- Many professionals in the workforce at some point in their career reach a crossroads where they must weigh their options and determine if they will remain at a company or quit and move on. According to the <strong><a href="http://www.bls.gov/">Department of Labor's</a> </strong>March 2011 "Job Openings and Labor Turnover" report, 1.9 million workers chose the latter and left their jobs amid the recession.<strong> </strong> Yet another report, by BlessingWhite, a global consulting firm, notes that the number of North American employees determined to leave their positions has nearly doubled since 2008, from 7% to 13%. <strong>Blackenterprise.com</strong> spoke with Joey Price, human resources specialist and founder of career services firm, <a title="Push Consultant Group" href="http://www.pushconsultantgroup.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Push Consultant Group L.L.C.</strong></a>, on seven signs that quitting and moving on may be your best option. <em>—Souleo</em>
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- <ul> <li><strong>A health risk is evident:</strong></li> </ul> <strong> </strong>A hostile work environment not only poses a disruptive force that negatively impacts your emotional and mental state, but it can also affect your physical health. When workplace issues can’t be resolved, Price recommends that you quit to protect yourself from illness. “This can affect you physically if too much cortisol, a stress hormone, is secreted into your bloodstream," he warns. "It can lead to higher blood pressure and weight gain. So there are very real reasons for not staying in a hostile environment.”
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- <ul> <li><strong>Salary is inadequate:</strong></li> </ul> <strong> </strong>If you’re barely making ends meet when it comes to your bills, debt payments or providing for your family, then either you’re not budgeting correctly or your salary is too low. If it’s the latter, Price suggests that you seek another job. “If you don’t feel like you’re being compensated enough to handle living arrangements then something has to change,” he says. “If you can look for another job that pays more then by all means go and pursue that.”
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- <ul> <li><strong>Opportunity is knocking:</strong></li> </ul> <strong> </strong>It’s not every day that an opportunity for advancement presents itself but when it does through the form of relational networking you should strongly consider it. “Individuals who refer you to particular openings that are of value to them want you to do well and for the company to do well also,” says Price. “With that in mind, you can be rest assured that the opportunity may be a good fit because the person has intimate knowledge of you and the position.”
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- <ul> <li><strong>Your current job is not a good fit:</strong></li> </ul> <strong> </strong>Everyone has unique behavior patterns, and part of the perfect job match is finding an environment that complements your work style. “If you are in a position that continues to stretch you outside of your comfort zone to the point of burnout and exhaustion and not growth," says Price, "then you may not be in the right position for you.”
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- <ul> <li><strong>The company's future is looking grim:</strong></li> </ul> <strong> </strong>Paying attention to the warning signs that your company may soon downsize or shut down can save you a lot of financial pain in the long run. “If you find that the company may be in bad shape financially, and it may affect your employment, you may want to consider jumping ship," Price says. "We all know what happens if you stay way too long and begin to hear the violins.”
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- <ul> <li><strong>The glass ceiling won’t crack:</strong></li> </ul> One purpose of having a career is to progress and evolve in a chosen field(s) but there aren’t always career development opportunities within an organization for ambitious professionals. “If you find that you've reached the peak potential for your current job and no longer find it rewarding, it may be time to quit,” says Price. “This can be the case in smaller organizations where opportunities for growth are limited or in organizations where succession planning is non-existent or an afterthought.”
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![The thrill is gone: “At the end of the day, what really matters is how you feel at the beginning of the day," Price says. "Do you find that you have minimal motivation to go to work and wish you could call out without reason? [If so,] it's time to consider quitting.” The consequences of remaining in an unsatisfactory position can lead to you being less productive and can hinder your career growth. “Imagine the feeling of receiving a negative performance review when the truth is not that you can't be more productive, you just aren't happy.”](http://cdn4.blackenterprise.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/07/Stickies-Woman-620x480.jpg "Stickies-Woman-620x480")
- <ul> <li><strong>The thrill is gone:</strong></li> </ul> <strong> </strong>“At the end of the day, what really matters is how you feel at the beginning of the day," Price says. "Do you find that you have minimal motivation to go to work and wish you could call out without reason? [If so,] it's time to consider quitting.” The consequences of remaining in an unsatisfactory position can lead to you being less productive and can hinder your career growth. “Imagine the feeling of receiving a negative performance review when the truth is not that you can't be more productive, you just aren't happy.”
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