One of the most common questions I hear during mentoring sessions is, “I’m not sure if I should change my job.” Often, the mentee is already leaning toward a decision but looks to the mentor for affirmation.

In such cases, I suggest a simple exercise: the Job Happiness Score.

Here’s how it works:
1️⃣ List 5-6 key parameters that matter most to you in your job. These should reflect your personal priorities—don’t base them on someone else’s expectations.
Examples: Learning, work-life balance, growth, team culture, compensation, etc.

2️⃣ Create a spider chart. Rate each parameter on a scale of 1 to 5. Multiply the scores to get the total.
For example: If your scores are 3, 4, 2, 4, and 4, your happiness score is 384 (3×4×2×4×4).

3️⃣ Compare it to your happiest phase. Create another chart for a time in your career when you were happiest and calculate that score.
Let’s say your happiest score was 2500 (4×5×5×5×5).

If your current happiness score is significantly lower, it’s a clear indicator that something isn’t working.

🎯 So what are the next steps:
📍 Check if you can improve any parameter. For instance, if learning has stagnated, can you switch to a more challenging role within the company?

📍 If there’s no scope to improve these scores, it might be time to look for a new job.

This framework has helped many of my mentees think through this tough decision. Try it – it might help you ❗ .

⚙️ Note: If even one parameter scores “0,” your total happiness score becomes “0.” In that case, it’s time to move on—no deliberation needed.