What are the 10 signs you need a career change
It might be time to consider a career change if you’re constantly feeling stressed, anxious, or just plain bored.
It’s not unusual to feel unhappy at your job from time to time but if you feel your professional life is languishing, you might want to take a good look at your employment situation and ask if it is time for your next move.
The Great Resignation
Maybe you’ve been inspired by the current trend of the “Great Resignation” and have even seen colleagues make the jump and work for companies that offer remote work, more challenging assignments, and new responsibilities.
Most importantly, their employers are not bothered by how much time is spent in the office as long as their work gets done on time.
Making a career transition can be a daunting task, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone.
Did you know that most people job hunt during their lunch breaks; this should be a red flag if you are the employer!
There are plenty of resources available to help you make the switch, and many people have successfully made the transition to a new career.
A Word Of Advice
Before you leave your job and start your new position, always try to leave your current workplace on good terms.
You never know when you might need to come back or ask for a reference.
Ok, back to the subject at hand; here are a few signs it’s time for a new job:
1. You dread going to work every day
If you find yourself hitting the snooze button more often than not or counting down the minutes until quitting time, it’s probably because you’re not fulfilled by your work.
First, if you’re feeling consistently unhappy or unfulfilled at your job, likely, you’re not in the right field.
If you’re stuck in a career that you hate, it can be really difficult to make any progress in life.
Also, if you’re not passionate about your work, you won’t be putting your best foot forward and you’ll quickly become unmotivated.
Lastly, if you’re dreading going to work each day, it’s probably because your current job is stressing you out.
A job that’s constantly causing stress isn’t good for your mental or physical health, so it’s important to find something that makes you happier.
Maybe you’re in the wrong field, or your current position just isn’t a good fit for you.
Whatever the reason, if you’re not happy at work, it’s time to do something about it.
Talk to your manager or your human resources department about finding a new job, or start researching different career paths.
Don’t stay in a job that makes you miserable – life is too short!
2. You’re not using your skills and talents to their fullest potential
Everyone has unique skills and talents that they bring to the table.
If you’re not using yours, it may be time to find a career that better suits your strengths.
Maybe you’ve lost interest in your current field, or you’re just not feeling challenged anymore.
A lack of fulfilment or opportunities for challenging assignments in your work can lead to dissatisfaction over time.
In addition, if you’re not using your full range of capabilities at work, you may be missing out on opportunities for career growth and development.
Also, if you’re not passionate about what you do, it’s going to be difficult to sustain motivation in the long-term.
There are plenty of other careers out there that can make use of your skills and talents, so don’t be afraid to venture out and explore new possibilities.
3. You’re not challenged or stimulated by your job
There are a few reasons why when you’re not challenged or stimulated by your job might be a sign to start thinking about changing your career.
First, if you’re bored or unchallenged at work, you’re not growing or developing professionally.
This can be frustrating and unfulfilling and may lead you to feel dissatisfied with your job.
Also, if you’re not excited by your work, you’re not going to put your best foot forward.
This can impact your productivity and creativity and may lead to a decline in your work performance.
Finally, if you’re not passionate about your job you won’t be very happy in your career.
This can contribute to a lot of stress and unhappiness in your life outside of work.
If any of these things sound like they might be happening to you, well, you know what to do!
So, if you’re bored at work or feel like you could do your job with your eyes closed, it may be time for a career change.
Doing challenging work and learning new skills are some of the key components of job satisfaction.
4. You don’t believe in the company’s mission
There are a few reasons why you wouldn’t want to work for a company whose mission you don’t believe in.
If you don’t believe in the company’s mission, it’s going to be hard to be passionate about your work.
Without passion, you’re not going to be motivated to do your best, and that can lead to lower job satisfaction and less success in your career.
Additionally, if you don’t believe in the company’s mission, that could mean that the company doesn’t stand for anything meaningful or worthwhile.
And if that’s the case, then what’s the point of working for them?
Would you much rather work for a company that has a mission that you believe in and can get behind?
Finally, when it comes time to move on from this company, it’s going to be a lot harder to find another job if you don’t have a solid track record of success at your current company.
So, all things considered, it just makes more sense to find a job at a company whose mission you believe in.
LinkedIn reported 88 per cent of millennials would consider reducing their salary if they worked at a place where the company values aligned with theirs.
It’s hard to be motivated at work when you don’t believe in the company’s mission or values. If this is the case, it’s probably time to find an organization that aligns better with your own beliefs and values.
We need companies who share their values as they become more interwoven with their work lives.
If you constantly lower standards or compromise your beliefs, then you need a new job.
5. Your personal life is suffering
There is no “right” answer for this, as it depends on the individual situation.
However, in general, if your personal life is suffering, it may be a sign that you need to start thinking about changing your career.
