Why you're scared to look for a new job

According to the latest quarterly Employee Outlook Survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, only 42% of employees are satisfied with their jobs.

This begs the question: with so many great hospitality jobs out there and so many resources available for finding those jobs — why don’t more people change jobs?

But we’ve all been there, haven’t we? Stuck in a job we didn’t particularly enjoy, but not quite summoning up the energy, courage or determination to break out.

Here are some of the most popular reasons for staying stuck, and some advice for getting out of that particular rut. If you’re one of those thousands of people stuck in a job that’s not quite right for you, hopefully this will give you the motivation you need to make that move and improve your life.

So, what's holding you back?

Is it that your CV is old and updating it will take a lot of time?

You’re certainly right to want to get it spot on. No matter what sort of hospitality job you apply for, potential employers will want to see an impressive CV. But don’t let this put you off applying. Take a look at the CV section of Caterer.com where you’ll find all the advice you need on how to write a killer hospitality CV in no time at all. Then just put aside some time to work on your CV and cover letter, and make sure you do it.

Maybe you’re worried about your employer finding out you’re looking for a new job?

If so, you’re not alone. Loyalty is a fine thing but, remember, this isn’t a marriage – looking at other jobs isn’t cheating on your current employer!

You are quite within your rights to investigate your options and if you see one that gives you a new challenge, better pay, a chance to develop your skills, more suitable hours, or something else, you have every right to apply for it. If your employer wants to keep you they should give you a promotion, a pay rise, some training, better hours, or whatever it is that you need.

If you’re still worried, bear in mind that on Caterer.com you have various privacy options. You can post your jobseeker profile so employers can find you and contact you, but without them being able to see your name or your CV.

Perhaps you just don’t know how to proceed?

Again, you’re not alone. Very few people have a definite plan for how they want to develop their careers. We’re all making it up as we go along! Maybe spend some time looking at the job profiles section of Caterer.com. It will tell you what’s involved in every type of hospitality job, from breakfast chef through to reservationist and operations director.

Are you short of time?

We’re all short of time. That’s why Caterer.com has a handy jobs by email function. It only takes a couple of minutes to set up a search for the type of job you want. When one becomes available, we’ll email you the details. It can save hours of trawling through databases, so why not set one up now? Alternatively, why don't you download the Caterer.com iPhone App and browse for jobs on the go?

Maybe you’re just scared of change?

Again, this is a very common reason why people remain stuck in jobs they don’t enjoy. The question is how long do you want to let that fear hold you back? Another month? Another year? Five years? A decade? The trouble is that before you know it, you’ve never done anything different and it’s just too late.

So, pluck up your courage now. Explore all your options, get your CV into shape, find a job that you’ll enjoy more and send off those applications. Caterer.com is full of advice and tools to help make it as easy as possible. What are you waiting for? It could be the best thing you ever do.

- We look at the 5 things to avoid on your hospitality CV
- Still not sure? Here are the 7 signs it's time to change jobs
- And if you fancy changing roles, read our job profiles to find your perfect hospitality career
- Maybe you want a complete change of scenery? If so, check out the Caterer.com location guides