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Today’s post is written by Bethany Ramos who is a full-time freelance writer that co-owns her own e-commerce website, The Coffee Bump. The Coffee Bump specializes in a wide variety of Bunn coffee machines and assorted coffee and espresso products.

Maybe you’ve hated your job since day one. Or maybe you’ve been meaning to leave your job to pursue a career that you are truly passionate about. Whatever the reason may be, if you are dissatisfied with your job, it’s worthwhile to consider your options and contemplate making a move that could benefit your career.

Of course, a career move doesn’t come without its share of risks. But sometimes the scariest risks are the most rewarding. How do you know when it’s time to take a risk and move on, and when is it wisest to stay put and wait for the right opportunity to leave your job?

I’m glad you asked… You can use the criteria below as a basic guideline to help you decide when the time is right to leave your job so that you can strike while the iron is hot:

• You are physically ill. If your job is causing you so much stress that it is legitimately making you sick – causing muscle pain, headaches, and backaches from constant work – it’s time to consider a safer, more relaxing career. First and foremost, try to work out any issues in your job that are affecting your health, such as unreasonable deadlines or an unrealistic workload piled on by your boss. If you can’t solve the problems in your workplace, it’s time to move on to a less stressful job… before it’s too late.
• You’ve grown out of your position. You may have started your job as an entry-level employee, but now you have learned new skills and are ready to embrace new challenges and grow in your career. If your job doesn’t provide you with the opportunity to move beyond your entry-level training, it’s time to start searching for a new job that will challenge you and hone your new skills.
• You’ve got a better offer. If you’ve gotten an offer from another company offering better benefits or a higher salary, it’s well worth considering, especially in the state of the economy today. There’s no reason to stay at a dead-end job with the same salary that doesn’t offer any hope of a raise because of a sense of loyalty or because you’ve become comfortable where you’re at.
• Your life has changed. It’s always worthwhile to reassess your job after you’ve had a big change in your life, like moving, getting married, or having a baby. Perhaps your job no longer provides the benefits or the salary that you need to care for a young baby and take care of a growing family. When in doubt, reassess and be prepared to move on.

In my own career, I had to take a definite risk to get where I am today as a freelance writer. I was working a menial job in the beauty industry because I’m licensed as an aesthetician. I started thinking about how much I wanted to pursue creativity in my career and discussed it with my husband. It was actually his idea for me to start freelance writing online!

But before I made the big leap, I tested the waters. I started working as a freelance writer part-time and kept my day job. As my freelance career got busier and busier, I was finally able to make enough income to support myself and quit my job for good.

Best of luck to anyone ready to take a leap in their career!