Is it time to go?
Here are the five questions that helped me decide if it was time to move on from my job—and if you're wondering whether it's time to move on from your job, these will help you too.
Not "do they say thank you sometimes" or "did I get a nice email once." I mean: Does this organization actually want to keep me?
Do I feel like they're investing in me? Do I get the recognition I deserve? When I show up, does it matter? Or am I just... there?
Because here's the thing: you can sense when an organization values you. It shows up in the opportunities they give you, the feedback they provide, the way they fight to keep you when things get tough.
And when they don't value you? You feel it even more.
Question 2: Am I Still Growing?
Am I challenged? Am I learning? Am I moving forward—or am I plateauing?
Because here's what I know about myself (and maybe about you): there's a lot more left in my career. I'm not done. I'm not ready to coast.
If you're not growing, you're dying. Maybe not literally, but professionally? Absolutely.
And if you're just going through the motions—same meetings, same problems, same ceiling—you're going to get bored. Frustrated. Resentful.
When I reached this crossroads, I looked at my role and realized I wasn't being challenged anymore. I was managing the same problems on repeat. There was no stretch, no evolution, no new skills being built.
That's not sustainable. Not for me.
This one is a practical question.
What's the career path? Where does this role take me?
Because if there's no upward trajectory, no lateral moves that excite you, no clear next step—then what are you working toward?
I asked myself: if I stay, where am I in two years? Five years?
The answer? Probably in the same seat. Maybe with a slightly different title. But fundamentally stuck.
And that's not a career. That's… inertia.
If you can't see a path forward—if the organization isn't investing in your development or creating opportunities for advancement—then you're not building a career. You're just filling a role.
Because honestly? I want to make a difference. That's why I do this work.
But when I looked at my day-to-day, I had to ask: Am I actually creating impact I'm proud of? Or am I just a cog in the wheel?
Could this organization function without me? (Be honest.)
And more importantly: Are there bigger challenges out there where I could be better utilized?
I realized the answer was yes. There were problems I cared more about. Teams that needed what I bring to the table. Work that felt more aligned with who I am and what I want to contribute.
Don't get me wrong—every role matters. But if you're not feeling the impact, if you're not proud of what you're building, if you're starting to think "I could be doing so much more elsewhere"—that's a signal.
Listen to it.
Can you actually afford to leave?
The job market is tough right now. It's not impossible, but it's not easy either. It takes creativity, a lot of networking, persistence, and yeah—a little bit of luck.
But what I also know: the world is full of opportunities.
If you're willing to think creatively. If you're willing to reach out, build relationships, explore unconventional paths. If you're willing to hustle and stay open to what's possible.
So ask yourself: Do I have the runway? Financially, emotionally, mentally—can I take this risk?
For me, the answer was yes. I had some savings. I had a network. I had ideas. And most importantly, I had the belief that staying in a place where I wasn't valued, wasn't growing, and wasn't making the impact I wanted—that was the bigger risk.
The job market is tough. The uncertainty is real. But you know what's tougher? Spending years in a place that doesn't value you, doesn't challenge you, and doesn't give you room to grow.
Change is tough. Some of you might find it harder to walk away.
Or perhaps you’re someone who likes to see things through. You want to finish what you started. You want to watch the story unfold, see the project land, be there for the ending.
But that's not always how business works.
Sometimes the company's timeline doesn't match yours. Sometimes the ending isn't yours to write. Sometimes the right move is to step away before you think you're "done."
And that's okay.
If you're asking yourself this question right now, here are the five questions again:
If you're answering "no" to most of these, you already know what you need to do.
If you're answering "yes" to most of them, maybe there's still something worth fighting for.
But if you're stuck in the middle—some yeses, some nos, a lot of "I don't know"—then it's time to get curious. Dig deeper. Talk to people you trust. Give yourself permission to imagine what's next.
Here's my last thought:
There are so many opportunities out there.
I know it doesn't always feel that way when you're scrolling LinkedIn at midnight, seeing people celebrate their new roles while you're still stuck in the same place.
But opportunities don't always look like job postings. Sometimes they look like:
Keep networking. Keep putting yourself out there.
The world needs what you have to offer.
Even if your current employer doesn't see it.