Never Outstay Your

Welcome: Knowing
When It’s Time to
Leave, It’s Time to
Leave

Because it can be so difficult to get a job, it is even more difficult to make

the decision to leave one. Even a tremendous offer from a new company may

pale in the wake of long years of camaraderie, stable employment, and pure

comfort.

When it’s time to leave, though, it’s time to leave. The signs are probably

out there – whether on your side or your employer’s. It’s up to you to

recognize them.

I had a job once in which I was a manager, and a recognized performer.

Despite my success in my position, I began to be very unhappy in my work. I

had achieved about as much at that company as was possible for me.
 In order to be promoted in any meaningful way, I would have had to move

to the company’s home office – and I didn’t want to. I also had an immediate

supervisor who was very territorial, and while there were opportunities that

came my way, I had to fight to win them at every turn.

After a while, I began to approach every day with massive feelings of

resentment and self-righteousness. I was officious with employees and

condescending to my superiors. And when I finally got off my butt and got a

new position with a new company, I was so happy that had my new employer

required me to donate blood on a daily basis, I would have done it.

There are people who thrive in a secure environment. Completing a series

of daily tasks gives them a thrill. However, unless you are in top management

and have a definite role in shaping the company’s continued success, you

may run out of new challenges. If you are a person who craves new tests, you

can’t turn back the clock. When that time comes, it’s time to leave.

Your signs that it’s exit time:

• You hate going to work

• You have no prospect for promotion

 • There are long-term, adversarial bosses who give no indication of

moving on

• Your salary has remained virtually the same for a marked length of

time

• Your company’s financial position takes a dive

• Your company’s reputation is on the skids

• The company’s benefit packages are becoming increasingly weaker

• You are turning down positive opportunities in favor of wallowing in

your comfort place

There can also be indications that your company has not remained the

positive environment it once was – and things could get worse.

• Promotions that could – and should – have come your way, don’t

• Benefits are becoming scanty

• Word on the street is that your company is having “issues”

• Your job description has changed drastically without your input

• Your most recent evaluation has conspicuous areas of “concern”

 Being able to recognize when your time is up is one of the most important

parts of being a professional. This isn’t your dad’s corporate world, and most

of us don’t go from college to retirement with just one company. There may

be no gold watch in your future, so don’t wait to make a positive change in

your own life.

Being happy is much better than being comfortable – and far better than

finding yourself unemployed.