This is because your job should be something that you enjoy and makes you happy, not something that stresses you out and takes away from your time with family and friends.
If you are feeling unhappy or frustrated with your job, it may be time to explore other options.
When you’re unhappy at work, it can hurt your personal life as well.
Poor sleep due to unhappy work circumstances doesn’t help you function at your best at home where your loved ones need you to be there for them.
If your job is causing stress in your relationships or affecting your health, it’s time for a change.
6. You’re constantly stressed out and feel overwhelmed
There are several reasons why constantly feeling stressed and overwhelmed can be a sign to start thinking about changing your career.
For one, if you’re feeling overwhelmed constantly, it’s probably because you’re taking on too many tasks and responsibilities.
Your normal sleep patterns are affected.
This can be very draining and lead to burnout.
Additionally, if you’re feeling stressed out all the time, it’s likely because your job is not fulfilling or satisfying.
This can be very frustrating and make you feel unhappy.
Lastly, if you’re feeling stressed out, it’s probably because your job is not stable or safe.
This can be worrying and make you feel anxious.
7. You’re not making enough money or you’re not happy with your salary
You asked for a pay increase and got turned down or told that an increased salary is not possible.
If you tried to get raises and hit the wall, it can indicate it’s time to look for a new career opportunity.
This is especially true if you know a competitor would offer you a higher salary for a similar role.
Struggling financially increases the sense of unhappiness and dissatisfaction especially; the present employment environment favors job seekers looking for career advancement.
Your current salary does little to persuade you to stay where you are and you regularly fantasize about landing your next job.
8. You don’t like the people you work with or you don’t have a good relationship with your boss.
Maybe you don’t like your employers or the people you work with who are always gossiping and spreading rumors.
If you’re constantly feeling angry or frustrated with the people you work with, it’s probably not the right job for you. This will negatively impact your mental health and well-being.
If you don’t have a good relationship with the people you work with, it can make going to work every day a chore and you’re tempted to quit on a daily basis.
It’s important to find a career that you enjoy and where you have a good relationship with your coworkers and have colleagues who support you and who you can rely on.
If you’re happy at work, it makes the day go by much faster.
If you can’t stand being around your colleagues, it’s probably time to start looking for a new job.
9. You’re not passionate about your job and you can’t see yourself doing it for the rest of your life
So you probably feel that you have outgrown your job and you are not learning new skills.
Maybe you took every step possible to stop career burnout but nothing works anymore.
If you’re not passionate about your job, then you’re not going to be very motivated to do it well.
This could lead to poor performance and problems with your boss or co-workers.
Second, if you don’t enjoy your job, then it’s going to be hard to put in the long hours and effort that most careers require.
Lastly, if you don’t see yourself doing your current job for the rest of your life, then you’re probably not going to be very successful in it.
This is where starting a new job can be rewarding; you learn new policies, and protocols and add to your skill set.
If you’re not passionate about your job and you can’t see yourself doing it for the rest of your life, then it’s time to start thinking about changing your career.
10. You’re not being recognized or appreciated for your work
Not all employees are motivated by money.
If you’re not being appreciated for your work, it means that you’re not valued in your current position.
This is especially true if you feel like you’re putting in a lot of effort but not being recognized or appreciated; it can be frustrating.
This can lead to feeling unfulfilled and unsatisfied in your job, which can impact your overall happiness, mental health and motivation.
Additionally, if you’re not being recognized for your work, it may be a sign that you’re not reaching your full potential in your current role.
This can be frustrating and discouraging and may make you feel like you’re not doing what you’re meant to be doing.
A lack of recognition usually means that there is a lack of opportunity for growth and advancement in your current position.
If this is the case, it’s probably time to start looking for a new role where you will be more appreciated and recognized.
Conclusion
When it comes to making a career change, there are a lot of things to consider.
You may feel like you’re at a crossroads and don’t know which path to take.
One of the biggest factors that go into making this decision is your motivation for wanting to make a change in the first place.
Are you feeling burnt out in your current job?
Are you not challenged enough or not using your skills and talents?
Do you dislike your current industry or company?
Or maybe you just feel like it’s time for a new challenge?
Whatever the reason, it’s important to take some time to figure out what’s motivating you.
Once you have a better understanding of why you want to make a change, you can start thinking about what kind of career might be a good fit for you.
Do some research, talk to people in different industries, and attend job fairs and networking events.
The most important thing is to keep an open mind and explore all your options.
Be patient and take your time when job hunting.
Accept that your job search is an evolving process and you may go through multiple rounds of interviews before you find a new job.
Do yourself a favor and update your resume and brush up on your interviewing skills.
When it comes down to it, making a career change can be intimidating, but it can also be very rewarding.
So if you’re feeling ready to take the plunge, go for it!
