6 Undeniable Signs it’s Time to Look for a Software Engineering Role

Naturally, we all go through periods of having exciting projects on at work which make us fall in love with our roles again; and times when finding motivation is harder.

But if the thought of the end of the weekend and another week in work fills you with dread, this could be a sign that something is seriously wrong.

Either you’ve outgrown your software engineering role, your workplace has become toxic, or you realise that your passions lie elsewhere in a different position or with a new company with different values. There are some signs to look out for which indicate that it’s time to look for a new job.

Deciding on a career move can be a daunting thing, and that’s why many people try to ignore the warning signs that they should move on.

Today, we share the six undeniable signs it’s time to look for a new software engineering role (and how to find one).

​1.     You Have Stopped Enjoying Going to Work

​There can be many reasons people are reluctant to leave the house in the morning, from a commute that is regularly filled with traffic to a lengthy train journey.

But generally, travelling to work should not be a time where you dread the minutes counting down until your morning start time.

Have you found yourself stopping off for a coffee to delay getting into the office; have you started taking the longer route to work; does the thought of work in the morning keep you from sleeping at night?

Of course, many more of us are working from home now, and so the physical act of going to work might soon become a thing of the past in many roles.

But this feeling of dread can become present in morning Zoom meetings, when you’re on a conference call or any time work-related messages pop-up on your screen.

A sense of dread when you think about your job is not normal – if this is happening to you, it’s time to make a change.

​2.    You Feel Disconnected From Your Role

​High employee engagement is a characteristic of all excellent employers.

Great employers will ensure that you have the right amount of work to do; that you’re not overworked or frequently find yourself with few tasks and unsure what you should be doing.

You should feel a passion and drive for your role, and a connection to your team and your employer which makes you want to give your best to the job – it was probably there when you applied for this position.

But over time, inadequate management can lead to employees feeling disconnected and then eventually stop caring. It is hard to find enthusiasm for your role when you have become disconnected. Will you ever trust that your employer truly cares about you even if things change in the short-term?

​3.    You are Taking Extra Sick Days

​Taking extra sick days, or taking holidays simply to get away from your job is a sign that something is wrong.

It is estimated that 12.7% of all sick days are taken due to mental health problems, which can often be attributed to your current role in the first place.

If your mental health is being affected due to your job, first speak to your manager. They have a duty of care to you to ensure that your position is not causing you harm. Sadly, if the problems are out of your manager’s control, and they continue, it might be time to look for an employer who has an excellent wellbeing reputation.

​4.    You Don’t Get on With Your Boss (or Your Colleagues)

​Having a great relationship with your boss and your colleagues is never a given in any role – it’s always a nice added bonus when you find a role you love, and you get on with your team.

But negative relationships with the people you work with every day can quickly become draining, and they can turn a once dream job into a nightmare situation.

There should always be avenues you can explore before it gets as serious as leaving for a different company, but sometimes that’s what it takes.

Toxic workplaces are sadly more common than you might think, and although your job might look great on paper, if your boss regularly puts you down, and the atmosphere in the workplace is continually negative and is holding you back from success in your job role and your whole career, it’s time to find a company where you not only feel fulfilled but also happy.

​5.    You’re Being Underpaid

​48% of employees feel that they are underpaid for the work they do – does this sound familiar?

When you start a software engineering job, the expectations might have been clear, but what commonly happens in IT workplaces is that over time, and as you become more experienced within the organisation, you are tasked with more and more duties.

And your remuneration rarely increases with the amount of extra work you are now expected to do.

It might be a simple case of your manager not realising how much extra outside of your role you are taking on – but this again is poor management on their part.

Suppose you are increasingly given extra tasks or are performing managerial duties and your employer tells you that you are not going to be paid any extra for it. In that case, this is a sign that your employer is taking advantage of you.

Not all employers behave like this – now should be the time to find one who doesn’t.

6.    You Feel Undervalued

​Aside from being paid a fair wage for the work you do, it is also important that you feel emotionally valued and supported by your manager and your colleagues.

Signs that you are being undervalued by your current employer include:

• Your work is overlooked
• Your performance and pay reviews are continually pushed back
• You’re not trusted to have autonomy in your role
• Those around you are promoted, and you get left behind

Being undervalued can be a sign that your current employer is not going to support you in your career and that things are unlikely to change unless the entire company has a management shake-up – but you don’t have to wait for this to happen.

​Next Steps

Many people stay in roles that are making them severely unhappy and impacting on their mental health because they believe there is no other option for them.

The truth is there are always other options; you just might not know where to find them – and that’s where we come in.

If you find that it’s time to look for a new Software Engineering role, get in touch by calling James Shenton Managing Partner for Technology on 01580 857179 or send us an email here.

Opus Resourcing recruits world-class SaaS, technology, commercial and executive talent for companies ranging from seed-stage start-ups to Fortune 500 companies within the UK, Europe, and the US.

Top tips for a good Tech Interview

If you are now at the stage of preparing for an interview you must congratulate yourself on getting this far. Your CV obviously made an impact so now it is time to prepare to showcase yourself in person. Preparation is key so please read through the following top tips for a good interview and best of luck!

• Be punctual

Arrive on time, if not a few minutes early. Plan your journey allowing for any possible delays. Being late and harassed never creates a good impression.

• Be smart and business-like

Find out beforehand whether you are expected to wear a suit. Take along spare copies of your CV. Be yourself and let your personality shine through.

• Understand the interview style

Find out beforehand whether there will be any technical and/or psychometric tests and make sure you prepare accordingly.

