Leaving a job you have invested so much into is a difficult decision.

Here are the top 5 questions:

1.  Do you actually like what you do? If you really don’t like what you do – have you checked into other jobs?  So often, my clients tell me they woke up one day and realized they just fell into the job they are in and they have been doing the same grind for the past several years.  They got comfortable with the routine, the money, etc., but they don’t really like it.  It’s easy to get complacent with life instead of pushing and challenging yourself to find something better.  There is always “FEAR” – False Evidence Appearing Real.  And sometimes you just need an extra push to get to it!  Consider this a push – if you don’t like what you do.  If you do like what you do, pat yourself on the back for this accomplishment.  You may have other problems, so read on further.
2. What is your promotability? First, you need to make a realistic assessment about your career path opportunities with your current employer.  Do they have a designated career path and do they share what this entails and what qualifies a person in your position to advance?  Is there a tendency to promote from within?  Is there in-house training and development or does the company invest in outside training and education?  If there isn’t an investment, open discussions or performance reviews that show your progress, then your promotability is limited.  If this is important to you, you should discuss this with your manager, HR or an executive, to understand what exactly you need to do to move up in the company.  It’s always better to have a transparent discussion than to be hopeful that you will be recognized.  This gives management an opportunity to clarify expectations and to open up opportunities for professional mentoring and development.  If they don’t do this, this may be a sign you aren’t ready in your development or they simply don’t have any advancement opportunities and you need to search elsewhere.
3. Have you had it with your boss? Retention research tends to show the number one reason people leave jobs is because they dislike their boss and can no longer tolerate working with this person any longer.  And whether or not you think you can outlast your boss in this particular job is a key consideration.
   What is that likelihood?  Have you seen several bosses come and go? Are they promoting up or out of the company?  And what does that mean, if you promote up?  Do you want to work with them as a colleague?  Does your company frequently reorganize?  Do you actually fit with this company’s culture and believe in what they stand for – or has this changed and you’re not sure anymore?  If you aren’t sure – it’s time to starting looking for another company.
4. Is your commute sucking valuable time out of your life? One of the biggest deal breakers for my clients is the “long commute time to a job”. How you define “a long commute” is open to interpretation.  Many people will say no longer than 30 minutes.  Or perhaps it can be longer with the option to work remotely from home for several days per week.  Remember that “driving time distance” is different from “traffic time distance” and should be assessed accordingly with scheduled hours and weather.  If you are tired of your commute time, perhaps you should consider another job.
5. Do you have other desirable job options? You don’t know the answer to this, if you don’t do your research.  Check out www.MyNextMove.org.  This is an excellent resource to search for similar positions and to compare and cross reference your skill sets.  In addition, you can search for current openings on 4 different connected job search engines within your local area.
   If you would like to discuss any of these reasons in further detail, I offer a 30-minute complimentary consult to help you explore your options with resources, strategies and tools.  Reach out and schedule a session today.