If you’re back from your summer holiday and you’re dreading going back to work, you’re not alone. Many of us feel the holiday hangover.

You’ve gone from having sand between your toes, a refreshing drink in hand, and plenty of sunshine. To staring at your screen once again and making your way through 100+ unread emails. But is it a temporary feeling? Or could it be time to move on?

Take a look at these 5 tell-tale signs that it’s time for a new job.

You no longer feel valued

Your time away from the office may have helped you come to the realisation that, whilst you’ve stayed in the same role for an extended period, everyone who’s moved to another job is now on a higher salary than you.

As there’s been such an increase in demand for digital and creative skills, it’s likely that the other employers are offering a higher salary for the job you’re doing now.

If this is the case, before you start applying for other roles, you could ask your current employer for a salary review. Along with information on how your position will progress. You can then weigh up whether this will make you feel more valued in the long run.

It all feels a little stale, demotivating and repetitive

Work doesn’t always need to make you feel super motivated and inspired. But it shouldn’t be leaving you feeling like you’re experiencing Groundhog Day.

We all have our off days, but if everything feels stale, unexciting and repetitive daily then you may not be performing to the best of your ability. In this case, it could be time to start your job search.

You could ask your employer for variation, a new responsibility or task that will help you feel more engaged and motivated.

If there’s nothing that will help you feel excited about your current job, maybe it’s time to start looking elsewhere for something that does excite you.

You no longer feel like you’re learning or developing new skills

Learning directly correlates with growth. If you no longer feel like you’re learning or developing new skills, your current job may be feeling very unfulfilling.

If you feel like you’re no longer learning, you should ask yourself what it is you’d like to achieve next, and whether your current role will allow you to do so.

You could consider speaking with your current employer to find out whether they can support you. If they’re unable to support you, it might be time to find somewhere that will.

There’s no scope for development or progression

If there’s no longer scope for you to progress, this could leave you feeling undervalued and unmotivated. You may have progressed as far as you possibly can, or it may be the case that your employer hasn’t offered a clear personal development plan.

Most workplaces offer a clear role progression plan. Along with an outline of what’s needed to progress, and what extra responsibilities you then gain.

Speak with your employer and try to map out what’s next for you. If you already know there’s no room to progress, it’s probably time to move on.

You’re dreading going to work

This is a pretty obvious one, if every day you’re waking up and truly dreading going to work, it’s a sign that something isn’t right.

Ask yourself what it is that’s making you feel this way, and if anything can be done to correct it. Sometimes there’s an easy fix that can be remedied by talking to your manager.

Other times it may run deeper. In which case it’s better to get out and protect your own wellbeing.

Need help with your job search?

Feel free to get in touch for a chat.

We speak to candidates on a daily basis who have seen these signs in their current job. We listen and we help you to rectify the situation if we can. If we can’t, then we help you to make your next career move, choose the company and the role that’s right for you.