Is It Time to Leave Your Job?

If you've been wondering whether you should leave or stay in your job, the short quiz below could provide a new lens for a more objective analysis of your situation. The categories are based on The Balancing Act's Elements of Success. As you will see, each element is vital to your job satisfaction. 

Try it out! Put a check by all those items that describe you in your current job. Your scores will help you decide if your job is really not so bad (stop complaining!)--or if you need to bail out of it ASAP. You can also use this checklist to: a) address specific items that could make your job more satisfying; and b) underscore what you must have in your next job.

Category
I. Core		Job doesn't "fit" (use your gifts, talents, experience).
		You are stressed, dispirited, depressed, have low morale.
		Not acting as the best person you know yourself to be.
		Have ethical/values conflicts with boss or colleagues.
		Unclear how to articulate your special career gifts/talents.
		Too easily thrown off-balance and out-of-sorts at work.
II. Vision		Job is no longer fun or challenging; feel apathetic.
		Little opportunity for creativity and innovation.
		Don't see much of a future/not optimistic about this job.
		People here don’t have much sense of humor.
		Fear is prevalent in organization; you often feel anxious.
		You've stopped learning/growing in this job--are bored.
III. Mission		You feel overwhelmed, burned out.
		You lack feedback about what you're doing right in job.
		You've constantly being micromanaged.
		Have conflicting &/or too many priorities.
		Don't feel this job makes a difference – what's the point?
		Have a lack of pride in job or company.
IV. Interactions		You do not particularly like/respect boss or colleagues.
		Feel isolated, lack community, collegiality.
		You can't serve your customers the way you want to.
		There are poor communications in general.
		You feel treated disrespectfully, thoughtlessly.
		You do not feel seen or heard.
V. Structure		You have inadequate pay and/or benefits.
		There are insufficient resources to do the job.
		Have gotten into poor work habits.
		Have health problems; feel exhausted, strained.
		This is an unhealthy work space.
		Much rework, wasted effort from inefficient processes.
VI. Synergy		Experiencing adverse effects from economy/industry.
		Company itself is in trouble–adversely affecting your job.
		Systems here are uncoordinated, create rework & waste.
		Departments and people do not coordinate efforts.
		It's too hard to get things done; work at cross-purposes.
		People are in silos, don't understand each other’s efforts.

Write the number of checks per category below to see where you are having problems in your current job. 

Category	I. Core	II.  Vision	III. Mission	IV. Interactions	V. Structure	VI. Synergy
Number of Checks (TOTAL: ______)

SCORING:  Our clients have found this quiz to be very useful in evaluating their current job situation. If you have 12 or more total checks in all categories (1/3 of possible total 36 points), you should seriously consider finding or creating a new career. The higher your self-score, the more likely that this job is a hazard to your health.

If you have fewer than 6 checks, you can use this feedback to improve these items at your current job.  If that does not work, then keep your eyes out for a better position and use this criteria as part of the evaluation process.

NOTE OF CAUTION: Because this quiz does not reflect the strength of each item, you may find upon reflection that just one particular check is sufficient reason to move on (for example, if you are so dispirited that you are becoming ill; you can't stand your boss; or, your pay does not meet your needs.)

TAKING ACTION: Use this quiz to make an objective decision and move into action. What's most important is to take full responsibility for changing your work situation--whether you stay in this job or move on to another one. You can click here to learn more about the Elements of Success and how they can improve your work life.

WE CAN HELP! Go to the Starters' Guidebook & Community project and select The Balancing Act's Career Changers' Interactive Guidebook if you want to start a new job (or the Starters Guidebook if you want to start your own business). And, if you want to make really short work of moving on to a better career, you can call us to find a professional guide to help you through this process.

Coming Next: A Look at the new CAREER CHANGERS' GUIDEBOOK