This post originally appeared on the blog MakingManhattan.com.
By Emilie Moy Conquering the job search post-graduation can sometimes feel so overwhelming, that it’s tempting to take the first job offer that comes your way — no matter what it is. Taking the time to ask all your questions about the job description, salary and vacation days seems trivial when your monthly income is $0, which can land you in a job that’s not such a great fit for you. It happens. But how do you know if you just need some more time to settle in or if you need to say sayonara to your new role? Here are five ways tell if you should dust off your resume again.
You leave the office feeling unfulfilled. Whether it was an article you wrote that got published, or an idea that you pitched that was used for a campaign, knowing that your work impacted the company in some way is the one of the most fulfilling aspects of any job. Although, it’s unrealistic to think that you’ll be running the show in your first position, a new job should be challenging you to think outside the box and push past your comfort zone. Only by taking on new projects and exploring your interests in different ways, will you foster a sense of accomplishment and ultimately grow as an employee.
The perks are the best things about the job. Media jobs are known for having plenty of perks. And while everyone loves swag (hey, no judgement here!), it’s a red flag when your motivation becomes more about the perks than anything else or if they’re the highlight of your career. They shouldn’t compensate for unhappiness in other aspects of your job, and instead should act as added bonuses.
You and your boss are constantly on opposing sides. It’s normal for your boss to let you know when your work isn’t meeting expectations or when a pitch you’ve submitted isn’t quite the direction she was hoping for. Although there are ways to politely support your case and show your boss your though process, it becomes another issue when you find yourself constantly unable to meet your boss’s expectations. Ultimately, you and your boss are on the same team and although they may have a different viewpoint than you, you need to be able to effectively work together.
You’re trying to kill time online. If you’re spending the majority of your day online shopping or swiping left on Bumble, you probably have too much free time at work. Of course it’s natural for workloads to come in waves, however, a constant lack of work is a sign of a bigger issue. When your boss trusts you with a healthy amount of responsibilities, it’s easier to become invested in your work and you might event wish there were more hours in the work day to get everything done.
You feel trapped doing menial tasks. The term “paying your dues” goes without saying when you’re first starting out and every entry level job entails doing some kind of grunt work whether it’s updating the calendar for your boss or running an errand. However, if you find your role revolves around doing menial tasks instead of focusing on editing or writing, it may be time to have a chat with your boss or start looking for a job that will help you grow your skills as a writer and editor.
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