DO you have a hard time going to work each day? Wish you did not have to be there? People do get stuck in jobs they do not enjoy and become complacent, do not realise there are better opportunities out there, or do not know what the signs are.

According to CareerBuilder.com and Andrea Kay, career consultant and author of Life’s a B-tch and then You Change Careers, these are the signs:

. You dread going to work

OK, you do not need to do cartwheels every Monday morning, but feeling constant job-related anxiety is a pretty good sign that you are in the wrong place.

. You get no enjoyment from your day-to-day responsibilities

Not every day is a picnic, but you should find some enjoyment in your daily duties. The things you do daily should be the ones you excel at and find pleasure doing. For example, Kay says, if you are happiest communicating with people, you probably will not be happy working with spreadsheets all day long.

. You are uncomfortable with the company culture and environment

Some people write off the importance of culture in the workplace, but it can have a dramatic effect on your overall happiness and success. Also, ask yourself if you are comfortable with the values of your organisation. Are they in line with yours? And consider the environment. If you like to work outdoors, do not expect to be happy sitting behind a desk.

. Your relationship with your boss is turbulent

This is the most common reason people leave jobs. The employee-employer relationship is crucial.

“Define what would be an ideal relationship with your boss so you can take the initiative to help create it or know what to look for,” Kay said.

Do you want a hands-on or a hands-off boss?

. You see no opportunity for career advancement or enhancement

You should be concerned if your company does not place importance on job training and professional development. Also, if you have had the same job for years and want to move up but are not given the opportunity, you might want to rethink your situation.

And while these top five signs are indicators of a lousy job, Kay also strongly cautions using them as an excuse to leave your job without looking ahead. Have you made every effort to fit in, advance or change within your present workplace?

“You need to ask yourself, ‘Have I done everything that I can to explore advancing or enhancing my career here?’ Do what’s in your power to make a difference,” Kay said.

If you are still unsatisfied, it is probably time to move on and use everything you’ve learned to make your next job better.

LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP

When you leave, try to make a positive difference. Executives do take note, believe it or not. Asked how often they act on information gathered during exit interviews with departing employees, executives replied:

. always (19 per cent);

. somewhat frequently (57 per cent);

. rarely (11 per cent);

. never (6 per cent);

. do not conduct exit interviews (6 per cent); and

. don’t know (1 per cent).

The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a staffing service specialising in placing administrative professionals, and includes responses from 150 senior executives at the nation’s 1,000 largest companies.

“Whether or not they are leaving on good terms, employees should take the time to share their insight and suggestions for improvement,” said Diane Domeyer, executive director of OfficeTeam.

“It’s not always easy to offer constructive criticism, but this feedback is valuable to the employer, as long as it’s delivered diplomatically,” she added.

She gives the following advice: Avoid burning bridges, keep it constructive and be candid but accurate.