There are times in life, where we find ourselves thinking of a career change. For some, that can happen quite often. Other people will choose to stay in the same job for a very long time. There are many reasons to factor in when it comes to seriously changing your career. Here’s how to know if a career change is right for you.
You’ve Lost Interest In The Industry
There does come a point where you may lose interest in the industry you’re in. That’s a clear sign that perhaps you’ve had enough of your current career. Everyone has the odd day where they feel frustrated or angry about their job. But, if it’s more often then not and you’re finding the environment you’re working in to be too much, it could be you’ve lost interest. Sometimes your feelings might just be about that specific job. When that happens, it might be a change of company that you’re after. However, if you think about a change of scenery within another company and feel you still wouldn’t be happy, maybe it’s time to try another career completely.
It’s A Career You Got Recommended Into
When you’re trying to figure out what you want to do, many people will make recommendations on what path you should take. Their input is often based on their own life experience and what they think might be best for you. This is usually your parents, teachers, and careers advisors. If you weren’t sure what you wanted to do in the first place, you might have just slipped into a career out of convenience. This can sometimes work out well and you end up loving the career you’re in. For others though, the reason why you’re not happy may be because you never wanted this career in the first place. Always remember, at the end of the day, if someone’s telling you to go for a job they’d think you’d be good at, you’re the one who’s got to actually do the work. It might seem like a good idea to them but what do you really want?
The Job Makes You Unhappy
The most obvious sign of any job that you no longer want to do is that you’re unhappy. You might have the odd good day, but the bad days outweigh them all. You might find yourself becoming more snappy towards colleagues or venting towards your loved ones. It might be so severe you don’t want to get out of bed in the morning. Or you may find, at the end of the weekend, you’re really not looking forward to going back to work.
Again, assess how you’re feeling because it might just be the job itself and not the career field that’s the problem.
You’re Constantly Job Hunting
It’s like when you’re wanting to move and you’re looking at houses on a daily basis. Or, you find yourself gravitating towards a real estate agent to look at local properties for sale. If you find yourself trawling through job sites, you might already unconsciously be wanting to move on. This is especially true if you can’t find any other jobs within your career field that are suitable for you. If you’re looking at jobs while at work, there’s a risk your employer might see you. This risk-taking might tell you that you don’t really care if you get caught. That should be enough to give you the push to find something new.
You Have The Skills Needed To Change
Before you go jumping ship, you need to make sure you have the right skills in order to pursue your new career. For example, if you’re moving from the retail industry and want to go into nursing, you’ll obviously need a nursing degree. Obtaining a nursing degree will give you the skills you need to become qualified to apply for jobs in this field. It’s a good idea to take time to write down all the skills you currently have. Once you do, look to see if you’re missing any for whatever career you want to move into. If you need more training, experience or qualifications you may need to go back to school. For some, this might not be financially possible yet. Think about staying in your current position while you save money or go to school part-time.
Do plenty of research, find out what you’ll need for your new career, and take action to obtain the skills you’ll need going forward.
There’s No Career Progression
You might find yourself stuck in a role where there’s no room to move up until you gain more skills, qualifications or experience. That might not be something you want to do. Not everyone wants to go back to school or spend years gaining experience in a career they aren’t excited about. There are also some careers that might not have much of a career progression at all. A career like that could be perfect for you. However, if you’re someone who likes moving up the career ladder, you’ll be disappointed if there’s no room to move up. You’ll want to find something where there’s plenty of opportunities for you to grow, both professionally and personally.
A career change is a big commitment. It’s important you really take time to think if this is the right decision for you. If you’ve lost interest in your industry, or feel like there’s no career progression for you, it might be time for a change. Your career could have been chosen because of a recommendation, and now you’ve grown out of it. If the job itself makes you unhappy and you have no interest in other jobs within your career field, it could time to move on. When you’re ready and you’re sure this is the right move for you, take action to begin your next career adventure. Here’s to YOUR success!
Carolyn R. Owens has over 25 years of proven experience and serves as a Career Strategist, Leadership and Life Coach. She is the Chairwoman and CEO of Infinity Coaching, Inc. where they help you up-level your skills so you can up-level your income. Infinity Coaching, Inc. provides one-on-one and group coaching, organizational training, and personality assessments. Carolyn is certified to give both The Energy Leadership Index Assessment and Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Assessment. You can find out more about both assessments and other products and services at https://infinitycoaching.net.
