When You Should Keep Your Current Job. Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

Tough economic times always raise questions about employment.  The most prevalent of those questions is whether or not to continue in your current job.  After all, the grass may be greener on the other side, right? Well, before you begin looking for other employment opportunities, go through this checklist to see if your current position is right for you:
 

1. Growth Potential:  Does your company promote from within, or are they always bringing in outside people to fill higher-level positions?  Companies that promote from within have a greater interest in developing the talents of their workers, which you will benefit from either in the form of a promotion, or in the expansion of your resume when you decide to move on.
   
    
2. Recognition:  Strong companies are like pyramids.  Without the support of the lower levels, the company would not be turning any profits.  Companies that acknowledge and reward the hard work of their workers have two big things going for them that should make you want to stick around.
   
    
3. First, they are more likely to give tangible rewards (i.e. bonuses) to the workers, which has a direct impact on you; and second, a happy workforce means a productive workforce, and extra productivity makes the company more likely to succeed in the long run, which can give you greater job security.  If, however, talented individuals are leaving your company because their contributions aren’t being recognized, it is unlikely that the company will be able to achieve much, if any, real growth.
   
    
4. Happiness:  This ties into the previous criterion, but also has to do with how much you enjoy your job.  Do you like your coworkers?  Do you enjoy your work?  A lot of emphasis is put on getting a higher salary or getting the corner office, but if earning that salary, or being in that office, makes you miserable, then what’s the point?
   
    
5. Client Interactions:  Watch how your company deals with its clients or customers.  If a mistake is made, how does the company react?  These reactions will reveal to you the ultimate motivations of the company.  Are they looking to turn a quick buck, and to heck with the consequences, or are they interested in building long-term client relationships that will ensure steady growth?  The answer to that question will help inform a realistic assessment of your potential future with the company.