6 Undeniable Signs it’s Time to Look for a New Job

We all ride the natural highs and lows of working life. Some weeks you’re buzzing with exciting projects that remind you why you fell in love with your job in the first place. Other times, motivation is harder.

But if the thought of the end of the weekend and another week in work fills you with dread, it’s worth paying attention. This feeling can be a quiet warning that something is seriously wrong.

Maybe you’ve outgrown your role, maybe the culture has turned toxic, or maybe you’ve realised your energy and passion belong somewhere else doing different work, with a new company with different values. Whatever the reason, there are clear signals which suggest it’s time to look for a new job.

Of course, making a career move can feel intimidating, which is why so many people choose to ignore the signs and hope things will somehow improve on their own.

Deciding on a career move can be a daunting thing, and that’s why many people try to ignore the warning signs that they should move on.

Today, we share the six undeniable signs it’s time to look for a new job and how to take the next step with confidence.

 1. You’ve Stopped Enjoying Going to Work

There can be many reasons people are reluctant to leave the house in the morning, from a commute that is regularly filled with traffic to a lengthy train journey. Whilst long commutes and busy schedules can test anyone’s patience, getting to work shouldn’t feel like a countdown to unhappiness.

Have you found yourself stopping off for a coffee to delay getting into the office; have you started taking the longer route to work; does the thought of work in the morning keep you awake at night?

Even if you now work from home, that dread doesn’t disappear, it just shifts. It shows up in diary alerts, Teams meetings, on conference calls, or any time work related messages pop-up on your screen.

Regular anxiety about work isn’t normal. If your job fills you with dread, it’s a clear sign it’s a clear sign it’s time to make a change.

 2. You Feel Disconnected from Your Role

Great employers build engaged teams. You should have a manageable workload, clear expectations, and a sense that what you do actually matters.

You should feel a passion and drive for your role, and a connection to your team and your employer which makes you want to give your best to the job – it was probably there when you applied for this position.

However, over time, poor leadership or lack of direction can lead to you feeling disconnected.  It is then hard for you to be motivated, not because you’re lazy, but because you feel unseen or unsupported.

Once disengagement sets in, it’s hard to get that passion back, especially if trust in your employer has faded. Feeling disconnected is often the beginning of the end.

 3. You’re Taking More Days Off Than Usual

Taking extra sick days or taking holidays simply to get away from your job is a sign that something is wrong.

An estimated 12.7% of sick days are taken due to mental health issues, many of which are directly linked to work-related stress. If your job is affecting your wellbeing, your first step should always be to speak to your manager because they have a duty of care.

But if the issues are ongoing and outside their control, or nothing improves, it may be time to find an employer that genuinely prioritises your wellbeing.

 4. You Don’t Get on with Your Boss (or Your Colleagues)

Getting on brilliantly with your boss and teammates isn’t guaranteed, but constant tension is exhausting.

Negative relationships can slowly poison even the best roles, turning what once felt like a dream job into a daily struggle. Whilst there are often steps you can try before leaving, sometimes the environment itself is the problem.

Toxic workplaces are more common than we like to admit. There should always be avenues you can explore before it gets as serious as leaving for a different company, but sometimes that’s what it takes.

If you’re regularly belittled, ignored, or surrounded by negativity that’s holding back both your confidence and your career, it’s time to move somewhere where you can thrive and enjoy your work once again.

5. You’re Being Underpaid

Nearly half of employees feel underpaid for the work they do – does this sound familiar? If so, you are not alone.

When you start a job, the expectations might have been clear, but what commonly happens in workplaces is that over time, and as you become more experienced within the organisation, you are tasked with more and more duties.

And your remuneration rarely increases with the amount of extra work you are now expected to undertake.

It might be a simple case of your manager not realising how many extra tasks outside of your role you are taking on – but this again is poor management on their part.

Suppose you are increasingly given extra tasks or are performing more senior managerial duties and your employer tells you that you are not going to be paid any extra for them. In that case, this is a sign that your employer is taking advantage of you.

Not all employers behave like this - now should be the right time to find one who properly values your contribution.

 6. You Feel Undervalued

Aside from being paid a fair salary for the work you do, it is also important that you feel emotionally valued and supported by your manager and your colleagues.

Signs you’re being undervalued include:

• Your work goes unnoticed

• Performance and pay reviews are endlessly delayed

• You’re micromanaged or denied autonomy

• Others are promoted whilst you’re left behind

Being undervalued can be a sign that your current employer is not going to support you in your career and that things are unlikely to change unless the entire company has a management shake-up – but you don’t have to wait for this to happen.

 Next Steps

Many people stay in roles that make them deeply unhappy because they believe they have no other options.

The truth is there are always other options; you just might not know where to find them – and that’s where Bob Garton Consulting comes in.

I’m not a recruiter anymore. Instead, I use my 35 years of executive recruitment experience to work personally with you—guiding you through every stage of securing your next role, with clarity, confidence, and strategy.

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all service. You’ll work directly with me through a series of bespoke consultations that cover:

• A professionally reworked, fact-based CV designed to highlight your strengths and successfully navigate today’s AI-driven hiring systems

• A comprehensive psychometric report (up to 58 pages) that uncovers hidden strengths, motivations, and working style—insights that are then built directly into your new CV to improve career fit and long-term satisfaction

• An attention-grabbing application letter that positions you as a serious, credible candidate

• In-depth interview preparation, so you can present yourself with confidence and be seen by hiring managers as their candidate of choice

If you identify with one or more of these 6 signs we need to talk so you can take the next step with confidence.

To get started, book a free initial discussion with Bob Garton. This gives us the chance to explore your career goals, identify what’s holding you back, and decide how I can best help you land your next ideal role.