13 Career Warning Signs that Lead to Mistakes, & Misery
If you pay attention you will notice the career warning signs that come your way. Certainly, if you do not you may make unnecessary mistakes that lead to misery.
Are you looking for or feeling like you need a career change? The era of long-tenured employment is gone. Today people change jobs ten to fifteen times in their careers. As a result, the lack of company loyalty has spawned the lack of employee loyalty and engagement.
The best way to change jobs is on your terms. Career setbacks can be devastating. For instance, being fired, becoming burned out, or layoffs can cause deep emotional scars in people. Research suggests it not only impacts a person’s self-image but it affects relationships with family and friends.
Have you ever had a friend that got fired from a job? How about a friend that was laid off? Have you encountered a close co-worker that abruptly quit amidst some conflict at work? Or, had a relative passed over for a promotion and then got angry over it? In the same vein, maybe a few things like this have happened to you.
13 Career Warning Signs
Consider these career warning signs of impending missteps, mistakes, or misery. You might need to take the initiative to change jobs or your career direction. Be aware, a number of these signs often go together and will derail your performance, while heightening the chances of someone else noticing what is happening to you.
1. You feel depressed or frustrated or unfulfilled.
It is hard to do your job well with these pent-up negative feelings. Therefore, chances are your job seems harder and you are making mistakes.
2. You no longer care, much of the time.
You wake up and must force yourself to go to work–almost every day but pay day or Friday. Also, you become overly critical of your company when you talk to others. Almost everyone knows you hate your job.
3. Work is not enjoyable.
We work longer hours today. Except for the paycheck, if you are not enjoying it, why do it? Boring and routine lead to comfortable mediocrity or worse. Similarly, do you find yourself looking forward to breaks or lunch?
4. You are not learning anymore.
Ongoing learning stimulates the mind. Without it, a job often becomes the “same old, same old.” When was the last time you attended a training course or learning event?
5. You do not get along with the people you are working with.
One of the top reasons people leave a job, besides a bad boss, is that they do not like the people they work with. Has irritability or intolerance set in?
6. The passion is gone.
Are you doing this job because you love it? Or because of the pay? Hopefully, both. If not, it creates a long day, week, month…year…malaise. Many people get stuck here but they don’t have to.
7. You know you are better.
If you know that you can do much better but do not, your performance is slipping, and you are not sick. It just might be because you just do not want to anymore. At least not where you are right now.
8. You are comfortable.
Studies indicate that if you aren’t stretching yourself, you start to lose your edge and you get locked in a comfort zone. As a result, your performance will slip. When this happens, others will notice the change.
9. You lack the energy you used to have.
Physical fatigue can relate to a lack of mental focus and preparedness. Certainly, if your mind is not in the game the body won’t be either.
10. You are not going the extra mile.
Jim worked for a delivery service since high school. He changed jobs a few times but felt his current career was going nowhere. However, he did not want to leave because of the benefits. In addition, he found himself doing just enough to get by in his job, 8-5 pm every day. What is the outlook for Jim’s future here? This is one of the career warning signs you must act on quickly.
11. You were passed over for a promotion.
This is crushing. Most importantly, the question is: do you learn or whine? If this applies to you, where are you now? What does that tell you?
12. You are not networking.
Connecting with other people increases results, builds teamwork, and adds spice to almost any job. If you are not into the job much anymore this is not going to happen much. Likewise, it is a far-reaching loss.
13. You blame other people or situations.
People who blame others for problems, mistakes, or why they cannot do the job better are losing their personal accountability. Above all, they demonstrate a lack the capability to perform at a higher level. That is to say, it is an immature way to explain the lack of goal achievement. Do not let this be you.
A 4 Step Catalyst Plan to Counteract Any or All Career Warning Signs!
You can head off the career warning signs if you do these steps a little every day. As a result, you will find yourself more aware, renewed, if not inspired, to do your best to protect your current job or to get a new one.
Get feedback!
Talk to a trusted friend, mentor or advisor that will give you candid input. Furthermore, get a coach. Honestly outline your strengths, weaknesses, and challenges. After that, review, brainstorm, search new ideas, and analyze opportunities. Consequently, activity like this can be rejuvenating.
Renew your learning!
Focus on a personal upgrade. Attend a couple of classes to elevate your knowledge and skills. Participate in a few online discussions to get updated on what is happening. Enroll in a couple of online training sessions. Most importantly, remember, learning is the mother of reinvention!
Re-calibrate your goals!
Based on the above, create a one-page succinct game plan to move forward. Include 3-5 goals and key action steps. If you stay in your current job, do this plan to accelerate your results. Review it with your boss. If you want to leave, identify the kind of company you want to be in and list ten prospects.
Network, network, network!
Whether you think you are leaving your job or not, start talking with others. It can be eye-opening. Give your resume a lift. Also, use online services to class it up. Brush up on interviewing and job-seeking skills. According to research, the best way to get a new job is to network while you currently working. In addition, networking adds power to your career advancement options.
In conclusion, Liz Ryan CEO of the Human Workplace says this about career warning signs, “We all run into roadblocks and hardships. It is part of life. How we deal with them is everything. I want to hire someone who has faced adversity and who overcame it. They have muscles!”
Also, do you want to eliminate the career warning signs that come your way? Furthermore, are you looking to elevate your success? See this complimentary Success Practices inventory and guidebook.
Finally, do you want to accelerate your career? Check out our learning and training membership site: RealTime Learning and Training.
