When You Know It's Time to Change Your Corporate Job

We've all been there – staring blankly at the office ceiling, counting the fluorescent lights, or developing an unhealthy relationship with the office coffee machine. But how do you know when these are just temporary blues or genuine signs that it's time to craft that resignation letter? Let's explore the telltale indicators that your corporate journey might be ready for a plot twist.

1. Your Out-of-Office Reply Has Become Your LinkedIn Bio

When "I'm currently away from my desk with limited access to email" feels more like your permanent state of being than a temporary situation, it might be time to reconsider your professional path. If you've mentally checked out so thoroughly that your automatic email response is more engaged with work than you are, the universe might be sending you a message.

2. You've Named the Office Plants (And They're Your Best Colleagues)

Meet Robert the Rubber Plant and Fiona the Ficus – your most reliable coworkers who never steal your lunch from the communal fridge or schedule 4 PM Friday meetings. When your most meaningful workplace relationships are with photosynthesizing organisms, it might indicate that the human connections at your job aren't fulfilling your social needs.

3. Your "Monday Face" Has Become Your Everyday Face

Remember when you only looked existentially troubled on Monday mornings? If that expression has now become your default facial setting regardless of the day, your body might be trying to tell you something. When your friends ask if you're feeling okay on a Saturday afternoon, it might be time to reconsider your weekday activities.

4. Corporate Jargon Has Infiltrated Your Personal Life

"Let's circle back on that dinner plan and touch base after I've had time to deep dive into the menu options. I'll ping you with my bandwidth for eating later." If this sounds like a normal text message you'd send to friends, corporate speak has colonized your vocabulary. While this isn't necessarily a reason to quit, it's definitely a sign you need more non-work influences in your life.

5. Your Work Dreams Are Actually Nightmares

Everyone occasionally dreams about work. But if your nighttime visions regularly feature endless spreadsheets, your boss's face on mythological monsters, or you showing up to client presentations wearing nothing but a tie, your subconscious might be processing some workplace stress that your waking mind is trying to ignore.

6. The Highlight of Your Workday Is Leaving It

If the most exciting part of your job is the moment you get to escape it, that's a pretty clear indicator that something isn't right. Your career should contain at least some moments of satisfaction, accomplishment, or engagement that don't involve fantasizing about the exit door.

7. You've Calculated Exactly How Many Days Until Retirement

And you're under 35. If you're counting down 10,957 days until freedom (that's 30 years, for those not living this reality), it might be worth considering whether you want to spend over a quarter of your life watching the clock tick down.

The Bottom Line

Changing jobs is a big decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. Financial considerations, career trajectory, and personal circumstances all play important roles in determining the right time to make a move. However, if you found yourself nodding vigorously to several points above, it might be worth asking whether your current position is still serving your professional growth and personal wellbeing.

Remember, there's no shame in seeking new opportunities that better align with your values, skills, and goals. Sometimes the bravest career move is recognizing when it's time to craft a new chapter – whether that's finding a different role, company, or career path entirely.

Just maybe don't use our generator for your actual resignation letter. Unless, of course, your boss has an exceptional sense of humor.