Wondering if you should change careers?
It’s 8:00am on a Monday morning, and your alarm is going off to signal the start of a new workweek. Are you excited about the tasks that await you? Or are you consistently overcome with a sense of dread? If you answered the latter, you may want to start rethinking your current career trajectory.
Even when you love your career of choice, it’s normal to have the occasional feelings of boredom or frustration. But if those feelings intensify and become more frequent, that's when the alarm bells should ring. Here are some classic tell-tale signs that it may be time to start changing things up and considering a career change:
You feel apathetic and unmotivated
Why did you choose this career path again? As the weeks go by, you’re increasingly unmotivated by the tasks and projects thrown your way. Whether you did a great job on a project or submitted mediocre work, the praise, or lack thereof, doesn’t phase you either way. Your goal is to simply just get through every day by doing the bare minimum. New projects bring on a sense of dread instead of excitement.
Sound like you? These feelings may be red flag number one in your decision to start looking at different career options.
Next steps: Start thinking of the type of work that excites you and the tasks that motivate you to produce a good quality finished product — something you’re proud of. This will help you in deciding upon what types of careers may be right for you.
You’re bored or on autopilot
Knowing your job inside out can bring a sense of empowerment and satisfaction, but if every day starts to feel the same and work is no longer challenging, you may start to feel a sense of boredom.
Asking management for additional or new types of work can sometimes help alleviate this temporarily, but if you find yourself not even giving a second thought about your day-to-day (that “autopilot” feeling), it can lead to a feeling of dissatisfaction.
Next steps: What challenges you and helps get your brain working in new ways? Think of a project, either at work or in your personal life, where you learned something new or felt intellectually stimulated. What path could you take that could help re-create those feelings?
Your self-esteem is low
If you’re normally confident in your decision-making but are starting to constantly second-guess yourself and your abilities, it may be time to reconsider your current career. Whether it be lack of praise from management or being handed work outside of your comfort zone, a job that negatively impacts your self-esteem will ultimately take a toll on your overall mental and wellbeing. This is a surefire red flag that it’s time for a change!
Next steps: We all want to re-create that feeling of getting a gold star sticker in elementary school. To achieve this, you need to focus on what you excel in. Think about the times you’ve been praised for your work. What did those tasks consist of and what did you like about them? Pinpointing areas you excel in can help you while researching a new path.
You feel drained
We’ve all had days where we feel exhausted after work, but if you feel consistently tired day in and day out, it may be time to make a switch. Whether you’re overworked or just simply unhappy, feeling drained by your work can start to impact your overall energy outside of your work environment.
Next Steps: Figure out what pace and work environment best suit your work style, whether it's being on your feet or sitting at a desk. Finding a good match for your work style will ultimately have you not dreading the daily alarm.
You’re envious of your friends' careers
Nothing kills a dinner party conversation faster than the topic of work — or, at least it does in your case. While your friends talk about the excitement and joy their careers bring them, you'd rather avoid the topic altogether. If you’re sitting there wondering how your friends actually enjoy their jobs, it may be time to start reflecting on why you don’t feel the same way about yours.
Next Steps: Ask those closest to you what your strengths are. Sometimes the people we surround ourselves with know us better than we know ourselves. They may be able to identify potential career paths before you can.
What’s Next?
So, you've checked off the majority of the boxes above and have decided it’s time to dive headfirst into a career change — now what? Here's where to go from here!
Identify your strengths and interests
What are you good at and what are you passionate about? Make a list of what you like about your current and past roles, your strengths, and what brings you satisfaction and energy. This will help guide you on your career exploration.
Research new career paths
Start researching different career paths that speak to your strengths and interests. What skills do you need to add to your resume? Look into resources or courses that will help you learn and practice these new skills. Not all career changes have to be drastic, or take years — sometimes a part-time course or a Bootcamp will assist in making the much-needed switch.
Network with others in the industry
Identify people who work in your new field or career path of choice and reach out. Any questions you may have about day-to-day challenges, tasks, and job prospects can usually best be answered by individuals who are currently in the thick of it. Gaining perspectives from a variety of different people will assist in providing a well-rounded picture of your desired new career.
Ready to make a change?
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