Your job in Hong Kong has become so routine that you spend your days counting down the clock hands.

You can almost feel your skills and talents are rusting away.

Worse, you see no end in sight, because your employer can't offer a clear career path for growth and advancement.

So what are you looking for?

  • You want a job opportunity that provides more than just a paycheck.
  • You may want to feel you're making a difference.
  • You want to feel appreciated.
  • You want to feel challenged.
  • You want to know your hard work today is building toward some goal down the line. Maybe that means more money, a fancier title, more satisfying assignments — or better yet, all of the above.

If you see none of these things on the horizon, it may be time to re-evaluate your situation.

Here are six signs you’re in a dead end job in Hong Kong:

1. Your ideas are not valued

Everyone has the right to disagree with you.

But if you’re shot down by your boss every time you have a suggestion to improve the way you or the team works, you may be heading down a dead end street.

2. Your company doesn't see value in your job

If the leadership at your company doesn't value the kind of work you do, they probably aren't going to notice that you're doing a great job. It's demotivating to feel that your boss doesn't appreciate your skills and talents.

Put simply, everyone needs a pat on the back once in a while. But there is more at stake than that. It also means you're probably not going to be top-of-mind when it comes time to fill a more senior role.

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3. Your manager has no career path plans for you

If you want to grow at your current company, there is no more obvious and important advocate than your manager.

It's not a good sign if they can't see a way for you to advance at the company. And if they avoid the subject altogether, that may be even a worse sign.

4. Your company is not growing

When a company's revenues have stalled, there are usually fewer opportunities for employees to grow their own careers.

If the company has been on a downward slide for more than a couple of years, it may be time to expand your horizons before you're stuck in a dead end job.

5. Your passion for the role is diminishing

We all hit lulls at work. Maybe once-challenging tasks have become repetitive. Or maybe you're drained for reasons that have nothing to do with work.

But then something gives — a fun new assignment, a break in the weather — and you start to feel the mojo return.

But if your motivation has been on the decline month after month — despite having done your best to turn things around — it may be time to polish that resume.

6. Your manager off-loads their grunt work on you

Your boss may shower you with tasks and exude gratitude for all you do.

But beware if they only assign you the repetitive tasks they themselves don't want to do. It may mean they see you only in the role of an assistant, rather than someone who has the potential to grow.

Or maybe you are doing such a good job they are reluctant to help you move beyond your current role.

Important questions to ask before considering moving on

If you’re seeing all these signs, it may be time to make a change. But, as they say, wherever you go, there you are.

Before you go through all the trouble of finding a new job, make sure the problem is not with you.

Here are a few questions to ask before hitting the road:

  • Have I clearly communicated my career goals to my manager?
  • Have I shown that I am willing and able to take on new roles and responsibilities?
  • Does my employer offer professional training that I am not taking advantage of?
  • Have I looked for ways to expand my current role by identifying unmet needs in the organization?
  • If there is little chance for promotion in my current position, are there any other roles with my current employer that could help me learn new skills and address new challenges?

When you know it's time to move on from a dead end job

OK, so you're clear it's time to move on. But before you look for similar work elsewhere, here are a couple more questions to ask yourself:

  • If my current employer offered me a promotion, would I really want the new job?
  • If not, is there a job somewhere else in the company that excites me?

If your answer is "no" to both of these questions, you may need to do more than just look for a better version of your current job. You may need a career makeover.

When choosing a new field or industry, think about where there is consistent and sustained job growth.

You can improve your odds of making a successful transition by first taking on part-time roles, temporary work, or project and consulting opportunities.

Time to look for a new job? Robert Half Hong Kong can help you find the right opportunity.