I remember when i was a kid and how i loved going to hangout at my friends house. as much fun as i had i knew that inevitably i would have to leave at some point. it seems that all parents say the same thing, "Get your stuff, its time to go." I hated that b/c i was having to leave something that i liked doing, hanging out with my friends.
That is the same feeling i recently had when i left a job after 2 years of working there. the company had been great to me and i had moved up quickly. i was making money and had so many plans to be successful with them. me being the go getter and inpatient businessman that i am, i didn't want to wait for my next promotion. i went and sought after it myself. after being rejected several times, i had an interesting encounter with a friend.A job was offered to me. after a month of negotiations, i accepted and made my move. it was tough to move but i know it was the right thing to do. let me give you a few hints on when it could possibly be time to change jobs.
1. You under appreciated
If you feel that you are under appreciated then you have to let someone know.
If you have a skill set that applies to your job description you should be compensated for it. the worst thing you can do is let your employer take advantage of you. now this doesn't mean that you should get a $.10 raise for each little talent. you need to sit down and put your ideas together as if you were writing a proposal plan and present it to your employer. if it is clear that the employer doesn't appreciate you and doesn't care if they lose you to someone who does, then it might be time to leave.
2. No opportunity for advancement
One of the reasons i decided to make the move in my career had to do with my ability to advance. as i mentioned i had moved up fast but i had reached a stand still and i didn't like it. you might be happy with your job/career now, but where can it lead you to? its so important to look 2-4 years down the road and imagine where you could be. if you don't like what you see, then get out now. why waste 2-4 ears of your life just to leave? obviously you want to find something that pays you well but you have to look at the big picture, always looking for that next level. if you dont then you wont get there. no one is going to hand you a promotion just because you're there.
3. No money
This one is tricky because its almost never a good idea to leave only for the money. unless its a HUGE difference, its prob not worth it. money cant replace time invested, job knowledge, and personal connections. there are several reasons why we take certain jobs such as: its something we love to do, opportunity for advancement, compensation, and convenience. if out of these reasons you're only at your job for compensation, it might not be right for you. On the other hand if everything but compensation is there, you might want to consider staying. now obviously there are exceptions, but you see my point.
here are some tips on what might make you different and worth more money:are you the only one who can do your job, is helping others with their daily duties keeping you from yours, are you bilingual, are you put in charge when the boss is out, do you continually get excellent annual reviews?
Remeber guys that timing is everything. If it isnt the right time, you could miss out on a big opportunity.
