BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

Eleven Signs You've Stayed In Your Job Too Long

This article is more than 7 years old.

We got a call from Adrienne, who told us her story.

"I started with this company when there were 140 employees here, and I stayed here during the big growth period while the company grew to 2,500 employees. Those days were fun.

"Sadly, the company stopped growing at that point and started to focus on saving money and cutting costs, above all other priorities," said Adrienne.

"All the innovative ideas we used to have went out the window. The old CEO left and a new CEO came in.

"This company turned from a great place to work into a horrible place. People started leaving and then the company became a revolving door. I feel like an idiot for staying here so long. I've been in the company for 12 years, and most of my co-workers who walk in here don't make it a year."

"What do you want to do now?" we asked Adrienne.

"I want to get out of this company and remember how to use my brain and my creativity," she said. Adrienne took a contract engagement just to get out of her company, and when the contract was coming to a close she launched a job search.

"I feel like a human being again," she told us. "I was a fearful rabbit in my old job, because the environment was so bad. Now I have the confidence to get another great job. I'll never get myself trapped in a toxic environment again!"

It is easy to lose track of the passage of time when your job feels secure. We can easily be lulled into a stupor. That's bad, because when you fall asleep on your career you lose touch with the outside world and the market for your talents.

Your skills can fall behind the market. Whether you work in a toxic workplace like Adrienne's or a wonderful workplace, falling  asleep on your career still does damage to your marketability.

Here are 11 signs that you've stayed in your current job too long!

You've stayed in your job too long when:

1. You can't think of three other employers in your city who have people with skills like yours on their teams, because you're out of touch with your local talent market.

2. Someone asks you, "What were you working on in 2012?" (or any year) and you can't remember, because the years you've spent in your job blend together in your mind.

Don't fall asleep on your career! (Photo by Liz Ryan)

3. You can't answer the question, "What are the three top skills that someone like you needs in order to be marketable today?" because you don't know which skills people need.

4. Your resume is way out of date.

5. You are not working on any projects that excite or inspire you.

6. You look forward to events taking place outside of work -- a wedding, a fishing trip or another occasion -- but not to anything you're doing on the job.

7. The minute you leave your workplace, your work-brain turns off. You don't have good ideas about how to do your job anymore, either because you're burnt out on the job or because you're sick of pitching good ideas that no one wants to hear.

8. You've started to think, "Maybe every job is equally bad, and no one has fun at work." (It's not true!)

9. You're way too young to think about retirement, but you think about it anyway.

10. You hate it when you meet new people and they ask you "What do you do professionally?" because you care so little about your job.

11. You hate to get up in the morning and go to work.

It is ironic that we grew up learning to seek job security but when we've got it, it can turn stale very quickly. Creative people need stimulation in order to stay awake and interested. Your brain needs a workout as much as your body does!

The job market is the best it's been in years. You can launch a stealth job search and get into a new job that will bring your senses back to life. Start by thinking about your ideal next career move. Don't limit yourself -- it's your career, and your reinvention!

Follow me on LinkedIn