Time to get a new job

1. THERE GOES THAT PROMOTION

You worked hard on a lot of projects, put in unpaid overtime, worked on weekends and during lunch, but when a management position opened up, it went to someone with less experience and skills.

Many things could have led to this slight. People may think that the other person has more of what it takes to do well in the role. Or maybe they are better than you.

Not much comfort, no matter what the reason. They were hired, and you weren't. This could be a sign that the people who should notice your work and contributions don't care about them. It might be risky, but letting your seniors know that you want to reach your full potential somewhere else might get them to move. If not, it might be time to go somewhere else.

2."COULD YOU RUN FOR COFFEE?"

You used to be in charge of important things. Maybe you were in charge of other people and had a say in big decisions or a big budget tied to your job.

Now, things seem to have changed for no reason. If you are allowed to attend meetings at all, you are given less important tasks and have to report to others and keep them up to date on your progress. If things are really bad, you might even have to run errands like getting lunch or coffee.

This is a sure sign that people no longer take you seriously. This could be because of your performance, your personality, or something you have no control over. It doesn't have to make sense. You don't have to agree with it either.

3. "DAVE WHO?"

People say that as much business is done in a bar or on a golf course as in an office. When you go out with your coworkers, you can get to know each other in a more casual setting. You might have something in common with a few of them, like a hobby or a friend in common.

You can use these ties at work. People will be much more willing to work with you on projects and other tasks if they like you and know how your mind works and what your strengths are.

But things are getting worse when you are left out of social events at work on purpose. I'm not talking about official events like the office Christmas party, which would be awful if you weren't invited. But if your coworkers keep going out for drinks after work without inviting you, it might be time to worry. Check your zipper and your breath. If those work, it could be that your personality doesn't fit with the office culture or that people are trying to get what they want.

Everyone likes to be with people who like them. If you don't get invited to play darts and have a few drinks with your coworkers, you might be seen as hard to get along with, boring, or just unpopular. None of these things are good for a productive workplace. If business lunches and happy hours are always set up when your coworkers know you can't make it, it might be time to rethink your position.

4. TAKING THE OFFICE HOME

Many people find it hard to leave work at work, especially if there are financial problems or rumors of layoffs going around the office like a strange game of telephone. Still, bringing work home can (and will) make you more irritable, mentally tired, and less fun to be around.

"No one on their deathbed has ever wished they'd spent more time at the office," says an old saying that is close to the truth.

Bringing work home is the same as always being at work, which is something no one wants, except maybe your boss, but we'll talk about him later. You don't get any free time, and in the long run, it hurts your job performance because your mind hasn't had a chance to rest.

If you think this way, things can't go on for long. Even though your job is important to you, I'd bet that your health and family are more important.

5. THIS IS NOT THE DEPARTMENT FOR COMPLAINTS

There's nothing worse than a waiter who doesn't know how to treat customers well or a store clerk who doesn't know where the sugar is and couldn't care less about it.

If you don't want to pick up the phone because you're tired of hearing people complain (even though your job title is Customer Service Agent) or you hate rush hour traffic but drive a taxi, it might be time to switch jobs.

Your irritation could be caused by a changing work environment, financial problems at the company, or a change in management. No matter why, the message is the same: if you hate the most important parts of your job, it's time to find something else.

6. HORRIBLE BOSSES

Does your boss always make bad decisions and pay attention to the wrong parts of the job? Don't they get along with the people who work for them? Do they give feedback that isn't consistent, isn't helpful, or isn't there at all? Do you spend hours or days on a "urgent" task, only to have your boss give you a new "top priority" that you have to ignore?

Management that doesn't work well and instructions that aren't clear make it hard for you to do your job. It can get to the point where you no longer care about your work emotionally, which could lead to you not caring at all.

There's a good chance your boss will still be around, which is bad news. So, since they're not going anywhere, there's only one person who can.

7. From the best to the best

You don't think your performance has changed, but you've noticed that the fours and fives that used to make up most of your evaluations have been replaced by threes and fours, and all the areas that used to be rated "excellent" are now just "good."

People often get stuck in a comfort zone at work, especially if they do the same work over and over again. "Familiarity breeds contempt," as the saying goes. Some of us need change at work because it keeps us interested.

It can happen slowly, starting with you doing less of the extra things that got you fives in the past. You're still making sales, but you're not suggesting other purchases that go with them. You might not help new employees as much as you used to, or you might not have volunteered for extra work in a while.

This attitude can slowly seep into the most important parts of your job, leading to a drop in performance that your boss will notice (who also become future references). So, if you're losing some of your passion for your job, keep in mind that this could make it harder for you to get that better job that will help you get your mojo back.

8. "IT'S PETERSON, RIGHT?"

When most people start a new job, they have a bit of a "honeymoon" period. Your bosses are more likely to be nice to you because they know you're new and not yet used to the job. The good ones remember what it was like to be in your shoes and try to help you.

Once you have a routine, you should find a way to talk to your bosses that works for their personalities, the amount of work they have, the office culture, and other factors.

One day, months or years later, you realize that you don't talk to your bosses as much. Once-friendly hallway chats are now either short pleasantries or don't happen at all. Even though it's possible that this has nothing to do with you or your work, it's also possible that the way people in the company see you has changed. If your bosses don't talk to you, it could be because they don't value you as much and don't think it's worth their time to talk to you.

9. YOU'RE NOT REALLY INTO IT

Remember when you were eager to get home from work so you could tell everyone what you did? When you woke up the next day, were you excited to get to work and pick up where you left off?

You can't wait to get out of work now. At the end of the day, if you no longer enjoy your job and there's no real chance that will change soon, it's time to find something else.