When Is It The Time To Move On?

A group in Linkedin by the name of Connect: Professional Women’s Network,Powered by Citi recently has a discussion on the subject above and managed to garner a number of great responses. 

I think it’s a valid question because we do ask ourselves sometimes. Probably the fact you are reading this, this question is at the top of your mind now. I think it’s great to know the signs or indicators because moving on is a huge decision when the answer might just be a short vacation.

So, what's the best gauge? 

Perhaps the following responses might give us some clues:-

• In general- a good indicator is- "Am I getting energy from this job or losing it?"
• When you are bored more often than not....when you are not using the creativity of which you are capable....when you can afford it. It's always good to blend practical decision making with job satisfaction percentage.
• Prior to setting up my own business, for me it was when I no longer felt challenged in what I was doing and found that I was getting bored and restless.
• Realizing I am losing more than I am getting from work. This happens over a course of years. When I feel like work is draining me in a negative way, it's time to assess the situation.
• When you show up for work, and have no more ideas for the company or the office itself. If everything has truly dried up, and you risk becoming a robot at work, time to move on.
• I believe when you feel you can no longer do what you do best the majority of the time and you don't feel as though you are learning and growing in that role, or in that organization, it may be time to move on. Also pay attention to your internal clues will tell you. If you feel drained and the thought of going to work really weighs on you, it may be time.
• I always encourage people to look for signs that they are valued more outside their company than inside. When your company takes your skills or contributions for granted or doesn't seem to value what you bring to the table as much as people you collaborate with externally, it may be time to start conversations with those who value you more.
• The proportion of time spent using strengths is a good indicator of whether or not one is personally fulfilled in work. When the majority of the time--not just a day or week, but the overall pattern of work hours--is spent on areas other than strengths, it's time to find a different role, different company or different career. There needs to be an alignment of head, heart and gut for a position to work well. If one is out of line, it's time to make a change.
• I have 2 triggers both learned over a long life of mostly great jobs.
  1. When it is clear that your skills aren't appreciated at the level you need personally.
  2. When your skills and compensation level don't match. The appreciation sometimes has more value than the money. Maybe the best indicator is when all you get from an annual review is another job title. If you are getting more responsibility and no compensation then something is wrong.
• When you realize your values and those of your employer have diverged so wildly, there is no possible way to continue on the same path. When you are getting the accolades, but not the promotion. When you are offered no opportunity to grow into the role you know you can excel at, because your supervisor won't recognize your potential in anything but the niche you've already been assigned in his/her mind.
• When the job is no longer fun. When getting up and going into work gets harder and less enjoyable and becomes more like a task and just walking through the door makes you unhappy, then it is time for a change.
• You move on when you get up in the morning and think Oh S---! I have to do this again!
• Satisfaction comes in many forms. I realize that financial security is not my big motivator, and perhaps that is because I've not had the experience of living on the edge financially. I am very conscious of the limitations of time, and I consider the use of my time as an important measure. If this is my last day, how do I want to live it?
• I like the "Grow and Go" technique. Whenever I feel that I have gained sufficient knowledge to do all that my position requires and it no longer presents a challenge to me, then it's time to move on to the next level. If that's not possible where I am, then it means looking outside of the firm. I don't think a person should stay in a position until they are bored, depleted, or doing just enough to get by.
• For me, it starts with prayer and the direction God is taking me. If I'm working for someone else it's when I know that I've given everything I have into it and am still hitting a wall. I've honored my leaders... I've given the best of myself into a role and in the job... I've done all I know to do to stand strong. I haven't quit or given up just because it was hard. I went beyond my emotions and kept trying to "make it work". --Years ago someone told me if you don't have peace don't "do this or that". In a "role" or "job" when I no longer have peace that I'm in the right place for my life, and I can sincerely say I've given it everything, it's time to go. All of that is wrapped up in what God is speaking to me at the time.
• Life is not about being stagnant, we have so much to live for and strive for and all we have to do is keep trying new things, venture out, find your spot in the glory of the sun as it shines on your lovely being!

From the comments above, there seems to be a consensus on the point when you feel bored, undervalued and not challenged, then it’s time to pack your bag and go.

Don't underestimate ourselves - we can out-grow our jobs!

But that’s the “push’ factors, those that affect your current position. On the other hand, we can have “pull” factors, say in the form of an amazing opportunity that is too good to be missed out. That is definitely a sign we should deeply consider. 

Time Is Money

Took this picture to depict time is money. And lo and behold, found a nice poem to go with it. This is so random and I like it.. :)

Quick pace,
Quick pace is what wins the race.
In life there is only stuff to get done
so you can just move onto the next one.

The list never ends
and if one does another begins.
Never enough time, but always enough to do.
In life what you get done is what you get judged by.
Nobody cares how you feel
but more of what you've accomplished.

To be important you must have money,
and to have money you must be sold.
Sold on something,
so much that it impresses people.

There is no time to balance,
you must just blast away,
day after day, after day.

Because time is money
and to waste time is to waste money.

{Poem by Aaron H.}

He that Would Have The Fruit Must Climb The Tree

You want to eat? You got to work! You can’t rely on hand-out, not in Malaysia for sure. Today my mind kept going back to this woman – a divorcee with two young kids. And she was out of job recently. Her last pay was RM1600. Can a family survive with that? Sure it can… well, she did. And she’s aware of this truth – he that would eat the fruit must climb the tree! She's not sitting on her laurels, but hunting hard for a job to put food on the table.

Passion Verses Money

Do a job you love and you do not have to work a day in your life! 

The above has been quoted by sages and management gurus for ages. We envy people who love their jobs or make a living out of what they love doing.

How come some people can be so lucky and I’m not one of them!!


Not all people have that kind of luxury. Yes there is a handful that live out their passion and that’s great. But the rest of us should not view it as a failure that we do not do what we love for a living.

Being a practical being and due to my background whereby money is scarce, I do not have the luxury to choose what I love to do immediately after my high school. The post high school study that I had chosen has to be one that’s reasonably priced, locally available and promised some kind of career security. The latter is absolutely important as I or at least the people from my generation are expected to “pay back” to our parents via monthly allowances when we start working. I know lots of people from the younger generation might not be very familiar with such “commitment” but that’s how it is.

So, I’m not ashamed to say that money is fairly important in choosing a career but I’m not ready to say that I’ll let money to have the final say in my decision-making. So yes, there is a middle ground here but I guess one can choose to do something that combines money and passion (well, at least not something that you dread doing) but along the way, if you believe your passion can get you somewhere, go for it.

Furthermore, I truly believe passion can be cultivated over time. Don’t box yourself up and buy in the idea that certain things are just not my cup of tea. In desperate times, you don't have the luxury to choose. So I don't believe being a whiner! I believe in making the best of what is available for me. And don’t underestimate our ability to adopt and adapt. You might amaze yourself :)

I like one blogger that says you are a practical person who knows that no one can do the stuff they are passionate about if they are worrying about food and rent. Support yourself somehow first, and then explore your passions from there.

I personally feel one is very lucky to even have a passion to start with. There’s always a choice whether you wish to put money or passion first. So either way, you are in a fortunate position. Anytime better than people who do not have a passion for anything – that I would say a sad state indeed.