A bad job doesn’t always smack you in the face. Sometimes it’s much sneakier than that. It’s more like the frog in the pot of boiling water. You start out fine, but day-by-day, that knob gets cranked closer and closer to maximum suck.  And you might not even realize it.

Because of this, you need to take a step back every once in a while and give your situation an honest appraisal. I’ve come up with 10 signs that can give you a clue when it’s time to jump out of the pot.

1.       You cry on the way to work.

You may be used to the stream of tears each morning, but trust me, it’s not normal. Some people actually smile on their way to the office. It could just be gas, but I think some of them are actually happy.

2.       You fantasize about punching co-workers in the face.

A healthy fantasy life is a great thing, but this might be going a bit too far. You spend more than half your waking hours with these people, wouldn’t it be great if you actually like them? Or at least didn’t want to maim them?

3.       You think your boss is a fool.

Fools can be funny, but they don’t generally make good mentors. If you don’t respect your manager, you will probably grow to hate him. And then he won’t seem nearly as funny.

4.       Your brain is turning into soup.

Mmmm, soup. A delicious way to start a meal, but not the ideal consistency for gray matter. If you’re not learning at work, you’re more likely to be bored and more likely to be less marketable when you finally do look for your next job.

5.       Someone kicks you in the crotch every day when you get off the elevator.

I really shouldn’t have to even call this one out, I mean, if you’re getting kicked in the naughty bits every day (literally or figuratively), you might want to move on. The more you let someone treat you like crap at work, the more likely it will continue. Take your crotch somewhere else where it will be respected.

6.       Your primary career goal is finding an office within 1 block of Chipotle.

Goals are important. And yes, Chipotle can be quite tasty. But, if you’ve given up on your more challenging aspirations, it may be time to jump ship. And quite possibly time to head to the gym as well.

7.       You fall asleep during your own presentations.

I love sleep as much as the next guy, but there’s a time and a place. You should be inspired at work. If your heart’s not in it, people will notice. Especially if you have drool running down your face.

8.       Your bathroom trips are your favorite part of the day.

It’s nice to have something to look forward to, but unless your bathroom has one of those turbo powered hand dryers, a nature break should never be that exciting.

9.       You occasionally take breaks from checking Facebook to do work.

Distractions can be great. A quick break to recharge the batteries can improve your thinking. But if you’re spending hours each day on Facebook, twitter, etc., you’re probably just distracting yourself from the fact that you hate your job.

10.    You actually do punch a co-worker in the face.

It’s hard to imagine any scenario where this turns out well. But the good news is, if it gets to this point, you won’t have to figure out whether or not it’s time to leave your job. That decision will most certainly be made for you.

Some people might say you’re better off staying put in an economy like this. But, let’s face it—no job is safe, whether you’ve been in it for 10 years or 10 minutes. Shouldn’t you at least try to find one you like?

So, is it time for you to make the leap?

- TJ Bennett