You’ve moved on from jobs when you saw better opportunities, to leave a toxic work environment, or because you got an offer you couldn’t refuse. Now you’re in a position that’s fine. You’re fairly compensated and you get along with your team, but something just doesn’t feel right.
Women often take on responsibility for their discontent at work. They minimize the feeling of something being off and push through to continue to produce reliable, high-quality work. But you might be making compromises now that will affect your future growth and accomplishments for years.
When a job is terrible, it’s easy to know when to leave. You put yourself out there and find a new opportunity. But sometimes, we don’t realize our potential isn’t being maximized. And sometimes, we ignore the signs we’re ready to find a new job out of a sense of obligation to our employer. Don’t settle for “good enough” when you could have great.
1. You’re not excited to go to work.
You tell yourself that you don’t have to be excited to go to work because it’s a job after all. It’s not “supposed to” be fun. But listen, we spend a full third of our life at work–90,000 hours over forty years. You deserve to enjoy that portion of your life.
You may never leap out of bed at 6 am because you can’t wait to get to the office. But your job should challenge and engage your interest. If you’re doing the same thing every day, it’s time to move on to new challenges where you can grow.
2. You’re unmotivated but stressed.
You feel trapped by looming deadlines and obligations but have no motivation to get the work done. It’s not because you’re not lazy or bad at your job–you’re ready for something new. When your brain is in a flurry of activity because of work stress, it’s hard to even think about finding a new job.
It’s only overwhelming if you try to do it alone. Start talking to your friends and family about leaving your job and see if they have networking opportunities for you. Reach out to potential mentors in your industry. And find career services for women like an executive coach to help you strategize your next move.
3. You’re reading blogs to tell you if you should get a new job.
Put bluntly, it’s rare for someone to think about changing jobs and suddenly experience a reinvigorated passion for their current position. If your love for your company is holding you back, it might be time to pursue a new job title or job responsibilities.
But if you think you might be happier at a new job, you probably will be! However, many people thinking about getting a new job only look at lateral moves. Career services for women can help you move not just out of your current job but into an executive, supervisory, or leadership position.
Even after you recognize you’re ready for a better job, it's hard to figure out how to get from where you are to where you want to be. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone. Moulton Executive Coaching offers career services for women ready for an executive office, new challenges, and a brighter future.
Carol Moulton works with women in both government and the private sector to visualize their future and achieve it. Based in D.C., she’s helped women identify the parts of their personal and professional life that aren’t working and turn them into growth opportunities. We can help you do the same. Book a consultation to get on the path to achieving your goals.
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