The job began on a high note: The company and the position were "perfect" for your career path. You enjoyed your assignments and your colleagues. But two years later, things have changed. You have to drag yourself to work and are frequently passed over for plum projects. The company that welcomed you with open arms seems to be attempting, oh so subtly, to shove you out the back door. You wonder: Is it as bad as you think or are you simply being paranoid? Following are some "no excuses" means of evaluating your job standing:
You’re never offered "juicy" assignments. The agency you work for has secured a new, high-profile client. This customer wants a hip and innovative ad campaign, and you think you’re just the person for the job. While you’ve expressed to your boss the reasons why you’d be a great fit for the project, you’re passed over. You also aren’t given the next opportunity to assist with the assignment—or the one after that. In fact, all of your peers have worked on this campaign, but you have not. What does it mean? While it’s possible you were passed over once because your supervisor wanted to keep you on another project, it doesn’t make sense for you to be routinely skipped for high-profile assignments. Most likely it means your manager doesn’t believe you are up to the task. If being denied the choicest projects has become a regular occurrence in your job, it’s a major sign that you’re stuck in a rut and may need to switch gears and find a new position.
You get the silent treatment. While your manager has weekly check-in meetings with your colleagues and drops by to ask about their weekend plans, he or she rarely stops to chat with you. Similarly, you don’t get the praise you’ve noticed others receive. It’s almost as though you don’t exist. You’ve tried numerous times to strike up conversations with your supervisor and have even asked for feedback on your work, but despite your best efforts, you’re still ignored. The truth? You clearly aren’t a priority, which is a strong sign that it’s time to move on.
You have fewer job responsibilities now than when you were hired. In addition to your own duties, you used to oversee the work of two junior designers. Today you aren’t managing anyone and your own workload has declined. Unless everyone is in the same boat, and there’s less to be done all the way around, it’s probably time to consider a job change. Your boss may think you are less capable than when you were hired, which doesn’t bode well for your career prospects.
You haven’t been promoted in five years. You’ve watched as your coworkers have been awarded new titles or promoted to positions with increased responsibility. Despite exhibiting clear interest in moving up in the company, your position hasn’t changed since you started. If you’re treading water in your current position, despite your best efforts to swim, it’s probably time to dive into a new position.
You’re not consulted about changes that will affect your job. You find out at a meeting that your department is being merged with another. Nobody seems surprised but you. It’s as though most of your coworkers have already been consulted. You also are the last to find out about two new hires who have joined the team and a major account the firm just landed. While it’s normal not to know every aspect of your company’s plans, if you’re routinely left in the dark—and other people aren’t—it could be time to look for a new position.
You have no friends at work or feel alienated by coworkers. When you began working for the company, you frequently went out to lunch or for drinks with your fellow designers. You were privy to the company’s "inside scoop" and found out which clients were the most challenging to work with and what assignments might be coming up in the future. But over the past year or so, it seems your coworkers have distanced themselves from you. And you know they’re still hanging out—just not with you. The upshot? You probably aren’t being oversensitive. Employees will often steer clear of a sinking ship—and in this case, that ship may be you.
You have no contact with clients. Firms like to appear stable to their clients, so they rarely have someone who’s on shaky ground interact with key business contacts. Staying behind the scenes may be nothing to worry about if those in your position rarely interact with clients. However, if your peers are frequently communicating with customers, but your boss routinely goes out of his or her way to keep you off the front lines, it may be time for a fresh start at another company.
If the company you work for is just not that into you, you may find the feeling is mutual. It may well be time to strike out on your own and seek a job you feel passionate about—where your ardor is returned. After all, you want to work where you can thrive and build your experience. If your present employer doesn’t fit the bill, you may find that parting ways is the best way to find a job worthy of your professional commitment.
The Creative Group is a specialized staffing service placing creative, advertising, marketing and Web professionals on a project basis with a variety of firms.
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