9 Signs It’s Time to Start Looking for a New Job
There’s a big difference between having the odd bad day at work and feeling stuck, miserable or totally switched off. But when you’re deep in it, it’s not always easy to tell when it’s time to move on.
Here are 9 signs it might be time to start looking for a new job — and what they could be telling you.
1. You Dread Every Sunday Night — and Most Weekdays Too
We’ve all had Sunday night blues. But if that pit in your stomach hits every Sunday without fail – or worse, you start feeling it by Saturday afternoon – something’s off. Work shouldn’t ruin your weekend, and it definitely shouldn’t ruin your week. If the dread is constant, it might be time to ask yourself: is it the job, the company, or something else entirely?
2. You’ve Hit a Ceiling — No Growth, No Challenge
You’re doing the same thing, day in day out. No learning. No progression. No clear next step. That spark you had when you first started? Gone. If the only thing that’s growing is your frustration, not your career, it might be time to look for something that challenges you again.
3. Your Mental or Physical Health Is Taking a Hit
This one’s non-negotiable. If your job is affecting your sleep, your stress levels, your physical health, or your relationships — that’s a massive red flag. No job is worth burning yourself out for. Period.
4. No One Notices Your Work — But They Notice Your Mistakes
If you’re constantly flying under the radar, only being noticed when something goes wrong, it wears you down. Recognition isn’t about needing praise every day — but if all you ever hear is criticism, that environment isn’t helping you thrive.
5. The Company Feels Unstable
Layoffs, restructuring, budget freezes, rumours flying about… If your company constantly feels like it’s on shaky ground, you’re going to end up feeling unsettled too. You don’t need to panic at the first sign of change, but if instability becomes the norm, it’s worth having a backup plan.
6. You’re Bored Stiff — and Your Skills Are Wasting Away
You’ve outgrown the role. There’s nothing left to learn, no new projects to stretch you, and you’ve got more to give than you’re being asked for. That’s not just boring — it’s a career killer over the long term. You don’t want to look back in 2 years and realise you’ve been coasting.
7. The Culture Is Toxic — No Trust, No Respect
A toxic culture isn’t just about shouty managers or HR nightmares. Sometimes it’s subtle — backhanded comments, constant micro-managing, or just a general lack of trust or psychological safety. If the culture is bringing out the worst in people (including you), it’s not the right place to stay long-term.
8. You’re Treated Like a Given, Not an Asset
If the default is always “they’ll do it”, and no one ever checks in on your workload or development, it might be because you’ve been taken for granted. Being reliable is great. Being invisible isn’t.
9. You Can’t Show Up As Yourself
You’re always switching up your personality depending on who’s in the room. You’re filtering everything you say. You’re playing a role, not just doing a job. Work shouldn’t feel like a daily performance. If you’re not able to show up as you, then who are you doing it all for?
You don’t need to tick all 9 of these to justify a job search. One or two might be enough. The real question is: are you happy, challenged, and growing — or are you just surviving?
If the answer leans more towards surviving, start exploring what’s out there. You don’t have to hand in your notice tomorrow. But updating your CV, speaking to your network, or even just figuring out what you want next — those are good first steps.
Your job should work for you, not the other way round.
👇 Need Feedback on Your CV?
I built an AI CV Reviewer trained on my 20 years in recruitment.
It gives you instant, structured feedback so you can see exactly what to improve — no fluff, no gimmicks.
As a newsletter subscriber, you get 25% off.
Use code cv25off at checkout.
♾️ Use it as many times as you like — lifetime access included
👉 Check it out here
🚀 The No-Nonsense Job Search System
A few months ago, I quietly launched my full Job Search System — a step-by-step course packed with the exact strategies, templates, and tools to:
✅ Land more interviews
✅ Stand out in the process
✅ Negotiate better pay
Hundreds have been through it already — and the feedback has been brilliant.
As a newsletter subscriber, you get 50% off as a thank-you.
Use code sys50 at checkout.