• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises

2

Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that

3

Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers

1

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises

2

Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that

3

Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers
Commentary

Answering ‘Yes’ to These 3 Questions Means It’s Probably Time for a New Job

By
Stav Vaisman
Stav Vaisman
and
Bethany Cianciolo
Bethany Cianciolo
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Stav Vaisman
Stav Vaisman
and
Bethany Cianciolo
Bethany Cianciolo
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 6, 2017, 11:56 AM ET

The Entrepreneur Insiders network is an online community where the most thoughtful and influential people in America’s startup scene contribute answers to timely questions about entrepreneurship and careers. Today’s answer to the question, “What are some signs that you should be looking for a new job?” is written by Stav Vaisman, co-founder and CEO of OurPlan.

Changing jobs might be tough, but staying at a dead-end job is its own kind of torture. Every job reflects tension between the employee and the firm: Each party is trying to maximize its relative position. That’s why your bosses might refuse to offer promotions or pay bumps if they don’t think you have a better option elsewhere. But this doesn’t necessarily mean you should always test the job market waters.

Do you require extrinsic motivation?
The lack of intrinsic motivation is one of the best signs that you’ve hit the dead-end point in your career trajectory. If you fail to feel inspired by your job, it might be time to move on. If all that keeps you at your job are the extrinsic motivators of advancement and/or compensation, you’ve lost that internal energy vital for your performance and career success.

In the startup world, intrinsic motivation is one of the hallmarks of employee performance. Workers gain inspiration from the opportunity to tackle new challenges. They often forego job stability and high salaries because they see an alignment between their personal aspirations and the unique nature of work at a startup.

See also: 3 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Quitting Your Job

But startup owners can see the signs of burnout as this inner drive declines among some of their employees. Predictably, performance becomes the next victim of the loss of intrinsic motivation. If this sounds like you, do your boss and yourself a favor and start looking for another job. Find one that gives you that same kick in the pants as your former lost love.

Are resentments building?
Resentments in the workplace build as we grow frustrated with the actions of others. Sometimes those resentments are legitimate—if you can tell that your co-workers or bosses are trying to take advantage of you. In other cases, however, resentments originate simply because we’ve lost our tolerance for behavior that used to merely annoy.

If you feel your resentments with your peers, subordinates, and superiors are building, examine the behaviors that elicit your resentments. If these behaviors are nothing new, your tolerance for them has diminished. This is a likely sign you’ve lost your patience for your coworkers. Don’t wait for these behaviors to change, because they won’t. Start updating your CV instead.

Do you find yourself daydreaming?
The smartest kids in the classroom are often the ones paying the least attention to the teacher. They’re staring out the window thinking about particle physics or the nature of human existence. If you find yourself daydreaming at work, there are two possible explanations: Either you have an undiagnosed learning disorder, or you’re bored with your work. Daydreaming is a sure sign that you no longer feel challenged. This sign is particularly illustrative if your performance doesn’t suffer as a result of your daydreaming. Your job isn’t fulfilling, and it’s time to look elsewhere for the next challenge that will command all of your attention.

 

The point is to avoid complacency at all costs. I know more than a few individuals who never stop looking for a job. They are always looking for new opportunities to improve their skills and expand their knowledge in new positions with new firms. While I don’t necessarily recommend this mindset, there is something to be learned from these career opportunists. They recognize that optimal performance comes from intrinsic motivation, love for the workplace, one’s fellow workers, and boundless curiosity. If you go to work with these qualities, stay put. If not, start looking.

About the Authors
By Stav Vaisman
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By Bethany Cianciolo
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Commentary

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Commentary

chase
CommentaryCities
San Francisco has $2 trillion in AI wealth and can’t fix its own city. That’s every city’s problem
By Chase GarbarinoMay 15, 2026
8 hours ago
lori
Commentarymental health
I run Valvoline Instant Oil Change and work with young people every day. They’re in crisis—and we all have to try to help
By Lori FleesMay 15, 2026
10 hours ago
michael
CommentaryEducation
AI is wiping out entry-level jobs. Here’s how colleges can fill the gap
By Michael HansenMay 15, 2026
10 hours ago
krishna
Commentaryregulation
The U.S. has 1,200 AI bills and no good test for any of them
By Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Gary Marcus and Stephen HenriquesMay 15, 2026
12 hours ago
gene
Commentarybatteries
I helped design the original Tesla battery. Here’s how America can lead the world again
By Gene BerdichevskyMay 14, 2026
1 day ago
newman
Commentaryphilanthropy
Newman’s Own Foundation CEO on steward ownership: succession when you don’t want to sell
By Alex AmouyelMay 14, 2026
1 day ago

Most Popular

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
Politics
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
By Jake AngeloMay 12, 2026
3 days ago
Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
Success
Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
By Preston ForeMay 13, 2026
2 days ago
Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers
Travel & Leisure
Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers
By Catherina GioinoMay 12, 2026
3 days ago
Current price of oil as of May 14, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 14, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 14, 2026
1 day ago
The airplane fuel shortage is a myth propagated by airlines who want to cancel unprofitable flights, says private jet CEO
Energy
The airplane fuel shortage is a myth propagated by airlines who want to cancel unprofitable flights, says private jet CEO
By Jim EdwardsMay 14, 2026
2 days ago
Steve Jobs used a 'beer test' for interviews at Apple—if he didn’t want to drink with you, you didn’t get the job
Success
Steve Jobs used a 'beer test' for interviews at Apple—if he didn’t want to drink with you, you didn’t get the job
By Orianna Rosa RoyleMay 14, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.