Every specialist has many opportunities: you can deepen your expertise “broadly” or grow vertically. The main thing is to recognize in time the signals that your current position is too small for your ambitions.
So let’s look at what signs indicate that you’ve grown out of your current role and are ready for new heights.
If you notice 1-2 positive and negative signals, think about what you’re unhappy with in your job and whether you can fix it. If every other signal is about you, it’s time to seriously consider moving to a new position with a broader area of responsibility.
Negative Signals That You Have Outgrown Your Position
Negative signals are often accompanied by a background feeling of dissatisfaction, fatigue, and a desire to disengage. These include the following feelings and circumstances:
- Realizing that you have automatized all tasks. You know the processes and possible bottlenecks thoroughly, you can answer any question, and you have realized all planned tasks.
- You realize that your tasks can be handled by a less experienced specialist.
- You are bored at work: you often drink tea or go to the smoking room. Some can even spend work hours on things that aren’t directly related to their actual duties, like playing at https://nationalcasino.com/ or chatting with friends.
- Familiar tasks are annoying, look simple, boring, and predictable.
- Tasks don’t evoke a feeling of pleasant excitement and anticipation of something interesting (not to be confused with severe anxiety, when you are afraid to take on a project and want to get out of a traumatic situation as soon as possible).
- You start new projects without enthusiasm and creativity; everything seems stale. There is no sense of new challenge and satisfaction after completion.
- Colleagues and management react calmly to your results, even though they used to cause a wow effect.
- You get a raise or are offered a job at another company in the same role for a higher salary, but there is no sense of excitement or commitment.
Positive Signals That It’s Time to Consider a Job Change
The desire to change positions arises not only because of negative emotions. It’s possible to feel satisfied with your current job, but be ready for new challenges.
The most common positive signals are:
- The supervisor trusts you with complex projects and sets you as an example for the team.
- You often win internal team ratings and professional competitions.
- You regularly study the best practices of industry experts on your own initiative, go to specialized events, and take courses.
- You think more broadly than your colleagues: you offer several options for solving a problem and come up with non-standard solutions to complex situations.
- Colleagues often come to you for advice.
- You don’t worry about your performance at meetings.
- You feel that you are ready to take responsibility for the team; you aren’t afraid of new areas of control, you understand what and how to organize.
Of course, there’s no need to leave as soon as you notice these signs. But you should be attentive so that your job brings you pleasure.
