The Job Satisfaction Checklist (or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Job)
Tags: career
Published: 2020-04-30 00:31:09

---
title: The Job Satisfaction Checklist (or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Job) 
published: true
description: 
tags: career
cover_image: https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/n2vs0g3688rfhqbuz1vd.jpeg
---

For as long as I've been employed, I've been a job-hopper. My current record for the longest time at a job is only 2 years and 6 months...and my record for shortest is a measly 4 months. I haven't ever been fired or let go – which I don't say to brag, so much as to emphasize how much I simply don't sit still. Hell, one of my first blogs here was about [how to gracefully resign from your position](https://dev.to/kathryngrayson/graceful-resignation)! However, as I come up on breaking my previous "longest" record in the midst of some decidedly un-fun working circumstances, I've been surprised to find that – against all logic – I don't feel that usual itch to jump ship. 

So, I sat down to figure out what makes this job different from all other jobs. I think a lot of folks make these kind of "stay vs. go" decisions based on a gut feeling but, as someone living with anxiety, my gut is pretty much always screaming "NO NO NO" in response to everything and I've learned to just tune it out – instead, I make lists. 

I came up with the following list of things I value in a job, and found that my current job ticks most of the boxes, which I think is a fair reflection of my level of satisfaction. In general, I think this list is a pretty good litmus test for assessing your current position and seeing whether it may be time to leave and seek greener pastures – so, without further ado, I'd like to share it with you. I hope you find it helpful.

## The Job Satisfaction Checklist:

_Not all items are weighted equally – because some things may matter more to you than others, you'll have to assign your own weight to each and (ideally) factor that into your final tally._

### Are you regularly learning new things? 

&#9744; Are you allowed to explore new techniques or approaches? 
&#9744; Are you given any kind of an allowance or budget for continuing education? 
&#9744; Is this job preparing your for the next step in your career (whether that's at the current company or not)? 
&#9744; Do you feel like it's okay for you to occasional fail when trying new things? 
&#9744; Do you get useful / helpful comments on your PRs?

### Do you feel supported? 

&#9744; Do you have a mentor? 
&#9744; Do you get the opportunity to pair program (if you want to)? 
&#9744; Do you have dedicated one-on-one time with your boss, a senior developer, or someone else capable of affecting a change that you may not be able to? 
&#9744; Is there someone on your team that you feel comfortable asking questions to when you're stuck? 

### Is there room for growth? 
 
&#9744; Do you know what the path for advancement looks like for your position, and do you want to do that job? 
&#9744; Are the expectations clearly communicated re: what it would take for you to get promoted? 
&#9744; Are those expectations clearly defined and reasonably achievable? 
&#9744; Are there regular check-ins or feedback sessions where you're given direction on how you can improve? 

### Is the company treating you fairly? 

&#9744; Do you feel pressured to regularly stay late, work weekends, or skip lunch? 
&#9744; Are you paid on par with others on your team at a similar experience level? 
&#9744; Is the pay structure at your company transparent? 
&#9744; Is your company diverse? Do you see this reflected in management positions / C-level positions as well?
&#9744; Do you have someone you can safely speak with about inappropriate comments or inequality concerns? 
&#9744; Are your disabilities accommodated without complaint? 
&#9744; Are your holidays accommodated without complaint?

### Are your financial needs being met? 

&#9744; Do you have benefits (medical, dental, vision, etc.)? 
&#9744; Are you paid on par with others who have your same title in your location? 
&#9744; Is the pay enough for you to live comfortably? 
&#9744; Is there some form of retirement savings offered? 
&#9744; Do you feel comfortable asking for or negotiating a raise? 

### Are your social needs being met? 

&#9744; Do you generally like the people you work with? 
&#9744; Are you able to bring your full self to work (as much as you choose to), or do you feel that you have to hide certain aspects of your life / personality to be accepted? 
&#9744; Can you make (appropriate) jokes at work and banter with your colleagues? 
&#9744; Are you spoken to respectfully?
&#9744; Is your opinion considered when relevant decisions are being made? 
&#9744; Are your achievements recognized? 

**Did I leave anything out? If there's anything you think should be added to the list, please let me know!**