en
Jobs

Let our industry specialists listen to your aspirations and present your story to the organisations in Hong Kong that fit you the best as we collaborate to write the next chapter of your successful career.

See all jobs
Candidates

Together, we’ll map out career-defining, life-changing pathways to achieve your career ambitions. Browse our range of services, advice, and resources.

Learn more
Services

We understand that no two organisations are the same. Find out more about how we've customised our recruitment offerings to help companies in Hong Kong meet their needs.

Read more
About Robert Walters Hong Kong

Since our establishment in 1997, our belief remains the same: Building strong relationships with people is vital in a successful partnership.

Learn more

Work for us

Our people are the difference. Hear stories from our people to learn more about a career at Robert Walters Hong Kong

Learn more

6 signs it is time to change jobs

It's only natural that your interests and goals change over time. However, if you're finding this shift in enthusiasm is in relation to your work life, is it time to think about a change of jobs?

Here are a few indicators that it might be time for you to make your move.

1. You often feel stressed and tired

Do you find you’re dragging your feet on the commute to work, and are lacking the spring in your step that you once had? Are you finding your sleep being interrupted regularly and that you're becoming prone to bouts of irritability or low spirits? 

Any of these could be symptoms of rising stress levels – which can be an early warning sign that things aren’t quite as they should be. Stress can affect your mood and your immune system, making you more susceptible to becoming sick, and impairing performance; left unchecked, more serious health issues can develop too. 

So, if you're getting the feeling that your body is trying to tell you something, it’s worth taking a moment to try and understand the message. 

2. You don’t believe in the company like you used to

When you began working in your current job it seemed full of possibilities, and you felt proud to identify yourself as an employee of your organisation. But recently you’ve noticed a change in the office atmosphere, and your belief or confidence in the organisation isn’t what it was. 

Perhaps the company has taken some commercial or strategic decisions that don’t sit well with you? Perhaps a management reshuffle has not been a change for the better in your view? Or perhaps it’s just that your own thinking has evolved, and you’re starting to feel that the company’s values don’t align closely enough with your own anymore?   

A lack of shared values can be a powerful motivator. If this sounds like you, it might be time to start looking around for a new company that you can really believe in. 

3. You're watching the clock

You used to wake up in the morning excited about what you might achieve during the day ahead. You'd even take on extra projects and stay late voluntarily to get extra work done. Now, you're counting down the hours until you can log off and leave the office. You find yourself tempted to just take on the minimum workload, rather than look for opportunities to stretch yourself or go the extra mile. 

Everyone deserves to work in a job that they feel enthusiastic about doing and that keeps them eager to make a difference. It may be that your job doesn’t stretch you any more, or your current employer doesn’t have an adequate development path for you. It could be time to move on to something that ignites your passion again.

4. Your skills don’t match up to your personal interests

Sometimes people get hired for things they’re really good at but don’t necessarily especially like doing. Perhaps you’re skilled in software sales but would prefer to be in marketing. Maybe you’re great at creating spreadsheets, but you’d prefer to be out meeting clients instead of sitting at a computer screen all day. Perhaps you’ve found yourself practising in one area of law when you’ve always had a particular interest in another. 

Though it’s not always easy to make it happen, it’s natural to want to align your personal interests with your career activity – and the longer you leave it, the harder it can be to switch as you become more and more specialised in a field that you don’t feel is really you.

As Steve Jobs once said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.” So now could be the time to take the opportunity while you can, and see what you can achieve if you try.

 

5. You feel invisible

Do you feel that your opinions and contributions sometimes go unacknowledged? You may have been overlooked for a promotion or an important project and you’re finding others get the credit for things you suggested months ago. Perhaps relationships within your team aren’t as cordial or collaborative as they used to be and team members aren’t socialising together anymore.  

You spend a significant proportion of your time every week working in your team, so it’s important that you feel a valued member and that the atmosphere is friendly, productive and encouraging. If you’ve done everything you can to improve the dynamic but things still don’t feel right, then it may be time to find something new to challenge you and where you feel you can make a real difference. 

6. You’ve just grown out of your current role

Sometimes it can be hard to accept that a role – however much you like your company, and however well you get on with your co-workers – is just not substantial enough for you anymore. But staying in a role that you’ve grown out of, out of a sense of loyalty or hesitation to change, could become a demotivating experience in the longer term.  

You’ve developed skills and experience over time, and you’re ready for new challenges. Sometimes an employer may simply not have the resources or business case to be able to develop you adequately, and sometimes what your career needs is the sort of step change that only a job switch can really provide. 

If that sounds like you, don’t be afraid to start exploring your options. You owe it to yourself, after all. 

Share this article

Useful links

Sign up for job alerts
Salary Survey
Career Advice
Get in touch

Find out more by contacting one of our specialist recruitment consultants

Related content

View all

How to build a strong commercial mindset at workplace

The last year saw both companies and employees to evolve and adapt to face uncertain situations. As we look towards 2023, it is important for professionals to take the time to realign their mindset towards growth and look at the infinite opportunities available. Commercial awareness is one of the mo

Read More

How to get an overseas internal transfer

Landing that job internationally can be a career defining turn for many people. It comes with its own merits and challenges, but the process to get the job is not that straightforward. It involves meticulous planning which starts months in advance and being all eyes and ears on the next best opportu

Read More

How to boost your internal profile at work

Are you ready for the next career step within your current employer or are you looking to be given more responsibilities in your current position? When on the lookout for a new challenge, making sure you are visible within your organisation can be a crucial way to ensure you’re first in line when fu

Read More

Graduate Trainee Programme 2024

Are you interested in launching your career with a world-leading specialist in professional recruitment? Gain valuable experience, expert training, and the opportunity to make a positive impact across the globe.