If you’ve worked in the same field for your whole professional life, or even just a few years, it’s time to consider if you’re continuing with it because you enjoy it or because you’re afraid of change. You might want to consider a career change if it’s the latter.
You may have considered changing occupations but haven’t taken the necessary steps. Perhaps you’re feeling compelled to look into other possibilities or simply burned out or bored in your current position.
Knowing what to do when faced with changes or problems in your profession is critical to your success and well-being in the workplace.
In this article, we shall explore what a career is, career change, and we will explain 15 signs that are pointers to change your career.
This post will be extremely insightful and informative. Make sure you read through to the end.
Table of contents
What Is A Career?
A career is a sequence of interconnected tasks that a person does in a certain work sector throughout their life, with increasing (typically more sophisticated) levels of responsibility as they develop.
The term “career” refers to an occupation or profession that typically requires special training or formal education and is regarded as a person’s lifework. In this example, “a career” is defined as a set of linked employment that are usually pursued within the same industry or sector.
SEE ALSO: Career Coach: Why and When You Should Hire One
What Is Career Change?
A career change is a phenomenon that describes a shift to a new type of job from what you’ve been doing previously. A career change is a process of moving into a position that is not related to your previous work experience. This encompasses involuntary adjustments prompted by circumstances and intentional changes aimed at improving quality of life, work satisfaction, or pay.
Career change (also known as career transition) is exactly what it sounds like: it’s the process you consider and may decide to do when you realize your current job or career isn’t fulfilling you.
Your current employment can be a starting point for a career move. You can work from within your organization to create something better for yourself (hopefully more about your talents, values, and spirit). Moving on and, no matter how long it takes, finding a new and different career that you are passionate about can also be part of a career shift.
See Also: 13 Way to Calm Nerves Before Interview | It Works
Why Should I Consider A Change In Career?
There are a whole lot of reasons that make people want to change their careers. Professionals frequently shift occupations to achieve a higher degree of job satisfaction. Another key aspect that influences job change is work flexibility. Employees who are juggling a profession and their personal lives frequently need and require a flexible role. One of the most prevalent reasons for changing occupations is to achieve a better work-life balance. Some employees want to work in industry or nonprofit that helps to improve the world, such as the environment or social programs that help the impoverished. This type of employment transition would be due to a shift in philosophy or life goals.
Another motivating factor in career change is financial satisfaction. This accounts for most of the cases of a career change.
Another common reason people feel forced to leave is dissatisfaction with their present employer’s leadership. Leadership challenges can arise at any level of an organization and significantly impact employee productivity. Poor leadership is characterized by a lack of recognition, low salary, and little perks.
READ ALSO: How to Get Motivated to Work! Fun-filled Way to stay cool
15 Signs It’s Time For A Career Change
As a person progresses in their profession, they will face problems or changes in their job or personal lives. At that point, the individual has two options, one of which will be the best depending on the situation: adjust or adapt to the changes and obstacles in their profession, or change career paths completely and look for one that is more suited to them at that moment.
But, more importantly, how can I recognize when I need to adapt or change careers? These signs below are red lights that tell you to change careers.
1. You are no longer enthusiastic about your job
When labor, production, or contribution toward a career keeps stirring up your desire for more work, production, and contribution, you are passionate about that career. Desire, not motivation or energy, is an indication of passion.
When you reach a point in your profession when you don’t want to do additional work after the work you’ve already done, you lose interest in it. Desire is a consideration since many things might affect your motivation and energy for work, even if it is something you want to do.
READ ALSO: 7 Ways to Passionately Know How to Find What You are Good At
2. Your job no longer meets your needs
You should figure out what needs drove you to pursue that vocation in the first place. The question of changing careers is answered once that requirement is identified. Your passion (desire for work or output) may fade since your requirements are no longer being addressed by that vocation, even if you aren’t aware of it.
For some people, the cash reward is the most important aspect of a job. For others, it’s the sense of balance it brings to their social lives. Others are motivated by a desire to contribute to something worthwhile.
3. Your career no longer aligns with your values
Our understanding of what is valuable or important (our moral codes) evolves with time. On the other hand, the values of a career or an organization do not change as quickly as those of individuals.
When you find that your values do not align with the values or demands of a certain career, it’s time to make a career move. You will not be satisfied if you continue to work in a job that does not align with your values. It’s much worse when the ideals are in stark contrast: it makes you feel like you’re living a life below par.
Related Post: How To Set Career Goals And Achieve Them | Step-by-Step Guide
4. If you easily get mentally checked out at work
You’ve probably checked out if you feel like you’re on a hamster wheel and your go-to response when asked ‘How are you doing?’ is a monotone ‘Livin’ the dream’ with a corresponding eye roll. You need to make a change if the mere thought of sitting at your desk or on another long conference call depletes your energy.
