My potential is being squandered: should I quit?

Don’t think of leaving just yet. You could be on to a winner, if your employer recognises that you have potential and has agreed to help you develop it. You are your main concern, but just one of many things your boss has to deal with. Six weeks is not a long time and there is a possibility she’s forgotten all about it. You need to give her a gentle but firm reminder of how serious you are. Arrange to talk about it again, but this time, go along with suggestions and try to come away with a time scale. If you’re coming up to a formal performance review, wait until then; if that’s some way off, arrange a meeting with your boss once you’ve done a bit more preparation. Write a brief report on where you see your career going and how your personal development could benefit the company. Remember no employer is interested in your career aspirations alone, they need to see the benefit for the company too.

If nothing happens after this meeting, then it is time to investigate other employers, and whether what they can offer will fit in better with your long-term plans. Once you start to feel under-utilised you can lose motivation. Leave before that happens or you could end up feeling stuck in a rut.

Now read these:

Bye bye rut

Fall in love with your job

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Employment lawyer Rachel Lewis advises on your work-related issues

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