Stability vs. Self-Exploration: When to Change Jobs?

The time and effort we invest are one of the main reasons why we hold on to something. It can be relationships between people. You hold on to your partner because you’ve spent a lot of time together, although the romance is gone. You hold on to old friends, even though you have nothing in common, for the same reason – just for the sense of stability. 

The same goes for work. You’ve spent a lot of time studying to acquire skills and knowledge for a certain profession. You’ve sent your resume for thousands of vacancies. Each of your cover letters for a specific vacancy required custom writing and using the essay editor service to catch the attention of the hiring manager is a good idea. And you’ve passed a lot of interviews before getting hired. And you’re happy with your work.

Also Read: How to Create Resume For an Internship

At least you were happy, at first. You’ve achieved a certain level of success in your position. You’ve participated in several interesting projects and managed to save several important clients for your company. Yet, you are no longer excited about your job, and you start thinking of changing it. But you are not changing it just for the sense of stability. 

Pros and Cons of Stability

Regardless of whether you want to change your company or career path, what holds you back is the sense of stability. You got used to your job, and you know your colleagues well. You are not sure that things will go so smoothly with your next job. That is stability. 

But stability has its advantages and disadvantages you need to consider before making your next step. 

Pros:

• you’re good at your job, and you know it well;
• you know everything about your company;
• you have a stable income;
• you know what tomorrow brings.

Cons:

• you don’t explore all of your capabilities;
• your growth is limited to the positions in your company;
• the salary has its limits;
• routine can be lethal.

Before changing your job, you need to think about whether prospective loss of stable income is worth the self-exploration. Are you ready to throw away the confidence in your future for something new? Are you ready to get used to new challenges and colleagues? Without considering all that, you shouldn’t change jobs. 

Signs It’s Time to Change the Job

In case you’re not sure whether you should change your job or not, there are certain signs, if not red flags, that can identify your next step. Let’s check out the five signs that show that it’s clearly time for you to change your job. 

Apathy

With each day, you feel more and more disconnected from your work. You turn into a robot that does things automatically. You start underperforming, missing deadlines, and you can’t find the energy to even fake enthusiasm about your job. You start dusting off your memory to recall what brought you to start this job in the first place. 

All of this doesn’t satisfy you anymore. And you cannot remember the last time when you actually felt enthusiastic about your work. Yes, you still do your tasks successfully, but the question that persists in your mind is “what am I doing here?” 

Lack of Impact

Your duties are the same every day. As a result, every day passes on autopilot. Nothing excites you anymore. Moreover, you get the feeling like you’re wasting your time. Your talents are wasted, and your job doesn’t provide you with the possibility to put your best skills to use. You feel demoralized, and you are not even trying to contribute. 

Dreading Going to Work

Almost everyone has that day when you hate the sound of the alarm clock. You start thinking about taking sick leave instead of going to work, even if you are not actually sick. But things are different when it’s your daily mood. 

You dread going to work. You don’t want to talk with your colleagues, meet your boss, and do your duties. And you pray for the day to end faster. But, unfortunately, it moves at a snail’s pace. When it’s finally a weekend, you cannot get enough time to relax. Although you can’t exactly relate to Brenda Spencer, you listen to “I Don’t Like Mondays” on repeat. 

Salary’s No Longer Source of Satisfaction

You may have a good salary, but it no longer makes up for the dissatisfaction with your work. When you stopped being enthusiastic about your job, the fat paycheck kept you going, but not anymore. You want the meetings to end quicker, as well as the working day. And the things you can spend your salary on no longer excite you. 

Your Work Harms Your Personal Life

Jobs must be challenging, but in no way, shape, or form should they be devitalizing. If your job brings constant exhaustion, sleep loss, and headaches, it may be your body telling you that your work is not good for you. Besides, it turns you into a bitter person, which will affect your relationships with others. That may be a solid sign that you need to change your career path. 

What to Do?

If you’re experiencing the above-mentioned or similar symptoms, you need to take a break first. While it may be a sign that you should change your job, it may be burnout. So, first, take a vacation. The best option will be going somewhere. You will stop thinking about your job, experience something new, and get refreshed. 

In case by the end of the vacation, you start feeling sick about going back to your work, then it’s time to change your job. Think about your aspirations. Think about what you would like to do next and consider your core values. Identify what you like about your current job and what you don’t want to encounter at your next one. 

Figuring all that will help you get a clear picture of where your next step should take you. Think about your skills and ways to present yourself. Find the best ways to make a switch. After that, you may prepare your resignation and start looking for a new job.