New year, new job? The new year can be a popular time to consider a change of scene and for many, that can mean a new job. But how do you know if it’s the right time?
This guide covers the most popular reasons to change role, as well as some of the reasons that you might not want to switch jobs just yet.
We’ll look at:
Let’s start off with why changing jobs in 2024 could be the right career decision for you!
The top reasons to change jobs in the New Year
Your current role doesn’t offer flexibility
Whether you’re a parent or your commute is a killer, flexibility can make a huge impact on your working life.
Since the pandemic, 58% of Americans work remotely at least one day per week with many flexing their hours of work around their personal life. With the average cost of childcare in the US now over $10,000 a year, flexible working is also critical to many working parents trying to juggle daycare runs with their jobs.
If your current role doesn’t provide the flexibility you need to achieve work-life balance and professional success, there are many employers who will.
You can find completely remote jobs here, part-time jobs here, and flexible jobs here.
You’re not being recognized for your work
Recognition can take a number of forms. It could be your boss and colleagues giving you kudos for a great job, a pay rise or promotion, or being encouraged to apply for a better role internally. All of these things can make a huge impact on your job satisfaction.
Another real kicker is someone else is taking the credit for your work. As founding father Samuel Adams famously said, credit should be given where credit is due.
If you’re feeling constantly overlooked and undervalued, it could be time to move on to somewhere that is ready to recognize just how great you are!
There aren’t any opportunities to learn new things
You don’t need an Ivy League education to know that upskilling is a great way to climb the career ladder. Learning isn’t important to everyone, but a lot of people are looking for opportunities to grow at work. Some employers provide access to external development programs, and even college degrees, while others run extensive training in-house.
Learning may also come from a great manager or mentor, or the opportunity to expand the skills you already have.
If you’re feeling stuck in a rut, it could be time to find an employer that encourages and supports continual learning.
You’re being underpaid
First things first, it’s super important that you know your worth so start investigating salaries. You could ask colleagues, ask friends who’ve moved to new employers and have a look at what your job might pay you elsewhere.
Using our ValueMyResume tool allows you to get clear unbiased information regarding how much your resume is worth and how much you should be being paid.
Is your paycheck falling short? You have two options, either ask for a pay rise (and use this handy how-to guide) or look for another job. The choice is yours.
There aren’t any opportunities to progress
Feeling like your current role isn’t your endgame, and looking for a promotion? Sometimes you can be stuck waiting for the person one grade above you to move on, get promoted, or leave and if that’s not looking likely, options for progression could be minimal.
If you love your current employer, make sure you have an open and honest conversation with management to discuss your ambitions to progress. Ask them for a time frame and what you need to do to get the job title of your dreams.
If they’re unable to lay out clear goals, you might be able to find an employer who is willing to give you the role you’re looking for, without having to jump through any hoops or wait around!
Your current job is boring
If you’ve been in your job for a long time, you’ll probably have done the same tasks over and over again.
Even if you’re not looking to progress up the career ladder, make more money, or take on more responsibility, there’s nothing worse than your day-to-day being a snooze-fest.
Perhaps it’s time to look at what transferable skills you have and whether it’s time for a career pivot. This means you might take a side step into a new role or industry to keep things interesting.
You’re being micromanaged
There’s a reason why the movie Horrible Bosses was so popular, having a terrible boss is all too common. A bad boss can make a great job pretty awful, especially if you feel that your manager doesn’t trust you and is constantly checking up on you.
If you’re not gelling with your boss’s management style, it could be time to move on. If you’re worried about falling into the same issues again, ask interview questions like “how would you describe your management style?” and “what is your communication style like?” and also spend some time researching a company in advance of applying.
You’re moving away
Having to move? Whether you’re relocating to the suburbs, moving state, or even moving country, this could be the right time to move to a new role.
Perhaps your current job doesn’t encourage telecommuting and you don’t want to spend hours in the car each day. Maybe you’re moving to a new timezone which doesn’t make your job practical, or you just need a fresh start.
Finding a new role could be a great way of making new friends in your new location too!
Your current employer doesn’t align with your ethics
Perhaps your employer doesn’t have diversity at the board level, isn’t ingraining sustainability in their practices, or just isn’t as family values as you are.
When you and your employer’s values don’t align, there’s friction and this could mean that you’re not fulfilled at work.
To boost your job satisfaction, find an employer that has the same ethos as you.
Your current job doesn’t provide any benefits
Pay is just part of the package that you should consider. Employers can offer varying degrees of paid holiday, different levels of maternity and paternity pay, health insurance, and even perks like a gym membership.
If your current employer is lowballing you when it comes to benefits and perks, you’ll find loads of companies that have some great packages.
From pawternity leave to fertility support, you can find out about some of our favorite work perks here.
Just because
Sometimes it can be hard to put a finger on why you have itchy feet. Perhaps it’s a gut feeling that something isn’t right, or you know in your heart of hearts you need a change.
If that’s the case, embrace it and start looking for a new role!
And why you might want to stay put
A job change in 2023 isn’t for everyone, so don’t feel like you need to embrace a “new year, new me” if you don’t want to. Here are some of the reasons you might want to stay put.
You need financial stability
When you change jobs, you’ll normally have a probationary period. This means that it can be really easy for you or your employer to change their minds and you could find yourself back out of a job.
If you’ve got a big mortgage, or are working towards paying off a large chunk of debt, then now might not be the time to find a new role.
You’ve got a great manager
Michael Johnson said to ‘earn your leadership everyday’ and the legendary basketball player was onto something, the best leaders strive everyday to earn the respect of their coworkers and peers. A supportive manager who you can learn from is not to be underestimated. If you have a manager that is able to invest time into you as a professional then it might be worth staying put.
Remember though, that your manager might have plans to move elsewhere – so don’t hang around just because of them.
You’re up for a promotion
If you know a promotion is on the horizon, it might be worth sticking around. This means you’ll have a new job title, and an increased salary, which could help your job hunt and negotiations in the future.
It’s easier to progress in a company where you’ve already got an established reputation, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be keeping your eye out for something better elsewhere. Setting a job alert never hurt anyone!
You love your job!
There’s nothing better than a job that gives you everything you need: Learning and progression opportunities, good pay, and a fantastic team environment.
If you think the grass might be greener but you’re the envy of your friends and family who wish they had the same opportunities and stability, it might be worth thinking twice before moving on.
Ready to move on? How to explain changing jobs in an interview
It’s the inevitable interview question, “why are you looking to move on?”, and it can be really hard to answer. Here are some quick tips:
- Be transparent. Any of the reasons outlined above is a legitimate reason for leaving a job. Use that as the basis of why you’re moving on and why you’re interested in the role you’ve applied to.
- Be diplomatic. Don’t say anything to slate your current employer, you never know how the interview panel might be linked to your current colleagues. Not liking your manager or not gelling with a team is a fair enough reason but consider phrasing it like “I really admire the work of new manager, and would love to be part of their team. I truly believe that I could learn so much from them”.
- Be truthful. Don’t say something that isn’t true, as it could trip you up later down the line
- Be concise. Don’t dwell on the reasons that your previous role wasn’t right for you. Focus on why you think this new job is right for you.
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