“Should I stay or should I go?” It has a familiar ring and, in fact, workers across America are asking themselves that very question. According to a recent Spherion^® survey, 21% of adult workers answered “Go” and made a voluntary job change in the past year.

The desire to leave a job can be the result of a sudden change—or a series of events over time. For workers in our survey, 30% cited growth and earnings potential as the reason for leaving, while 23% pointed to time and flexibility as the driving factor.

However, deciding to leave the familiarity of colleagues, your surroundings, and a job you know well can be more than a little scary. How can you be sure that it’s really time to move on? While there is no magic answer, these five questions may help guide your decision.

• Do you have no interest in your boss’s job?
  Think about your manager’s position and the kinds of things they’re responsible for. Do you see yourself sitting in their office one day? If you have no interest in eventually doing that job, you may belong in another role or organization.\
• Is your compensation inadequate? 
  If your salary is well below market average or you haven’t seen an increase in the past few years, despite meeting your performance objectives, it may be time for an opportunity where you will be compensated fairly and rewarded for your hard work.
• Have you outgrown your job? 
  You may have started your job at an entry level, but have since gained a significant amount of experience. If you can’t use that expanded experience in your present position, in may be time to find a place where you can apply the skills you’ve acquired.
• Do your benefits meet your needs?
  As a result of skyrocketing healthcare costs, benefits are more important than ever. If your company provides excellent health benefits, that could be a reason to stay. And benefits also include time off, so make sure your employer supports your need to get away and recharge. If not, you may want to check out other options.
• Do you feel unfulfilled?
  While every task you are assigned might not make your spirits soar, it is essential to get some sense of personal satisfaction from the work you do. If you don’t feel that your contributions are recognized or valued, it may be time for greener pastures. 

So, if you find yourself humming the music to “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” instead of responding to your supervisor’s e-mails or working on that pesky project, it may be time to do some serious soul searching. Answering these questions should help you feel more comfortable with your decision, whatever it may be.