Are you questioning your career choice, or maybe just the company you work for? It can be hard to know if you’re in the right industry or committed to the right company, especially with new jobs popping up every day in our inboxes and on LinkedIn. Sometimes you might be looking for signs to leave your job, but there can be just as many signs to stay and keep growing. Consider these signs.
- You Aren’t Triggered to Use Substances
One of the first but most subtle signs you are in the right job is when triggers like stress or fatigue are reduced in your life. For many people, stressful or exhausting situations can lead to using, or even abusing, more substances like caffeine or alcohol. For instance, if you need caffeine to stay alert and focused all day long, that might be a red flag. One study from the Institute of Scientific Information on Coffee found that 43 percent of people think coffee makes them more productive. If your work is so stimulating and exciting that you forget to drink coffee some mornings, you know it’s a good fit.
- You Feel Challenged and Respected
A more obvious sign you are in the right job is that your peers or your boss challenge you to grow and develop. This might mean deepening existing skills, or expanding your skill set into new talents. When these colleagues feel like respected friends, that means you found something special. In fact, the Society for Human Resource Management found that respectful treatment of all employees at all levels is the single biggest driver of job satisfaction. This also extends to respecting each other’s right to fail. It’s easy to show respect when things are going well, but if you can still appreciate each other when things are tough, you know you are in a good place.
- You Don’t Object to Change at Work
If getting assigned new tasks doesn’t change your attitude at work, chances are it’s because you are satisfied as an employee. Dissatisfied employees could resent new tasks or consider a new assignment to be “busy work” because they don’t understand the value, or don’t feel valued themselves. If you are open to or excited about changes coming down the pipeline, you should take it as a sign that your job or company is a good fit for your personality.
- You Talk Positively About Work to Friends and Family
We all know someone who never has anything positive to say about their job—and eventually, we start advising these people to look for something new. This is why it’s a good sign if you love to talk about your work. Whether it’s about the tasks you are working on or stories about co-workers, consider if a new job will present these same benefits.
- You Aren’t Struggling Financially
Lastly, a sign you have chosen the right industry or company is if you are comfortable financially. This doesn’t pertain to just your current salary, but also the benefits you receive and ability to prepare for retirement. You are in the right job when you are compensated for the full value and talent you bring to an organization.
These are just some of the signs you are in the right job, and each person will take some more seriously than others. Forbes recently reported on a study that found over half of US workers are not satisfied in their jobs, for reasons like benefits, stability, compensation, and dignity. If you are lucky enough to be in the right job, use that position to help others.
