It’s unlikely that any job will be 100% perfect, but if you live for the weekends and then spend Sunday in dreaded anticipation of the coming week then now might be the time to look for a more rewarding position. The main consideration is whether your current level of dissatisfaction is the result of temporary circumstances – either of a personal nature or within your organisation – or a sign of deeper problems that can only be fixed by a fresh start in a new company.

If you’re still unsure whether it’s better to stay put or jump ship then take a look at the check list below from our training partner Home Learning College. If you find yourself nodding in recognition of three or more of these points then it could be time for a change:

1) The 80-20 rule applies for all the wrong reasons

The 80-20 principle was introduced as an economic theory in the early 20th century and has since been applied to many areas of life, such as diet. Nowadays it’s an effective way to assess professional satisfaction, with the aim that you should be reasonably happy about 80% of the time you’re at work. If the balance shifts and it’s more common for you to feel dissatisfied or frustrated then it’s a clear indication that major change is required.

2) You haven’t had a pay rise in years

There are many factors to consider when assessing happiness at work - some of which are hard to measure – but there’s no doubting that money is a key issue and it’s normal to expect your salary to increase over time.

The recent economic climate has forced numerous organisations to freeze pay rises and promotions. However, Home Learning College research shows that 10% of workers haven’t had a pay rise in the past five years – long before the recession caused companies to tighten the purse strings.

If this is ringing bells then the question is whether your company is simply unable or unwilling to address the situation or whether your performance is lacking in some area. Either way, it’s time to face the up to the problem and either fight for a pay rise or move into a new line of work that’s better suited to your personality and skills.

3) The thought of promotion fills you with dread

Increasing responsibility is another sign of development and success at work, and many people are stimulated by the challenge of progressing to the next level in their career. However, if you’re bogged down and stressed by your current workload, or feel like a round peg in a square hole, then the thought of additional accountability is sure to leave you cold. If this lack of desire for change is due to satisfaction with your current circumstances then there is no law that you need to strive for more seniority. When combined with a sense of inertia or feeling trapped in the wrong role then it’s a warning signal that something isn’t right.

4) Your work never excites or interests you

Money and promotions aside, most people prefer to be stimulated at work and boredom is often a key reason for leaving a job. Doing the same role, day after day for several years, can become extremely tedious and leave you feeling jaded and in need of a new focus.

Consider when you last learnt something new at work: if you can’t remember then it’s time to get the old grey matter buzzing again. A change can be as good as a rest, but it’s not always necessary to turn your life upside down to enjoy these benefits. Another option is to take up a vocational course that will deliver practical skills and may enhance your existing role or set you off on a whole new career path.

5) Conversations about work are mostly negative

It’s completely normal to gripe about work occasionally. After all, there is no other social situation where you are obliged to spend a set amount of hours with people you may not always like, doing things you may not always enjoy. While the odd moan can be healthy, these shouldn’t dominate your conversations with friends or colleagues.

If you rarely have a good word to say about work then your unhappiness has clearly spread into other areas of your life. Instead of wasting valuable energy complaining about things you probably can’t change, why not re-focus on doing something productive, such as gaining new skills or hunting for a more suitable role. Not only will you feel happier, but those closest to you will feel relieved at having a new topic for discussion.

For more information on professional vocational courses visit Home Learning College