5. You’re numbing your dissatisfaction at work by engaging in bad habits
If you find yourself overindulging in unhealthy habits, it could result from your dissatisfaction at work, which takes up most of our waking hours every weekday. When we’re unhappy or unfulfilled in a certain aspect of our lives, we often try to divert ourselves with exterior diversions. It’s a red flag if you’ve increased your daily intake of trash TV, trash social media, booze, junk food, internet shopping, or toxic relationships.
6. You’re only working at this job for the money
It’s probably time to move on if the only reason you come up to work every day is for the pay. Yes, everyone has expenses to pay, but there are many ways to make money that don’t have to be soul-crushing. When you do something just to make money, you can never be truly successful or happy. You will constantly be afraid of taking risks and following your passions if you operate from a lack mentality or a survival attitude. The money you earn will turn into a prison of complacency.
7. Your job is causing problems in your relationships
If your profession is taking such a toll on your personal life that you’re losing friends and romantic connections, it may be time to reconsider if it’s the right match and aligned with your beliefs. The caveat to this indication is that if you are blissfully pleased with work and feel extremely fulfilled, but your partner despises it, you should probably find a new companion. If, on the other hand, you don’t care about your job and your relationships are hurting, it’s time to look for new employment.
READ ALSO: How To Improve Communication Skills In The Workplace | Tips That Work
8. Your career’s disadvantages outnumber its advantages
It’s time for a change if you can’t think of more positives than drawbacks about your current employment, Make a list to help you focus on the positive and negative aspects of your current job. You can then consider what matters to you in work, which will help you limit down the types of jobs that would interest you.
9. You’re tired or bored of it
When you stop feeling challenged or things get too predictable, it’s often time to make a job move, If you know everyone in the company’s routines, processes, job descriptions, and tasks, it’s a sign that it’s time to change careers.
10. Your job isn’t getting you any closer to your personal objectives
While it’s important to consider how passionate you are about your work and how excited you are to get up in the morning, there’s a difference between waking up unexcited but knowing that your day-to-day activities are bringing you closer to a larger goal and waking up unexcited and knowing that your work is meaningless.
11. You’re no longer proud of your work
If you don’t feel inspired to push yourself to achieve new goals or take pride in what you do, you’re likely to feel even less motivated over time, Since the situation isn’t going to go away on its own, you’ll need to take some proactive efforts to make things better.
12. You dread going to work
Everyone has those days when you hit the snooze button one too many times, or it takes a little extra boost to get up and out to work. Maybe the project you’re working on just doesn’t excite you, or you’re anxious about meeting the boss. But this is different—this is every day. You live for the weekend, but despite your best efforts, the dread of Monday creeps in by Saturday night. If you find yourself this dissatisfied with your current role, it’s time to think about what other areas of work might better align with your passions.
READ ALSO: 10 Best Answers To ” What are You Passionate About?” Question In An Interview
13. You’ve reached a stalemate in your professional life
It’s usually time to contemplate a job move if you reach a point where you can’t grow or earn any form of promotion. In some cases, it just happens that no form of skill acquisition can further your career. The only way forward is to consider a change in career path.
14. Your Self-Esteem Is Getting Worse
Because your job is such an important part of your identity, being unhappy at work can harm how you see yourself. When you start to lose faith in yourself and doubt your talents, it’s a clear sign that you need to make a change, Ironically, losing confidence in your decision-making abilities can keep you in the incorrect job if you don’t trust your instincts to do something different. Taking the risk of trying something new requires guts, but the rewards will be well worth it.
15. Your profession does not make use of your abilities
Sometimes you’re working in an area where your ‘dominant gift’ — your biggest talent you’re passionate about utilizing — isn’t being utilized. If you come across a job that requires this talent and pays you an equal or higher wage, pursuing it might not be a bad idea.
Conclusion
These pointers have been thoroughly researched just for you. We hope this post was helpful and enlightening. Take out time to appropriate all these tips to your life and consider making the right choice either to or not change your career.
FAQs On Career Change
Career counselors are very important especially to those who are confused about how to go about their careers.
You can keep working on your current job while you make plans to switch careers.
Career counselors are qualified professionals who assist us uncover all of the factors we should consider and provide helpful advice that will help us make the best career decision possible.
A job is whatever occupation you hold at any particular time. A career is a term that describes your working life through time, and it can relate to a single job that you hold for many years or a series of positions in the same sector.
Career goals/objectives are things, positions, and situations that you have set your mind on accomplishing professionally.
References
- gobankingrates.com – 16 Key Signs It’s Time for a Major Career Change
- theselfdiscoveryblog.com – The Curse of Loyalty: Should I Change Or Change My Career?
We Also Recommend
