Thinking about a Job Hop

I recently switched companies, moving from PowerReviews to Xobni. At some point, I’ll detail my thought process, but I think this article by Jack and Suzy Welch in BusinessWeek covers the high-level questions to consider very well.

In their November 12 column (Should You Stay or Should You Go), the pair outline four questions to help you decide whether it’s time to leave:

• Do you dread going into work?
• Do you like working with your team?
• Do you feel like you are moving towards personal goals?
• Do you see yourself at the company in one year?

While there is a lot more to think about than just these questions, the way you answer them serves as a really good set of red flags. Not every workday will be perfect, and you’ll have projects that drag for weeks and make you feel bored, unfulfilled, and uncertain about direction. If there are no rays of sunshine or interactions with colleagues that reassure you, though, it is definitely a sign.

It’s often clear whether you’re being placed on a certain track for advancement. This is true at big and small companies, and your personal drive will dictate how fast you move up the ladder. If you just don’t feel it, though, it doesn’t really matter. The same is true if you’re being pointed at a ladder you don’t care about.