Are you dreading Monday morning, and it’s only Sunday afternoon? Do you come home from work tired and cranky? Does your job make you feel bored, overwhelmed, uninspired, frustrated or just plain stuck? These are just a few of the signs that it might be time for a career change. According to a recent Gallup study, only 30 percent of employees in America feel engaged at work. Globally, that number drops to just 13 percent. So how do you know when it’s time to change career paths? The fact that you’re reading this could be one indicator. Here are some others:
1. You feel “stuck.”
Are you feeling lost or directionless in your career? Do you feel like you’re not living up to your potential? Does work feel like “just a job” or, worse yet, “just a paycheck”? A comfortable salary is nice, but might not be worth it if you’re miserable. Wanting “something more” or craving new challenges can often signal time for a change.
Related: Do You Live to Work or Work to Live?
2. Your self-esteem is taking a hit.
How you view your career trajectory can have a huge impact on how you feel about yourself — and vice versa. Whether you’ve been passed over for a promotion or a raise, or your ideas are repeatedly ignored at team meetings, what happens at work can have a serious impact on your self-esteem. If you feel less worthy, less competent, or less valuable than you once did, it’s probably time for a career change. Imagine what it would feel like to be appreciated, to have a sense of belonging and to see your own unique talents shining through.
3. You’re jealous of people who love their jobs.
Do you feel a little twinge of envy when your friends or family members talk about their jobs? If so, why? Is it because of their passion … or is there something else that appeals to you? Perhaps you’re intrigued by the industry, corporate culture financial rewards or flexibility. Exploring what you feel you’re missing is the first step in making a career change.
4. You’re always tired.
Boredom, stress and unhappiness have a way of sapping your body’s energy stores. Are you dragging yourself out of bed in the morning? Are you falling asleep on the job or as soon as you get home from work? Does it seem like the clock is ticking in slow motion? If you are feeling tired and “out of it” at work on a fairly regular basis, it might be your body’s way of telling you you’re ready for a career change.
5. Your heart’s not in it.
Does your job feel like a loveless marriage that’s lost its passion? Are you going through the motions without much thought or effort? Are you bored stiff or stressed out? Perhaps your job lacks creativity or doesn’t reward initiative. Perhaps it has simply become too predictable. A career change that taps into your passions will get you out of the doldrums and into a job that’s a better fit for you.
Every job has its ups and downs, but gratifying work will inspire and motivate you to overcome challenges, leaving you with a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. If that is what you wish for, but feel you are not getting in your current job, you might need a career change. Given that you will spend approximately 90,000 hours of your life at work, isn’t it worth the time and effort to find a career that will energize and excite you?
Ready to take the next step toward a career change? Contact us.
