Signs that something needs to change:

  • You work with unsupportive management or co-workers.

  • The commute requires all your free time.

  • The workload is growing, and it's impossible to do well.

  • Limited opportunities exist to gain new skills, networks, expertise, or certifications.

  • You're underpaid, or the financial compensation needs to be more to allow you to invest in yourself.

  • Finding and cultivating mentorships with those more experienced than you is a challenge.

  • The position doesn't provide intellectual stimulation or allow for risk-taking, and you're bored.

If you're experiencing several of these signs, it's time to re-evaluate your current situation. A frank conversation with your boss may be the key to turning things around at your job. Remember, your manager can only help you if you let them know what's happening. Brainstorm a list of solutions before you meet with your boss, and consider the following items to include in your negotiations:

  • An intern or other support staff

  • A more flexible work schedule or the option to telecommute

  • The opportunity to work on more challenging or cross-functional projects with different teams

  • A raise or promotion with additional responsibilities

  • A stipend for professional development opportunities

  • Access to the company's internal training programs

Be prepared to support these requests with evidence, proving the value you've brought to the company or the benefits these items would provide to the organization in the long run.

Unfortunately, not every situation can be fixed with a conversation. If you're experiencing any of the signs below, it's time to start looking for a new job before things worsen. 

Signs it's time to find a new job:

  • You dread going to work, have lost enthusiasm, and start each day with a horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach.

  • You're not in the loop; it feels intentional that you're the last to know what's happening.

  • You're a cultural misfit and can't shake the feeling that you don't fit in at the office.

  • You're desperate to leave and find yourself obsessively checking job boards for any opportunity that would allow you to quit.

  • The company's struggling. If the signs are there, it's better to start looking before layoffs begin and everyone competes for the same positions.

  • Your boss knows less than you or is not very good at their job — and they're not going anywhere.

  • Your personal life is suffering. You have too many work commitments and insufficient time with your family and friends, affecting your relationships.

  • Your job makes you sick, and you're stressed that your work is causing health problems.

  • You need a better performance review. If your thoughts are usually delicate and a negative one comes out of the blue, the company may seek to eliminate people.

  • Your job description changes. You're asked to do more, given responsibilities you need to be equipped to handle or removed from a project or long-term assignment that you've been working on.

  • You're being documented or asked to confirm everything you do. If you're asked to train a backup, management may use you as an inexpensive way to train your replacement.

If you agree with one or more of the above items, it's time to move on. Start looking for the right opportunity today so you can leave your job as soon as possible.

Let’s talk about career growth.

While very few people attend school to be salespeople, millions of Salespeople are in this industry. You can have a phenomenal career with the right company, great sales products, and positive co-workers. Unfortunately, not everyone lands the perfect sales career straight out of school. From time to time, you need to ask yourself. "Is my career moving in the right direction?" "Do I still feel challenged, or do you face Sunday nights and Monday mornings with trepidation, hoping the days pass quickly so I can make it to the weekend?"

Before you hand in your resignation letter, use this checklist to determine if now's the time to leave your job or if you should try to make things work at your current place of employment.