10 Great Reasons to Change Jobs

Leaving a job can be one of the most stressful occasions in your working life. You may have spent years as part of an organization, becoming an integrated part of its office culture. Your routines, habits and small daily rituals -- such as when and where you take coffee breaks -- don't carry with you to a new job, and leaving that type of familiar environment behind can be frightening for even the most seasoned worker.

How do you know when it's time to hand in your two weeks' notice? Some situations are clearer than others, and some are definite signs that it's time to turn a new page in your career. Read on to learn about 10 of the best reasons to change jobs.

10: You can gain a broader base of knowledge.
Think about the learning curve you experienced when you started your current job. There was likely a period of fast-paced adaptation, followed by a longer period of learning the finer details of your work. Ideally, you ended this phase by moving into a level of mastery of your daily tasks and became an expert in your part of the organization's operation.
But are you capable of more? And could you advance your personal base of career-specific knowledge by repeating this process in a new position? The answer could be "yes."

9: You can increase your earning power.
Not all companies are created equal. Likewise, the same job in different industries can pay significantly different amounts. Being aware of these disparities -- and finding opportunities because of them -- can provide very valid reasons to change jobs.

8: Your current job doesn't challenge you.
You've undoubtedly heard friends and family members talk about wanting a "cushy" job -- one where the work is easy, slow-paced and not challenging at all. The ideal cushy job, it seems, would almost be a paid nap, with just enough work to keep you looking busy (but not enough to make you truly busy).

7: You simply cannot stand your boss any longer.
Every employee gets aggravated with his or her boss now and then. But if "now and then" becomes "all the time" in your office, the friction might be justification to move to a new position.
If you're facing this situation, think about what truly aggravates you about your boss. If it's a personality quirk or interpersonal issue, is there a way you can watch for this in a future job interview, so that you don't move from one bad situation to another? If it's a matter of leadership or decision-making, can you identify solutions you could present to a new employer, showing that you've got what it takes to be a better leader? Answer these questions before you choose a new job, so that you don't jump hastily from one bad situation into another.

6: Your employer is about to fail.
The old cliché about rats leaving a sinking ship isn't flattering, but it does have a ring of truth in the working world: If you can see that your company's on its way to financial ruin -- or worse -- it's probably a good time to find a new job.

5: Your life has changed in a major way.
Suppose you get married to someone who works in another state, or your spouse gets a tremendously good job offer that requires you to move. Perhaps you're about to have a child, or an aging parent is moving in with you. You want to spend more time with your family, and your current job situation may not allow for that kind of shift in your priorities.

4: Co-workers create a hostile atmosphere.
Every company, office and job team develops its own work culture. Imagine, for example, an office full of baseball fanatics, where fantasy baseball is the center of conversation in the spring and the World Series is the main topic of conversation in the fall. This kind of connection can help co-workers bond and become a better team, but it can also make the office an exclusive -- and even uninviting -- place for outsiders.
If the problem is one of simply not being part of the office's culture, however, you may decide it's best to find a new job.

3: Your job focuses on your weaknesses.
Perhaps you started your current job under the impression that it would let you use your unique strengths to do fulfilling work. When you began work and started learning the ins and outs of your job, you realized that instead of playing to your strengths, the position requires skills, strengths or a disposition that aren't in line with who you are.

2: You have a better offer.
A good outside offer may put you in position to ask for more from your current employer, as well. It's common practice -- and considered courteous in most industries -- to give your present employer a chance to counter-offer and keep you on staff. Negotiate right, and you could end up gaining a raise, promotion or other benefits without having to change jobs. If your current employer won't negotiate, however, you should take that as a sign that you may be better off in a new job.

1: You're ready for a new career.
Much like a major life change, a change in your career objectives or desires may make it necessary for you to change to a new job. Maybe you completed a college degree that opens new doors for you, or you might be at a point in life where you simply want to pursue a different occupation. This kind of transition often comes after a long period of thought, discussion at home and training outside of work. You may have been planning this for years.