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Early in the movie Creed, a young Adonis Johnson Creed is working a day job at a security firm. After being promoted, he hands in his letter of resignation stating, “This career ain’t for me. Thanks for everything.” and moves to Philadelphia to pursue his dream of becoming a professional boxer.
This scene sets the tone for the entire movie. Adonis recognized that he had no passion for a white-collar business career. The life of a boxer, although extremely difficult, was where he felt his destiny lay.
The self-realization that Adonis goes through in Creed will not be the same for everyone, but there are clear-cut signs that you might be ready to move on from your current career.
Here are five signs that indicate you might be ready to pursue a different job or career.
1. You Are Bored All the Time
If you are constantly staring at the clock, counting down the seconds until the end of the work day or spending most of your time on Facebook or shopping online, you might be ready to leave your current job. Everyone experiences some boredom at work, but if you find yourself going through weeks of listlessness, then you might need to consider a different career path.
It is important to remain engaged and challenged in your profession. It’s how you get the most out of a company, and in turn, how a company gets the most out of you. Not only is work engagement rewarding, it can give you a sense of purpose and fulfillment, making you an all-around happier person
2. You Constantly Feel Overwhelmed
Just as boredom can be a killer, feeling overwhelmed can be the death knell for job performance. Perhaps you are good at your job, so your boss overloads you with added responsibility. Or maybe you are in a role that you are unqualified for, with little idea as to how to address the tasks on your plate. Either way, being swamped leads to a lot of stress and unhappiness.
If you feel as though any small setback is insurmountable and you are constantly irritated at work when things go wrong, it might be time to talk to your boss about how much work you have or consider a career change.
3. Your Goals Do Not Match the Company’s Goals
It’s very important that your goals and values, for both work and personal life, are aligned with the company you are working for. If they are not, you won’t be happy and your performance may suffer.
If your job forces you to travel often or work longer hours than you are comfortable with, or you want to become a manager but can’t see that happening at your current company, then your current employer might not be the best place to work in the long run. Better to cut ties now and find a company that is a better cultural fit than to be miserable and hope things change at your current company.
4. You Have Major Issues with Your Boss
Your colleagues have a major impact on your level of motivation and happiness. Even more so when the colleague in question is tasked with determining your workload. It’s no surprise then that the adage “people leave managers, not companies” has become increasingly applicable in describing why most people leave positions they are otherwise happy in. Having a terrible boss can be devastating to your personal engagement with a company, regardless of how great your job is.
If your boss is a micro manager, plays favorites, or calls people out in front of co-workers, this can be a very difficult situation to work through. If you don’t feel like you can cope with your boss’ ineffective managerial techniques, then it’s probably time to peruse your favorite job board.
5. Your Skills Are Not Being Utilized
If you’ve been passed over for promotion multiple times and keeping getting all the dud assignments, then it is probably time to update your resume and embark on a job hunt. Either your bosses do not appreciate your work or they don’t trust your abilities.
You do not want to be stuck at a job in which growth opportunities are limited and your bosses do not recognize the value that you create. If you feel this is the case, then I highly recommend considering moving on from your current role or company.
Regardless of where you end up, you should feel motivated and appreciated, otherwise you will find yourself on the job market sooner rather than later. You need to make sure your personal goals line up with those of the company. Like Adonis Creed, do not be afraid of taking a risk career-wise if you think it is the right one for you. You spend much of your life working, so make sure that time is well spent.
Are you having a hard figuring out what you want to do with your career? Check out the blog post Finding Your Career Passion.
About the Author
Sean Falconer is Founder and CTO of Proven. He is a proud Canadian and reformed academic. He is passionate about making hiring for small businesses simple, streamlined and frictionless. Follow Sean on Twitter @seanfalconer
