How to Know If the Job Opportunity Isn’t Right for You

3 signs you should say ‘no’ to this job.

A few weeks ago, I did something scary.

I said ‘no’ to the only writing opportunity I had at the moment.

As a risk-averse person, this is not typical of me. From a rational perspective, I’d never quit the only opportunity I have at the moment because it doesn’t feel safe. And I appreciate having security.

So you probably wonder why I did that. Fair enough — I was asking myself the same question.

Working on that project, I couldn’t get over the fact that it didn’t feel right for me. So I decided to terminate the agreement. The day after, I serendipitously got a new exciting offer that I didn’t see coming.

Although it might be a coincidence, we can still learn a lesson or two from this experience. Knowing the right opportunity is a skill. And you can train it.

These three common signs can help you understand whether it’s right for you. All you need is to notice them and be honest with yourself. Here’s how you know.

Learning to Know What You Want

I went into writing and content creation for multiple reasons. Enjoying my freedom while being my own boss is one of them. I want to decide what to work on because I hate working on projects and ideas I don’t support.

In my previous job, I often had to work on something I didn’t believe in. It was the most miserable experience. How can you create something you don’t think will work out?

I struggled for months with the task until I got negative feedback that I wasn’t delivering on my tasks. So I pushed away my opinions about the initiative and did something — a good enough version that would work. No part of my soul was invested.

A few months later, the team concluded the idea wasn’t viable, and we canceled the launch.

I felt unheard. My work was meaningless. All of my struggles to make something good were for nothing.

Back then, I promised myself I’d do my best to avoid situations like these. I don’t ever want to work on something I don’t believe in. I want to make things that add value and create impact.

This is how I ended up writing.

But building your audience online is a treacherous road. A bunch of challenges on the way can make you feel like giving up. And even if you solve them, there is no guarantee you will succeed.

So having any writing opportunity outside of Medium made me happy. It gives me practical experience and helps me improve my skills. So I expected I’d hold on to any project I got. I was wrong.

At first, I was fully on board with the project. My tasks were diverse — from content ideation to copywriting to landing page creation. The first few months went by, and I was enjoying it.

Until I wasn’t anymore.

Suddenly I didn’t like the tasks anymore. I wasn’t reaping as many benefits as I used to. The job felt monotonous, and I was stagnating. On top of that, I was overloaded with the personal stuff in my life. I operated at my highest capacity. And I knew I already got the best out of the job for myself.

It’s a common belief that if you’re providing services, you’re there only to provide them. You don’t have a voice. It’s up to your client to decide whether to hire or fire you.

I disagree.

Providing services shouldn’t be a burden. The job must be as beneficial for you as it is for your clients. If the project pays well, but you feel miserable — is it even worth it?

So I made a difficult decision and terminated this collaboration. It wasn’t what I wanted anymore. It felt scary, but I knew it was right.

How to Know When to Say No: 3 Signs That the Opportunity Isn’t Right for You

#1 Your job feels like a burden

When you sit at your desk about to start your task, instead of the excitement, you have this heavy feeling this task is pressuring you.

You think about the fact that you need to get it done, and it brings you down. On Sunday evening, you’re upset that tomorrow is Monday, and you’ll need to work.

If any of that sounds familiar, consider if what you’re doing is the right thing for you. Your job is something you should enjoy — you’re doing something good, and you’re making an impact.

#2 You struggle to get things done

When I enjoy what I do, I often do it from a flow state. It happens 90% of the time I write on Medium. I write about things that excite me and things I am genuinely interested in.

The flow state is beautiful. You get so carried away that you don’t notice how the time passes. You skip lunch because you didn’t see the time.

If that’s not the case for your job, quit it. Struggling to get things done is your inner voice telling you this is not what you want to be doing.

If you start spending more time on the same tasks than before, think about what’s the reason behind it. Are you trying to subconsciously slow down the process because you don’t want to do it?

If it happens consistently, it might be the wrong opportunity for you.

#3 The quality of your work has worsened

When you’re passionate about your job, you tend to go the extra mile. You conduct research, invest a couple more hours, and ask a colleague for feedback before delivering your project. You do it because you’re invested.

When you can’t care less about your job, anyone can see it. You complete it to the level when it’s good enough. You don’t even attempt to do it better.

So the quality suffers. There are more feedback rounds. You deliver a mediocre job that your client isn’t happy about. It’s a lose-lose situation.

If doing a great job by default doesn’t feel normal, then you’re in the wrong business again. You don’t have to pretend to care about your job — it comes from within. And your attitude is always reflected in the quality of your work.

Final Words

Not being satisfied with your job is not a life-long verdict. You don’t have to suffer through it your entire life. It’s just a wrong match, and you have the freedom to choose and change it.

Some opportunities fit you better than others. These three signs can help you understand when it’s not right for you:

• Your job constantly feels like a burden.
• You procrastinate and struggle to get things done.
• The quality of your work has gotten worse.

When I noticed these signs, I said no to the job that felt wrong and opened up the space for better ones to come. Learn to read these signs, and you’ll never again suffer in a job you don’t enjoy.

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