The 11 Best Times to Switch Jobs

From return-to-office mandates to federal layoffs and the elimination of many diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, the U.S. job market seems to be in a state of upheaval.

“There’s a flood of talent entering the pool,” says Amanda Augustine, career expert with TopResume, a Career.io company. That means stiff competition for some positions, and Augustine adds, “It’s taking longer than three months to find jobs right now.”

That doesn’t mean you can’t find new employment, but you should have a new job lined up before handing in your two-week notice.

If any of the following statements ring true, it might be time to start polishing your resume, regardless of the current job market. 

• You’re at the top of your game.
• Your company is unstable.
• Your job is in jeopardy.
• Your workplace is toxic.
• You feel burned out.
• Your health is suffering.
• You’re bored.
• You’ve updated your skills.
• You need more money.
• Your employer doesn’t align with your work style or values.
• You’re looking for something more in life.

Perhaps the best time to switch jobs is when you are excelling in your current position.

“I always think it’s better to exit at the top,” says Dian Griesel, a perception analyst who has served as an advisor and strategist to business executives. That’s when your confidence is usually highest, giving you the positive attitude that many employers seek in job candidates. Plus, leaving on a high note typically means you leave the door open to returning in the future, Griesel adds.

Workers may be hesitant to switch jobs when everything is going well at their current employer, but they should consider whether their present work fits with their envisioned career path.

“We don’t need to stay in one place because it feels comfortable for us,” says Jennifer Moss, workplace strategist and author of “Why Are We Here?: Creating a Work Culture Everyone Wants.”

If trouble is on the horizon for your employer – such a business restructuring or impending bankruptcy – it might be time to jump ship.

Even in this case, though, you want to be smart about when and how you change jobs.

“We definitely want to make sure we’re not making big decisions when we are feeling emotional,” says Sara Jansen Perry, a professor of management at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Leaving a job rashly because of office rumors of instability could mean you end up taking the first job that comes your way. In that case, you could find yourself going from one bad situation to another. “You don’t want to be the victim of an emotional decision,” according to Perry.

Maybe your organization is fine, but you don’t feel secure in your specific job. That’s currently the case for many federal workers who have found themselves in the crosshairs of the Department of Government Efficiency, also called DOGE.

“There’s not necessarily an obvious counterpart for someone moving from the federal to private sector,” Augustine says.

If you are leaving a government job, you may need to update your resume and put it into the type of language used by your desired industry. Inventory your skills and interests, and don’t preemptively quit a job until you have a new one lined up, if at all possible.

Full article @ https://money.usnews.com/careers/articles/the-best-times-to-switch-jobs