The Complacency Curse

It’s very easy to become complacent when it comes to your career, especially at a job that pays decently well and comes with a good group of co-workers. Maybe your job isn’t what you want to do for the rest of your life, but you start convincing yourself, “This is fine—it’s not my dream job, but it’ll do for now…”

You become too comfortable with your routine, leading to complacency. Complacency then tends to generate excuses, leading to fear.And fear holds us back. … Read on for some signs it’s finally time to move on:

1. You’re settling for the “status quo”

If you’ve been at the same company and position without any advancement or promotion for the past three years—and you want to move your career forward—it’s time to look elsewhere. Even in a large organization where promotions are tough to come by, you should experience some sort of upward movement within this time frame.

2. You’re not learning

If your learning curve has flattened out or you’re really not feeling challenged, it may be a signal for you to begin learning elsewhere. If opportunities to improve your core skills and pick up new ones don’t exist, your company may not be serious about investing in their employees’ career development.

3. There’s a constant exodus

Do you find yourself being invited to yet ANOTHER colleague’s going-away happy hour? When you start noticing a pattern of disgruntled employees (especially the good ones) seeking exits, this usually indicates there are better places to work.

4. Restructuring is “business as usual”

If your company is regularly announcing a reorganization or shuffling management around, this may indicate leadership issues or a shaky strategic direction. Reorgs can provide an opportunity to step up and shine; but more often than not, they signal turbulence- inevitably impacting your priorities, focus, and progress.

5. Headhunters want you

Increased attention from headhunters may indicate your industry is “hot” and companies are hiring. Don’t ignore our calls and emails. Consider these conversations as market research to find out who’s hiring, what roles and functions are in need, and the average salary range for comparable jobs. (You might even find a recruiter you like to work with, who can help you find your next “dream” job!)

6.  It Feels Like Time to Go

Don’t ignore what your gut is telling you. No one knows your work environment better than you do. If you get the sense that you might be better off somewhere else, heed that inner voice and go exploring

Beyond these warning signals, be sure make time to regularly check in with yourself about your career happiness- so you don’t fall victim to the “complacency curse”.

-Diana