choice by:
Speaking to trusted or recommended recruitment professionals (who specialise in your
sector) to understand what opportunities are out there and what you need to do to be
considered for these opportunities.
Deciding which areas or companies you may like to work for and conducting your own
desktop research to establish whether you can make a difference and add value in
those businesses with the expertise you have.
Think about whether it’s time to switch career paths entirely – to what sector could your
skills be easily transferred? Part-time study or gaining skills in other ways, such as
professional development, could also be an answer.
Become an active contributor on LinkedIn, when you’re more visible, you’re more likely
to be approached for opportunities. It may help you identify whether your current
situation really is a definite rut, or just something you need to deal with for a while
before circumstances change.
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