| Have you been thinking about welcoming the new | | | | 8. Facilities/Support: How closely does your work |
| year with a new job or career? For most people, the | | | | environment match your ideal version of where you'd |
| idea of launching a job search is as exciting as it is | | | | like to work? Does your employer provide you with |
| nerve-wracking. Looking for a job can be a daunting | | | | the equipment and support necessary to perform |
| task requiring time, effort, and preparation-not to | | | | your job effectively? |
| mention the emotional and financial investment. | | | | 9. Advancement: If you're interested in advancement, |
| Adding to the stress is the reality that if you're | | | | does your current position offer room for additional |
| successful, you'll face change, which isn't always | | | | training, responsibility, and promotion? |
| synonymous with improvement. Sometimes the grass | | | | 10. Compensation: Do your salary and benefits fairly |
| is greener on the other side but not always. | | | | reflect of the value you bring to the company? How |
| Jobs are like marriage; they have peaks and valleys. | | | | does your compensation plan compare to colleagues |
| Most adults accept-even expect-some job | | | | internally (in the same company) and externally (at |
| dissatisfaction, and maturity often helps us deal with | | | | other companies) doing the same job? |
| minor job grievances and frustrations. After all, work | | | | 11. Personal/Family: How well does your job |
| is work, and expecting to love every aspect of your | | | | complement your personal/family life? Is your work in |
| job every day is as unrealistic as expecting every | | | | line with your values and the things that are |
| day of your marriage to be pure bliss. That said, | | | | important to you? Is your job a good fit for your |
| you're not married to your job, and there are | | | | personality and a natural extension of how you |
| legitimate reasons to find a new one. Here are 14 | | | | perceive yourself and want others to perceive you? |
| factors to consider when deciding if it's time to brush | | | | 12. Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: Are you using the |
| off your résumé and start looking at | | | | knowledge, skills, and abilities you want to use in your |
| your other options: | | | | job and in a way that effectively meets your |
| 1. Industry/Type of Business: Are you motivated and | | | | employer's needs and allows you to feel successful |
| engaged at work or do you regularly feel bored? Do | | | | and happy most of the time? |
| you find the type of business you're in interesting | | | | 13. Life Purpose/Goals: Is your job in alignment with |
| and personally rewarding? Do you dread Monday | | | | your life's purpose? How well does your job position |
| mornings or look forward to them? | | | | you for achieving your long-range personal and |
| 2. Company/Organization: Do you feel that you work | | | | professional goals? |
| for a good company or that it falls short of | | | | 14. Security: How secure do you feel in your current |
| acceptable? Do you agree with its policies? Does it | | | | position? Are there factors in your company, such as |
| treat employees fairly? | | | | serious financial instability or the threat of a corporate |
| 3. Company Culture: How comfortably do you mesh | | | | merger, that suggest layoffs might be imminent or |
| with the company's culture? How well do you get | | | | your job might be in jeopardy? |
| along with your coworkers? How in sync are the | | | | Over the course of your career, changing jobs can |
| company's atmosphere, size, and mission with your | | | | be a positive strategy for achieving career goals, |
| personality and style? | | | | making more money, and finding greater personal and |
| 4. Company Location: How do you feel about your | | | | professional satisfaction. Change jobs too often, |
| commute to and from work? If the idea appeals to | | | | though, without a clear strategy, and with the wrong |
| you, would your employer allow you the option of | | | | motivation, and you risk being labeled a job hopper |
| telecommuting? | | | | and can wind up hurting your career. |
| 5. Hours/Schedule: What is your level of satisfaction | | | | At the end of the day and regardless of your |
| with regard to the amount of hours you work and | | | | employer, you work for yourself. Keep your eyes on |
| your schedule? Do you have any control over your | | | | the big picture. Manage your career effectively by |
| hours/schedule? | | | | dreaming big, working hard, and making decisions (like |
| 6. Department/Team: Do you think you're working in | | | | whether or not to change jobs) strategically and |
| the part of the company where you'll feel most | | | | within the broad context of your long-range goals. |
| satisfied and valued? If not, is there opportunity to | | | | Ultimately, when it comes to navigating the turns of |
| move to another department/team? | | | | your career, you're in the driver's seat. To make sure |
| 7. Manager/Supervisor: How well do you work with | | | | your career winds up where you want it, you'll need |
| your boss? Do you feel treated fairly, valued, and | | | | to steer it carefully and intentionally, and the only |
| appreciated? Are there political/personality conflicts | | | | person who can tell you with any certainty if it's time |
| that are causing undue stress? Have you tried to | | | | for a new direction and a new job is you. Is it time |
| resolve them? If not, what options are available to | | | | for a new job? What do you think? |
| try to resolve them? | | | | |