Work is one of the factors that most influences our well-being and happiness . We spend many hours of the day working, and feeling fulfilled in this area of our life is crucial to having a full life.

Scientific studies show that job satisfaction is a key variable not only for the well-being of the worker, but also for the productivity of the company and its results.

When to change jobs

Since work is one of the most important areas of our lives, it is necessary that we are happy with the work we do, that we feel valued and that we can grow within the company.

Unfortunately, we are not always going to feel satisfied at work, and something that can affect the other areas of our lives. But, how do we know if it’s time to change jobs? In the following lines we give you some keys to make the decision to change jobs or to stay in the position you are in.

1. Work doesn’t fill you up

Many times, we choose jobs out of necessity or thinking only of money. In our article “Science says money is a drug and doesn’t bring happiness” we talked about the disadvantages of having this mentality.

Since work is so important to us, we need to enjoy what we do; otherwise, it will somehow or other affect our happiness. Work is closely related to personal development . Therefore, knowing what one wants to be and doing an exercise in self-knowledge is key to being able to make good choices when it comes to work. Knowing our motivations and our talents is the starting point for doing what we like.

It is clear that when money is needed, it is important to keep the job. Now, if you don’t like what you’re doing, you find it hard to get up in the morning to go to work, and you get sad just thinking about the work you do, maybe you should think about getting another job.

2. No possibility of development

One of the keys to happiness at work is to feel that you can grow within a company , because it allows you to look to the future with optimism and motivates you to keep fighting to go further. However, when a company does not put interest in the development of its workers, the level of satisfaction of these falls, something that also affects their productivity and the results of the organization. If you have been in your company for years and you feel stagnant, maybe it is time to think about making a change in your job.

Although money does not bring happiness, it is important to cover our basic needs . Besides, money can become a motivation (as long as it is not the only thing that motivates us), and nobody likes to work for free. To be happy, we don’t have to earn money, but we do have to feel that we are being paid fairly for the work we do. Otherwise, we will feel unmotivated and will think about looking for another job alternative.

3. You feel that the way you work is not appropriate

It is very common to feel that the problem is not in what one does, but in the work dynamic with which a company works . Stop and think if you have detected this problem in your professional environment.

4. Bad relationship with your bosses

Bosses are important in a company because the decisions they make affect the whole organization and especially the positions that are hierarchically below them. Scientific studies also show that leadership styles influence the well-being of employees and their performance.

So if you have a bad relationship with your boss and you don’t think it can be resolved, you’d better consider a way out.

5. You are stressed or burned out

The leadership style of superiors can cause, among other phenomena, work stress and burnout. Stress in the organization is a very common condition that affects the occupational health of workers and the results of the company.

While it is always necessary to try to find a solution, either in the company or with therapy sessions to better manage these situations, there are situations where stressors will not go away. In these cases, it is better to look for another job.

6. You do not fit with the company’s values

Feeling comfortable in a company has a lot to do with being aligned with the values it has . If you think there are ethical and moral differences in how the company does things, you may have to rethink whether you want to stay in that job.

7. You don’t feel valued

We all like to feel valued, especially when it comes to our work .

If you find that you don’t get positive feedback despite doing your job well, that you have been with the company for a long time with very good results and your bosses don’t seem to care or don’t count on you for a promotion despite how much you contribute to the organization, it’s time to look for new job opportunities.

8. Timetables make you lose quality of life

Nobody wants to feel like a slave to their work, and that is why schedules are important . Some companies require their employees to be totally available on a daily basis, for example, shifts with excessively long hours and with very long breaks in between. This can make it difficult to reconcile work and family, especially when there are responsibilities.

9. You suffer from mobbing

The relationship with colleagues is extremely important to be well at work . A negative phenomenon that may occur in organisations is mobbing or psychological harassment at work, which usually causes, among other negative consequences, depression, anxiety, personality changes or a feeling of detachment from the company.

However, mobbing can not only occur between workers, but also, for example, between a manager and a worker.

  • You can learn more in our article “The 6 types of mobbing”

10. You think you can give more

When we feel underused and think we can give more in the company, demotivation can take over .

One must feel useful at work, as well as valued. If you think you aspire to more, you probably want to leave your job for one that fits better with your skills.

11. You’re bored

Another of the phenomena we have talked about in previous articles of Psychology and Mind is boredom at work .

The negative consequences of this condition are many, including demotivation, and the causes can be varied: performing work below the worker’s needs, monotonous tasks, impossibility of promotion, etc. It is always good to let the company know how you feel. If they do not take action, it is your decision to stay in that job.

Bibliographic references:

  • Kraft, U. (2006). Burned Out. Scientific American Mind. June/July: 28-33.
  • Maslach, C., Schaufeli, W. B.; Leiter, M. P. (2001). Job burnout. Annual Review of Psychology. 52: 397–422.