Three Signs It’s Time to Find Your Next Role

Happy December everyone! I continue to be astonished at how quickly each year comes and goes.  With 2014 less than 30 days away time to assess where you are in your career.  As you wrap up 2013, now is the time to take a look at where you are career-wise, measure where you thought you’d be vs. where you’d like to be vs. where you realistically can be given your role, responsibilities, title, compensation, and growth profile. Whew! Below are three signs that it is probably time for you to seek out the next step in your career.

1. Your learning curve is flattening. If you have become an expert in what you do, you may find that your day to day work is becoming routine. The intellectual stimulation is waning and as a result, so is your motivation. You know what you’re going to do before you do it and how you’re going to do it. The mystery and joy of discovery in your role is gone. To experience your own “drop the mic” where you transition away from your current job while at the top of your game, consider launching a new job search. You don’t want to become stagnant or complacent. It is time to reinvigorate yourself, consider your options, and develop your plan of action.  
2. You have become irreplaceable (in the bad way). Have you ever been the only one in your company able to do something and you do it so well that the company can’t replace you? Sounds great, doesn’t it? But what if you can’t get promoted because you’re irreplaceable in what you are doing now? If you train your replacement, will there be a bigger and better job waiting for you on the other side? If your answered yes and no, respectively to these questions, it’s time for you to consider other opportunities. You risk pigeonholing yourself into a dead-end job. Unless you are being compensated to such a degree that you simply cannot consider leaving, you need to think of your career growth and advancement. You don’t want to look back with regret that you didn’t move when you should have done so – or worse that your position ultimately becomes obsolete and you cannot see any other progressive options.
3. Your compensation is stagnant. Markets across the globe are up this year, meaning consumers are spending and companies are investing again. Given these circumstances, wages should increase accordingly. If you have already been told that you shouldn’t expect a significant pay raise this year, (which has been a nice bounce-back year for most people), perhaps it’s time you thought about taking your talents elsewhere. There are a lot of companies out there that are growing looking to attract talent with a history of success. Don’t be daunted. Evaluate your skills, background, and competencies and create your strategy to take your career to the next level. If you don’t do it, nobody will.

You have the power to move your career needle. The time of New Year’s resolutions is upon us! Now is your chance to consider your options and take the proverbial bull by the horns!  Enjoy the holiday season and here’s to your motivation and ongoing career success!