For some people, quitting a job is a no-brainer. For others, it’s a decision to agonise over.
If you fall into the latter category and are unsure whether it’s time to start looking for a new position, then you’re in luck, as a psychologist has revealed how best to figure it out.
George Sik, a workplace psychometric expert and HCPC registered psychologist, claims five words can signal if you’re in the right role or not, and these words are linked to our individual values.
‘When it comes to job satisfaction, it is more than likely that our values – work or personal – are not being totally fulfilled,’ he tells Metro.
Is your job meeting your values?
George continues: ‘Just like companies that hire candidates who fit their values, happy employees work for companies where, day to day, their values are being met.
‘If your top five values are being met, or even four out of five, you’ll likely be happy in the role, even if there is some day-to-day tension or problems that could be resolved by your manager.
‘However, if three or fewer of your values are being met, it is highly unlikely that your job is ever going to be fixed, and it may be time to move on.’
How do you work out what your five words are?
It’s actually really simple and could be completed in as little as 30 seconds, although you can take as long as you need.
Start by thinking about a job that you felt happiest in, and then write down five words that represent what you enjoyed most about that role.
These words can’t be negative; they should be things that fill you with energy and are often linked to your own personality traits. Examples could include creativity, freedom, ethics, security, autonomy, stability, and pay.
Once you’ve got your five words, you then need to go through them to work out how many of those values are being met in your current job.
This speedy exercise is an example of psychometric testing, which George explains is great because there are ‘no wrong answers’.
He adds: ‘It’s about trying to apply meaning or measurability to things that often can’t be explained – like job satisfaction beyond salary and job title.
‘It is key to think about the job you were happiest in. Or moments in a job where you were most satisfied. What did that job feel like for you – where were you proud to describe what you did to people? Where did you feel like the days flew by? Answering the above will reveal patterns in your career so far, which can then be pulled out as characteristics.
‘You can also do this by looking at activities you find exciting in your role – meetings (collaboration) vs fewer meetings (autonomy).’
However, if you find yourself thinking any of these words about your job, the expert claims it’s a sign it’s time to go: uninspired, bored, repetitive, chaotic, dramatic, draining, or inflexible.
Similarly, if you’re constantly talking about your job and saying ‘at least…’, or ‘if I can wait/hold out…’ then it’s also a bad sign.
This article was first published on January 8, 2025.
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