Leaving a job can be a stressful and anxiety-provoking experience for anyone.

You might have spent decades growing roots within an organisation and becoming familiar with its company culture. This can make it very difficult to break out of the routines, habits, and rituals that you've become accustomed to.

However, as scary as it seems, change can be a good thing.

Some people change roles because they're not getting enough opportunities with their current employer. Others look for something new because they're not happy with their coworkers, or feel that they can develop their career better elsewhere.

If you're rethinking your current employment, you're not alone. Let's look at some of the biggest reasons why people go back to the drawing board and relaunch their job search.

1. Not Enough Opportunities for Growth

Today's top-tier talent is ambitious. They are constantly looking to develop their skills, explore new challenges and opportunities that allow them to take on more responsibility and to be able to spread their wings.

If you've been stuck doing the same thing for some time, and your boss hasn't given you any chances to expand your education, despite your requests, then it's time to look for somewhere you're more likely to grow.

Workplaces that don't offer opportunities for growth and advancement will always lose their hires to organisations who are willing to invest in the development of their staff. If you feel that your skills are growing stagnant, look for a position that will take you closer to the next step on your career roadmap.

2. Poor Company Culture

In the perfect workplace, everyone would work together easily, with a comfortable and supportive company culture. Unfortunately, if your work ethics, performance style, and attitude simply don't mesh with the other recruits in your team, then you're always going to have a tough time feeling at home with your current employer.

Personalities don't always blend well together. That's why many hiring managers are now beginning to look for candidates based on attitude as well as skill.

While you're likely to face the occasional clash in any organisation thanks to problems like attention-seeking colleagues and office gossip, switching to a new position can help you to find a professional environment where you fit more naturally.

3. Problems with Management

Studies show that most employees don't leave their jobs, they leave their bosses. While you can do your best to keep any manager happy by arriving at work on time, performing admirably on every project, and demonstrating a positive attitude, you still might not see eye-to-eye with leaders in your organisation.

If you feel that an inattentive, or problematic boss might be preventing you from reaching your full potential, you may need to switch jobs before you can begin to grow again. Just make sure you look for a boss who shares the same values and ideals as you the next time you're in a hiring interview.

Keep in mind that sometimes you might have to deal with a difficult boss for a while before you get an opportunity to take on the perfect role. If you love everything about your position beside the person responsible for paying your salary, consider whether a move is really in your best interests.

4. Too Much or Too Little Work

Great employees are frequently asked to take on extra tasks, either because they've demonstrated that they're open to additional projects in the past, or because they've used their initiative to complete more work in their spare time. Unfortunately, if your boss keeps piling things onto your to-do list and you're uncomfortable saying no, you'll soon begin to suffer from burnout and overwhelm.

On the other side of the coin, if nothing you do convinces your manager to give you more responsibilities you might feel bored and unchallenged at work. An inability to prove yourself can mean that you're passed over for promotions, and never get a chance to demonstrate your skills.

Whether you're facing too much or too little work, often the best thing you can do is speak to your boss about your needs. Have a few conversations and look for ways to turn the situation around. If things remain the same, then you'll know it's time for new employment.

5. A Lack Of Company Vision

There are many benefits to employers of having an engaged workforce: greater creativity, innovation, change and productivity to name a few. However, to realise these benefits it’s important that a business has the right foundations in place and a starting point is to have a company vision that inspires, excites and captures the imagination of current and future employees.

When Bill Gates and Paul Allen set up Microsoft, their original vision was to have a computer in every home. This was and still is a simple statement that every employee can connect with. Not only that, it allows each employee to have a clear understanding of how what they do day to day contributes towards the overall vision.

Which brings me back to why company vision is an important reason for you to potentially change jobs.

Firstly, does your company have a vision and do you know it? If your answer is No, that’s telling. If your company does have a vision and you know it, how inspiring is it and how clearly can you see where your role contributes to the realisation of the goal?

Like many of today’s millennial generation, how you contribute to your team, department, company and wider society may be important. Too often employees become disengaged and demotivated when they cannot see what the purpose and meaning of their work is.

If you are working for an employer who has no vision for the business or you don’t connect with the vision, and notice it’s impacting your desire to go to work each day, now could be a time to consider a change.

About Inspire People

Inspire People is a boutique IT recruiter specialising in Digital Transformation, Platforms and DevOps.

We work in partnership with a diverse range of employers who utilise technology to make a positive impact on society; from managed service providers to private, public sector and not-for-profit organisations, finding the fit between the employer and the employee.

If you would like to discuss your next career move or are looking to attract the right talent, speak with one of the Inspire People team on +44(0)20 7871 8550 or email hello@inspirepeople.net