Written by: Max Loong

To quit or not to quit?

Reasons like lack of monetary compensation, lack of career progression, working in a toxic culture - sometimes the signs can be telling. But there might be instances where you might find yourself in a very questionable state; you get the feeling that something just does not add up.

For that, we refer to some not-so-obvious signs that will tell you maybe it is time to leave your current job:

1. Your personal life or well-being is affected

You might find your work challenging, and you’re giving your all to make things happen. You however see yourself in sleepless nights thinking about work, while struggling to stay awake in the day. Things in and out of work irritate you easily, and you can’t point out why.

Seems like the stress of your job is bleeding into your personal life, and more importantly your health and well-being. It can be hard to tell from the individual, but it can be obvious to the ones around you. If your job is eating you up, it might be a time for a change.

2. Same old, same old

You are moving somewhere in your job, but the direction is not forward. Working days feel like a routine to you. You missed the sense of enthusiasm and challenge you had when you started on the job, and the only benefit that your current job can offer is stable pay (not true!).

It may be that your job doesn’t stretch you any more, or your current employer doesn’t have a suitable development path for you. Either way, it could be time to move on to something that ignites your passion again.

3. You are no longer proud to say what you do or introduce your company

At some point, you are starting to have a humbling feeling when talking about your job to friends or family. You feel like your belief or confidence in the organisation is no longer what it was, compared when the feeling of pride when you began your job.

Perhaps there was a change in certain aspects of your job or company that did not sit well with you? Or perhaps your thinking has evolved through time, and you are starting to feel like your company's values don’t align closely with you and your career anymore?

A conflict of shared values can be a big push factor to leave your current job. If this sounds like you, it might be time to start looking around for a new company that you can really resonate with.

4. You are just playing a part

On the job, you’re happy, engaged, and a serious employee. Your job gives you a decent amount of challenge from time to time, and you perform your duties to the best of your abilities. But deep down, you know that you know any of those things, and it’s just an act.

Maybe you have developed other personal interests along the way? Perhaps you want to venture into a new direction in your career, but you’re getting too comfortable in your current role and company? Though it’s not always easy to change your career trajectory, it’s natural to want to align your personal interests with your career activity – and the longer you leave it, the harder it can be to switch as you become more and more specialised in a field that you don’t feel is really you.

No matter how much you like your company and your colleagues, staying in a role that you’ve grown out of (out of a sense of loyalty or hesitation to change) could become a disheartening experience in the longer term.

Sometimes an employer may simply not have the resources or business case to be able to develop you adequately, and sometimes what your career needs is the sort of step change that only a job switch can really provide.

Do any of the signs apply to you?

Recognising any one of these signs could mean that it’s time to switch careers. It is also high time for you to reconsider your career priorities - what you look out for in a career, your core values, and your strengths and skill gaps. Once you have gained some clarity on your career, evaluate if your current job checks any of those boxes. If not then it might be better for you to venture into other opportunities.

Reeracoen Singapore can help you make this career change. If you need personalised assistance, consider meeting our friendly Career Advisors with Reeracoen Singapore. We can help you introduce new job opportunities, identify your set of transferable skills, and help you prepare for your interview.

Don’t be afraid to start exploring options available to you. After all, you owe it to yourself!