We have all been in a relationship that we are not sure is right for us. Whether it is with a partner, roommate, friendship, or even a bowling league. But sometimes it is hard to tell when the relationship with your job is right for you. So how can you tell when it’s time to change data jobs?
There are many parallels between a normal social relationship and the one you have with work, but how can you analyse and assess the signs that it is time to look for your next data role?
The warning signs of unhappiness are the same, no matter what the situation. It is easier to see it when it is a friend or a loved one going through the motions, but sometimes it can be hard to tell when you are the one in the situation, so here are some of the main signs of career unhappiness.
Growth Stagnation
In any healthy relationship, you both grow together, helping each other realise your true potential. The same goes for a professional relationship; if there is no opportunity for your own growth, it is not the right role for you.
The same can be said for the business though, if you do not see the business growing then there is only so far that you can go with it. Instead of plateauing in a role with no future, it might be worth considering your options.
Figure out what the next step is in your career journey, are you trying to become a Senior Data Analyst, a Head of Data or even a CDO? If there is already someone in that position and they have been for a while, the chances are that they will not be going anywhere soon. So how can you get that role? You will have to look outside of the company.
Unfulfilled Passion and Purpose
Life is full of growth, and sometimes we outgrow certain things. Without growth, everything stays the same, but it is important that it aligns with your own passions and goals in life.
If you have started feeling a loss of enthusiasm for your usual tasks, or any new projects are not exciting you as much as they used to it might be time to consider a change. Perhaps you have grown, and your own personal values no longer align with your job responsibilities.
There is nothing wrong with having changing goals throughout your career, what is important to you when you are 21 will not be the same as what matters to you in your 40s. In fact, if your values have not changed as you have grown that is a whole other issue…
Toxic Work Environment
The phrase “Toxic Relationship” gets thrown around a lot these days, but it applies to your work environment as well. If you are constantly feeling undermined, misunderstood, demeaned, unsupported, or attacked in the workplace, well, you are in a toxic workplace relationship.
It can be hard to tell when you’re in a toxic work relationship but, generally speaking, if you wake up in the morning dreading the day ahead of you, if you bring home your workplace stress, if you feel like your boss is micromanaging you and scrutinizing your every move, you’re probably in a toxic workplace. And nobody should be in a toxic workplace.
Burnout and Exhaustion
If you are a data analyst, working tirelessly to meet several project deadlines, with extra hours spend staring at a screen, you can start to feel undervalued and underappreciated. Leading to a lower performance than usual, missed deadlines and increased stress levels.
Burnout can come in many different forms; it can come as a physical manifestation. When you finish your work week if you are too physically exhausted to do anything, you are burnt out from work. But you can also be emotionally depleted, if you often feel overwhelmed or that your workload is too much for you to manage alone, and it will not be long until that mental burnout turns into a physical one.
When you start bringing workplace burnout home with you, it can influence other aspects of your life. It is best to tackle any issues with workplace burnout or exhaustion as early as possible.
Compensation and Benefits Mismatch
In most situations, when you take on a bigger workload, your compensation and benefits will change along with the workload. But there are instances where this is not the case.
I have spoken to a few people working in data who have been in a situation where a member of the team has left unexpectedly, and that workload has shifted onto their lap “Until the business can find someone to fill the role,” only for that role to not be filled and their own workload to increase without any compensation.
In these cases, it typically follows that any chances of career advancement are also reduced, due to the decreased team size.
Lack of Work-Life Balance
Work-Life balance is one of the most important factors for most people looking to change careers, without a clear separation of work and personal life, your work overtakes your own life.
A poor work-life balance leads to health and well-being issues, ruined relationships, lower productivity, and unsustainable career growth. You do not need to be a senior data analyst to notice that trend!
Health and Well-being Concerns
As mentioned above, a poor workplace relationship can have an adverse effect on your health and well-being. Hours spent overtime in the office, the stress of an unbalanced workload, and the burnout that comes with that can negatively impact your well-being.
Uninspiring Company Culture
An uninspiring work culture is the reason that many people leave their jobs. A bad workplace culture can lead to a lack of motivation, lower job satisfaction, and decreased loyalty and commitment. Without a sense of connection to the company values and fellow employees, you can find yourself questioning your commitment to the company.
With culture being such a crucial factor for many in the data landscape, it is so important that any workplace culture fits seamlessly in with your own personal values. As a data professional, you will be working closely with other like-minded individuals across multiple projects, so a strong company culture will be so important for career happiness.
Limited Opportunities for Advancement
Just like in a relationship, you may find yourself asking “Where is this going?” If you do not see any chances of progress or growth in your role, there is a time limit on how long you can stay with that company.
Nobody wants to be in the exact same position, with no advancement, for the rest of their career. If there is no way for you to advance to the next step in your career journey in that role, it might be time to ask the question “What is next for me?” or even “Is it time to change data jobs?”
Evaluating your current job satisfaction and growth opportunities
If you find that one or more of these applies to you while at work, then it may be time to evaluate your job satisfaction. In most cases, if one of the above applies to you, then the first step should be to talk to your manager about any problems you may have.
If they are unable or unwilling to help with any issues you have then it may be time to start thinking about moving on. The same applies if there are multiple sources of concern for you in your role then you should already be looking for your next career opportunity.
Take a bit of time to analyse what is best for you, both in the short term but also the long term. If your job satisfaction is low and there is little to no opportunity to grow into your next data role with your current employer, you may need to make the difficult decision to move on. It could be time to change data jobs.
Embracing change for personal and professional growth
A career move decision is never easy, change can be a terrifying concept for many, we get comfortable with what we know and fall into a routine. Yet, without change everything stays the same; change can be a catalyst for growth.
By forcing yourself out of your comfort zone you force yourself to grow and develop new skills, skills that will aid you in both your career growth and your own personal journey.
Is it Time to Change Data Jobs?
The first step is always the hardest, but if any of these signs apply to you, you should consider your next career move. Ask yourself, “Is this the company that is going to help me become a CTO?” or whatever your long-term career goal may be. If it is not, then it is time to start looking for the role that will help you fulfil that long-term goal
You can even take the very first step today by simply sending over your CV to us. Reach out and drop us a message, who knows? We might have your next career move lined up.
Daryl Gorman
Daryl is experienced in broadcast media as a Social Media Strategist, he excels in leveraging digital platforms to enhance brand visibility. With digital marketing and customer service expertise, Daryl now serves as the Marketing and Insights Manager at Orbition Group, overseeing strategic decision-making based on data-driven insights Read more.
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