by Moe Zilla

Created on: February 24, 2009

Is it time to look for a new job? Are you clinging to a bad job because you're used to it? After two years at a corporate workplace, I had to ask myself these questions. It's hard to get an objective perspective on any workplace once you've settled into a comfortable routine - but then how can you determine whether or not it's great?

Fortunately, there's some ways to measure it.

BENEFIT BENCHMARKS

Is your salary at the high end of the average salary for your profession? Struggling companies hire employees at the low end of the wage scale, but they should still offer regular raises that keep your earnings in line with the rest of the market. If they're not paying you enough - or if you haven't had a salary review in over a year - then your employer isn't valuing your contribution.

But you should also check the industry averages for paid time off. In America, the average worker gets eight sick days a year, plus another eight vacation days, according to statistics from the Bureau of Labor. It's normal for the number of vacation days to rise each year that you've been on the job. If your employer refuses to raise your salary, a great employer might offer you more vacation days instead - or at least a longer lunch hour!

CLIMBING THE LADDER

Every job is a piece of a larger career, and should help you in realizing your long-term goals. That could mean more responsibility, more money, more personal satisfaction or more recognition, but once you know what you're after, your job's worth should be obvious. Raise your hopes for the future in your annual performance review. Employers will appreciate your honesty, and if it's a great job, they'll try to find a way to let you keep growing within the company.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

There's stress at every job, but at bad jobs, a lot of the stress is unnecessary. A good manager will control the flow of work into their departments, and won't let their employees get overloaded or overworked. And once the work is begun, it's important to let the workers do it! Good managers have faith in their employees, communicating what needs to be done and when it has to be finished. (A lot of micromanagement starts because managers are just bad at explaining what they want!) This is the final criterion for a job worth keeping: workplace satisfaction. Are you treated well by your company, and do they value the work that you do?

Because if so, then you've got a great position!

Learn more about this author, Moe Zilla.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.