By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
I’ve observed over the decades that career advancement doesn’t always go to the smartest or the hardest-working—although both traits certainly help. Professionals who thrive are those who seize opportunities, whether within or outside their current company. They are often willing to take on challenges that others shy away from.
It’s also important to recognize warning signs early. The ability to read workplace signals can mean the difference between a strategic career move and a desperate scramble. Here are six red flags that indicate it’s time to consider your options:
1. Your reporting structure moves down
It’s concerning when senior professionals suddenly find themselves reporting several levels lower than before without any explanation. For individual contributors, unexpected reallocations without any context for growth opportunities should raise eyebrows. These organizational changes rarely happen by accident.
2. The ceiling is clearly visible
Spend some time observing people who are a level or two above you. If they are about your age and seem to be stuck in their role indefinitely, that tells you something important about mobility in your organization. When you answer “What’s my next move?” by focusing on skill development rather than the possibility of advancement, you’re likely to see structural limitations rather than personal limitations.
3. Ownership change in progress
Whether your company is actively seeking a buyer or has recently been acquired, this can have a significant impact on your career. In the first case, it signals financial challenges or a founder seeking an exit. In the second phase, transformation has occurred. Both situations typically follow a predictable pattern: You’ll help integrate operations and transfer institutional knowledge to a new leadership team, only to face a severance package or later find yourself sidelined.
4. You’re stuck in maintenance mode
Organizations reward those who deliver innovation and growth – exciting initiatives that capture leadership’s attention and imagination. If your tasks consist primarily of maintaining existing systems or managing legacy projects, you’ve been placed on the maintenance track. This rarely leads to progress.
5. The relationship with your manager is irreparable
When you really don’t like your direct supervisor, no amount of professional courtesy can mask the stress that comes with every workday. If you feel that this feeling is reciprocated, the situation becomes more difficult to maintain. Professional relationships built on mutual distrust or dislike do not improve over time but worsen.
6. Your industry is shrinking
Industry expertise is valuable, but only in industries with a future. Remember how crypto companies weren’t hiring fast enough in 2021? Many of the same companies disappeared within two years. Traditional retail department stores once dominated American commerce; now they close stores every year. When your entire industry is in structural decline, even great individual performance cannot protect your career trajectory.
A well-thought-out job search should begin before the situation becomes an emergency. If these situations resonate with your current reality, start taking action now. Strategic career transitions require time, planning, and emotional energy—resources that can quickly evaporate once a crisis strikes.
Don’t wait until the situation worsens. Future you will appreciate your vision.
Ⓒ Big Game Hunters, Asheville, NC 2025
How much money are you looking for? delay and deflection
About Big Game Hunter Jeff Altman
Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter is a coach who has been a recruiter for a hundred years. His work spans career coaching, executive job coaching, job coaching, and interview coaching. He is the producer and former host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 job search podcast on iTunes with over 3,000 episodes.
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice on more effective networking, how to negotiate an offer, or leadership coaching? Schedule a discovery call on my website, www.TheBigGameHunter.us
My courses can be found on my website www.TheBigGameHunter.us/courses
Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/thebiggamehunter
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