Are you in the wrong job? 5 signs
Time to wake and walk?
1. Your company is nearly always in some state of re-organization.
Despite some signs of recovery, these remain tumultuous times for business. The roller coaster ride that is the U.S. economy has proven to be nausea- and vertigo-inducing for working Americans since before the great recession of 2009.
Corporate America has responded to these great market fluctuations by laying off many thousands of workers. I joined a major, globe-spanning corporation back in the mid-2000s. Soon after coming on board, I was informed of a significant reorganization underway. That was a sign. So was this: Veterans of the company shrugged their shoulders and said, “There’s always some kind of re-org going on here.”
They were right.
As it happened, my arrival coincided with the moment when the sales group was being re-organized. Next up, the marketing groups (of which I was a fledgling member) were being combined. Soon after, the human resources organization (which I had transitioned into) and the customer service organization were re-organized. Plus, another sales/marketing re-organization occurred in between, as we jettisoned and absorbed other business lines. I lasted through these down-sizings for nearly five years, when it finally caught up to me.
Since then? More re-orgs at the same company. Many former colleagues that lasted longer than I lost their jobs in late 2012 during another major re-org. The lesson: If your company is this intent on constant re-organization activities, have your exit plan ready.
2. You are offered a pay cut or a one-way ticket out.
Stay at a reduced rate or hit the bricks? Sometimes it’s better to be paid less than not at all. Sometimes it’s not. Either way, the handwriting is on the wall.
Some companies make the attempt to avoid layoffs by reducing base salaries. According to a study done by human resources consultants Hewitt Associates, 16 percent of large organizations have trimmed base salary during the most recent recession. FedEx, The New York Times, and Hewlett Packard are just a few American companies that have chosen pay reductions over layoffs. If you’re in a dying industry like journalism and you don’t want to switch careers, you may have to take the pay cut.
Otherwise, you may have to bite the bullet and find work elsewhere. Or better yet, do both. Take the continuing pay and find more suitable employment while you’re still earning a paycheck.
3. You fell into your career.
Stressed out at work? If so, maybe it’s because you’re in the wrong job — for a variety of reasons. Lack of opportunities for advancement, lack of opportunities for success, changing priorities, increased demands, a-hole bosses and colleagues can sink a career. So can the fact that maybe you’re just not the right fit for whatever kind of work you’re currently boiling in.
Most of us start our careers when we’re young, impressionable and/or desperate to get started. According to a study by Towers Perrin, 55 percent of workers feel they may be in the wrong job. If you have a chance at a job that fits your skills and passion, don’t dismiss it just because the paycheck isn’t right. Because …
4. The days are long and the years are fast.
The sooner you get this, the better off you are. If you’re in the wrong job, you’ll know it because the days demand so much of you and the years go by quickly. If you are burned out or bored, it often doesn’t matter how nice the paycheck is. You’re not going to last. If you can do what you love and make a living at it, do it. Not everyone has that chance. Can you make that chance for yourself? Is work/life balance achievable here?
5. You’re going nowhere.
Trust your gut. Also, ask yourself the hard questions: Did I get complacent? Is a growth opportunity unlikely at this organization? Do I get the feeling I’m not considered one of the core, valued members of the organization?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you’re going nowhere. It’s up to you to reverse the course of your career trajectory. Maybe you can find another path within your company or maybe it’s time to work somewhere else.
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