• Know who you are meeting

Make sure you know who you will be meeting and try to obtain any information about them before the interview.

• Understand the role

Familiarise yourself with the job specification and identify areas where you are well matched. Identify areas of potential weakness and in need of development. Pre-empt any questions and prepare relevant examples.

• Be enthusiastic

Speak enthusiastically about yourself, your experience and your skills.

• Listen carefully

Make sure you listen carefully to any questions asked so that you can answer them in a meaningful way. Avoid abrupt ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers. Elaborate where possible – remember, this is your chance to sell yourself.

• Be positive

Don’t talk negatively or be overly critical of your past. It doesn’t create a good impression.

• Use short pauses

Don’t be afraid of short pauses. When asked a question, take a few moments to think of a well crafted answer.

• Body language

Smile. Make eye contact. Firm handshake. Sit up straight.

​Questions to think about asking…

•What are the career opportunities?

•Will I be working as part of a team or independently?

•What is the performance appraisal procedure?

•What qualities do you look for in an employee?

Questions you might be asked….

•Why are you leaving your current job?

•What are your main strengths/weaknesses?

•Why should we appoint you over someone else?

•Where do you see yourself in 5, 10 years time?

Opus Resourcing recruits world-class SaaS, technology, commercial and executive talent for companies ranging from seed-stage start-ups to Fortune 500 companies within the UK, Europe, and the US.

Are You Still In Love With The Tech Company You Work For?​

Find a job doing what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.

It’s a common motivational saying, but what does it really mean to “love” your Technology company? Do people who love their jobs never wish they were relaxing at home instead of tackling challenging tasks? Are people who love their company less likely to procrastinate, daydream or have difficult days? Not necessarily.

Every position, even the ideal ones, come with a few pesky tasks you’d probably rather avoid. Loving your Technology role doesn’t have to mean that you’d rather spend more time in the office than you do at home.

It simply means that you’re passionate about what you do, engaged by your work, and committed to continuing your position with your chosen employer.

Here’s how you can figure out whether your love affair with your company is still strong or the flames are burning out, and it might be time to move to new pastures.

​1. What Motivates You to Keep Your Job?

If you truly love the company you’re working with, you should have motivations beyond simply earning a salary. If your answer to the question of “why do I have this job” is “I need to pay the bills”, then you’re working out of necessity, not love.

With this in mind, it’s worth looking at your motivations for maintaining this specific Technology role. Do you share the same values and visions as the company? Do you feel like you get a meaningful sense of purpose from your current job, and does working within the position make you feel fulfilled?

Do you enjoy the challenges you face and actively have fun with the tasks you complete each day or are you simply checking items off a “to-do” list? If you can’t find any non-monetary sources of motivation, it might be worth speaking to your Technology recruitment company to find a better role. After all, endless alternatives exist for the right talented professional.

​2. Do you love the job but not the company?

When you look ahead and attempt to visualise the future of your career, what do you see? When you’re planning the next stages of your Technology role, can you see yourself working with the same business, just in a higher position with more responsibilities? Are you actively excited about growing and developing your career with this business?

Alternatively, do you see your future taking you in a different direction? Even if you enjoy your role now, you might feel there are no real progression opportunities in your current workplace that can help you progress towards your professional goals.

If this is the case, it might be worth asking whether your love for your current role is really enough. Just because you adore your job doesn’t mean you’re going to be able to pursue a future with the same business. Sometimes, to take your career to the next level, you must consider pursuing other opportunities.

​3. Does Your Company Love You Back?

Any good relationship is a two-way street. You can dedicate all your time, creativity, and passion to a role, but if your company doesn’t show you any love in return, the relationship will quickly turn sour.

Ask yourself how you demonstrate your commitment to your role and how your employer and the larger company support you in return. What kind of company culture is the business building, and how does it commit to making you feel like part of an inclusive team?

How frequently do your managers or team leaders share feedback with you through guidance and recognition? How often does your hard work go unnoticed?

If your company isn’t dedicated to making you feel like a valuable team member, then there’s a good chance your feelings for it will begin to disintegrate over time.

​4. Is Your Company Invested in You?

If you’re passionate about your role, you likely devote much of your time and energy to your tasks. You might go above and beyond to ensure you’re always delivering the best results on projects and constantly commit to expanding your knowledge with external forms of education.

The more invested you are in your company, the more you’ll help it grow and thrive. But how invested is your company in you? Does your manager regularly discuss your goals and help you develop plans for the next step in your career?

Do you have access to various learning and development opportunities within the business? Or are you the sole person responsible for expanding your skills and talents? A company committed to nurturing the relationship between the business and its employees will consistently invest in its staff. Your feelings might change if you feel like your company isn’t helping you grow.

​Is the Love Still There?

Over time, your love for your company will either flourish or wilt depending on your experiences in your role; and if your employer and the business you work with is invested in you, committed to helping you grow, and aligned with your personal values. In that case, you might be at the beginning of a fantastic professional love affair.

On the other hand, you might discover that over time, your love of your company begins to dwindle. Loving your current job isn’t the same as loving the company. If you’re not passionate about growing with the brand, you can always look for other opportunities to find new love with a different organisation.

Opus Resourcing recruits world-class SaaS, technology, commercial and executive talent for companies ranging from seed-stage start-ups to Fortune 500 companies within the UK, Europe, and the US.

If your love for your company isn’t as strong as it once was, now could be the perfect time to start getting back on the playing field, you can call us on 01580 857179 or send us an email here.