7 Signs You've Outgrown Your Current Position

It’s easy to become comfortable in a role you’ve been in for a while, especially when you’re good at it. It’s stable, and you get lots of recognition - however, there are lots of telltale signs that you’ve outgrown your current position.  You should never feel as though you are stuck in a role because there is always room for improvement and growth - if it’s not with your current company, there will be another.

Here are the 7 signs you’ve outgrown your current position:

There's no room for growth

You don't feel satisfied

You watch the clock

You're not learning

Your salary hasn't increased

You don't feel like part of the company

You dream of being somewhere else

There's no room for growth

It’s hard to stay motivated in a position that doesn’t allow you to grow professionally and personally. It doesn’t matter whether you have 30 years or 2 years of experience; your position should allow you to progress and better yourself while you’re doing it.

You don't feel satisfied

Are you content with your position and feel like it’s fulfilling? No? Then it’s time to move on.  Your role should bring you satisfaction in some way – whether it’s successfully getting a deal or achieving the numbers you want and putting the effort in to get. If you’re not feeling satisfied, there will always be another position which offers you a higher rate of satisfaction.

You watch the clock

Everyone counts down the minutes at some point during their time at work, whether it’s before lunch or during a boring meeting; however, you shouldn’t be counting down the minutes of every day.  If you’re counting down the minutes, it probably means you need a new challenge. It’s always better to be in a role that is challenging, and that helps you develop over being easy and unstimulating. Work is where you spend a lot of your time, so spend it wisely.

You're not learning

If you’re not learning, you’re falling behind.  Whether it’s internal or external training, you should constantly be gaining new skills and developing yourself.  A big part of career fulfilment is learning new skills and tackling challenges.  If you’ve asked for more responsibility or training and your managers aren’t responding to you, it might be time to take the leap and invest your willingness to learn in another role.

Your salary hasn't increased

Salary increase should happen annually – whether is 2% or 10%, your salary should increase in line with your learning, growth and value to the company.  Understand your market worth and the value of the skills and experience you bring to the company you are working for.  

You don't feel like part of the company

Your values, morals and work ethic should always coincide with the company you work with – or anyone you work with.  You need to believe the company’s mission statement and values to really integrate yourself into the team.  By having this cohesion, you should feel like part of the company; if you don’t, it’s time to move on and find a better fit for you.

You dream of being somewhere else

Do you want to work for a specific company or in a specific industry, and do you feel like your current position is a stepping stone? It’s great to get experience but don’t waste years at a company you don’t want to work for in the long run.