10 Signs Your Job Undervalues You

How can you tell if your job undervalues you? Are there other jobs that will pay more, and fit better?

If you’ve taken a realistic look at your job performance--as well as how often you improve your skills--and you’ve come up with a long list of positives, you should ensure you feel valued in your current job...or it might be time to consider moving on. To make it easy to tell, here are 10 clear signs that show you’re undervalued in your current job.

1. You Get Zero Autonomy

If you’re not trusted to get the job done without a manager breathing down your neck. Or if you need constant approval on every little thing you do, it may be a sign that your skills, knowledge, and experience are undervalued in your current job.

2. Your Contributions aren't Recognized

How can you be valued when you aren’t recognized for your achievements? A lack of recognition doesn’t just mean a lack of awards or bonuses. If your boss never acknowledges your achievements and results in any way it may be because they don’t value your contributions the way they should.

3. You Have More Responsibilities--But No Promotions

The new responsibilities are piling up. Yet, you get zero opportunities or signs of a promotion coming your way anytime soon. When a company refuses to promote their employees when they’re persistently throwing more work and responsibilities their way, it’s a sign they don’t properly value that employee.

4. Others are Getting Promoted

Are people with less experience getting promoted ahead of you? Do you notice your coworkers getting regular promotions and you’re left out? If you know you’re doing a good job, this could be a sign that you’re undervalued.

5. You're Unable to Take Time Off

One of the worst ways a company can undervalue their employees is to offer them paid time off or sick time and then look down upon employees who take it or, worse, prevent employees from taking it. If this sounds like the company you currently work for you’re in a company culture that’s unhealthy and you’re being undervalued.

6. Your Performance Reviews are Delayed

Performance reviews are promised but, for one reason or another, they’re always delayed and pushed off. If your performance reviews (and raises because they’re typically linked) are always pushed off and never prioritized it may be because you’re undervalued.

7. Your Input and Ideas are Ignored

You have a lot of knowledge and experience that you’re bringing to the table so, naturally, you’re going to come up with some input and ideas. If those are constantly ignored you’re probably undervalued in your current job.

8. You Don't See Growth

If you’re stuck at a dead-end job with no growth opportunities, training opportunities, or learning opportunities in sight that could be incredibly detrimental to the trajectory of your career. If you want to improve your value and not get stuck between a rock and a hard place it’s best to jump ship from a company when there’s no room for growth, skill development, or other training opportunities.

9. You Haven't Seen a Raise in Ages

The standard cost of living raises (around 3%) per year are great. But, if you’ve worked at a company for several years and have only received those only raises, you’re probably being undervalued. Technical professionals like you are in hot demand and salaries everywhere are increasing. If your company can’t come close to keeping up with that you may risk being underpaid.

10. You’re In Demand Elsewhere

If you’ve got in-demand skills, it may be time to move on. Take a look at job opportunities in your area to understand how high the demand is for someone in your current profession.

Bottom Line

If some or all of these signs apply to you, it may be time to make a career change. Start looking for great new opportunities today where you’ll be valued, fairly compensated, and rewarded for your hard work.

For more career advice, check out our blog.