Great jobs are hard to find. Since every job has its down sides, how will you know when you’re in a great one? Here are six clear signs to help you determine if you’re in a great job right now.
1. You are happy, relaxed, or excited on Sunday evenings and Monday mornings.
Let’s face it, most people loathe Sunday evenings. It’s just twelve hours before you have to return to the daily grind of the work week and all that comes with it. However, do you look forward to Sunday evenings? Do the challenges of your job and getting back to work after a restful weekend excite you? If so, you are probably in a pretty awesome job. Being happy or smiling when thinking about your day during your Monday morning commute to work is a great sign. It means that you’re heading towards something that challenges you and keeps your attention. Not everyone is so lucky!
2. You have flexibility to take care of your personal life.
Are you able to cut out for doctor’s appointments, or to pick up your children from school? Do you feel comfortable scheduling personal appointments (like DMV visits) during working hours if you need to? Do you work from home regularly or whenever it’s necessary for you? This means that your job offers you a certain level of flexibility that’s not available everywhere. In fact, many people would consider taking a pay cut to have a job with this level of flexibility, so pat yourself on the back – you’re in a great job already.
3. You feel like your boss appreciates you.
Does your boss recognize your work and contributions? Do you feel the organization values you, and the right people in the company know you and your skill set? Do you feel appreciated day in and day out for the work that you do? With a previous Gallup poll indicating that the number one reason that most Americans leave their jobs is because they don’t feel appreciated at work, you can consider yourself in the minority if you have a boss or manager that makes you feel valued and appreciated each day.
4. You have sponsors throughout the organization.
It’s not enough to have a great boss that appreciates you. The whole organization has to not only appreciate you and value you, but also guide and groom you so you’re set up for success in the future. You have a wide network of mid-level and senior individuals that can speak to your talents and advocate on your behalf when you’re not in the room. Finding sponsorship is no easy task, so if you’ve got this one in the bag, make sure you understand it’s not easy to replicate anywhere else. Indeed, you’re in a great job. Don’t consider leaving it any time soon.
5. You feel empowered to make difficult decisions if they are right for your company.
Making tough decisions at work is extremely difficult, but do you feel like you can make hard decisions every day without fearing your reputation or your job security? If so, you’re in a great job. Organizational cultures that empower and support their employees to make hard decisions every day are rare. Most employees find themselves stuck between delivering increasingly unattainable goals and managing difficult politics versus making decisions solely based on what’s good for the company. If you’ve cracked this one, you’re definitely in a great job.
6. You can’t imagine doing anything else.
That’s right, you love what you do – day in and day out. You love it so much, you can’t imagine doing any other type of work. You feel your work makes a difference, and you’re good at it. Even if you didn’t get paid, you’d do it (or something like it) anyway.
Featured photo credit: Datacenter Work / Leonardo Rizzi via flickr.com
