| Place a check mark on the line if you... |
| ___1. | Hesitate to respond, or paint a different picture than reality, when asked about your work? |
| ___2. | Dread meetings with your boss, clients or co-workers? |
| ___3. | Have knowledge that certain company practices may be unethical or possibly get you into trouble? |
| ___4. | Take more and more time off (or want to)? |
| ___5. | Bargain within your mind, constantly asking "What if I" questions? (e.g., What if I just hang in here through the next bonus period? What if I don't meet the next deadline?) |
| ___6. | Have difficulty motivating yourself, even when special incentives are offered? |
| ___7. | Have difficulty getting out of bed (or preparing) to go to work? |
| ___8. | Start feeling depressed on Sunday night because you know you have to return to work on Monday? |
| ___9. | Feel restless or bored, like there are meaningful contributions that you could be making elsewhere? |
| ___10. | Been criticized for your interests or contributions? |
| ___11. | Believe that you have intelligence or creativity that is not being used at work? |
| ___12. | Ever experience a racing heart, nausea, sweating or difficulty breathing during a personal conflict at work? |
| ___13. | Experience anxiety or sudden distress when you are off-duty, thinking about work? |
| ___14. | Lash-out by reacting negatively or with reluctance to a specific job assignments? |
| ___15. | Dwell on your job, to the point of tension, when you're off duty? |
| ___16. | Have bad, disturbing dreams involving work? |
| ___17. | Feel easily irritated or angry with customers or others you need to get along with to be effective at work? |
| ___18. | Resent major company policies/procedures? (e.g., scheduling, pay scale, etc.)? |
| ___19. | Feel mislead or betrayed that company promises are not being honored? |
| ___20. | Have another solid job offer waiting in the wings? |
Guide to Interpretation:
Count the number of checkmarks. Total = ______. Use the following interpretation as a guide.
0- 3: Your job is unusually satisfying. Giving and receiving moral support would provide life balance.
5 - 8: Work is mostly satisfying to you, but there's room for improvement. Rather than changing jobs, change your approach to the job (e.g., being more creative) may be in order.
9-13: Relatively high job stress may be affecting your health and your ability to be fully present in life. New approaches, inside and outside of work, and moral support are paramount if you stay.
14-20: It's time. If you don't call it quits and seek a better employment opportunity, you will continue to experience negative consequences that gravely affect your satisfaction and well-being.
Return to "When to Call it Quits" main article
Debi Carter-Ford, a former Professor of Psychology and an Associate Professor of Business, is a career and professional development consultant for Dunson & Associates. Questions and comments may be sent to careers@dunsonandassociates.com.
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