Indicators You Need A Career Change

As a member of the workforce community, at some point, we encounter the question: “Is it time for a career change?” and you start looking for indicators that you need a career change. We begin asking ourselves questions whose answers often lead to just hanging on or carrying out what we used to do.  A very little percentage of us would jump into a career change.  Most of that percentage is what others would call bold and brave in making that decision; or crazy for doing so, or some even may seem they have no other choice.  However, deciding on a career change does not happen overnight.  It takes a lot of things into consideration like money, skills, opportunities, etc.  But do we get signs when a career change is upcoming? Do we get that “gut feel” that what you are currently doing is not for you?  Yes, and yes, and yes to more questions that may come up.

Let us look at the indicators when you need a career change.

1.  When it does not fit – do not have the passion:

Many skilled workers in any workforce community may have always been trying too hard.  They went to school, earned the degree or certificate, but somehow do not seem to fit.  However hardworking an employee is when they are doing something out of their passion, and then they do not shine.  They do not excel.  It may seem difficult to follow your passion all the time, and hey, we need to earn a living.  YES, but earning a living does not mean it would make you stagnant.  Shining in a profession is easy.  When skills are coupled with passion and determination, you will shine like a diamond in your company.  For example, when a contractor builds an edifice, they could either simply build according to the architect’s and engineer’s plan.  OR, they can build according to the other professional’s plans AND make sure they did a great job.  Doing a great job at work is doing something extra.  For contractors to build edifices, they can even make sure they evaluate everything.  The materials, the way the work is done, the timeline when they are building it, the quality of the work done by his team, and so on.  When you are just “doing your job” and not mind the trivial details of your job, then, you may need a career change.  If your day is composed of eight to five jobs, and nothing extra or no highlights in between, you need a career change.

2.  When you do not learn anything new.

When you do not learn anything new at work, you become outdated.  Your work capacity or skill set remains as is.  Your output remains as is.  Your career goals stay as-is.  If you do not learn anything new from working for a company for an “x” number of years, your market value depreciates faster than a running vehicle on the freeway.  And when your market value depreciates, you are not indispensable.  The company will just let you go and hire somebody else better than you.  Either the company does not allow you to learn, or you do not hunger for new learning.  This is how you become outdated.  When you are just contented in clocking in and clocking out and getting paid at the end of the day/week/month, then you need to consider a career change.  Before working becomes boring for you.

3.  When you are not proud of what you do.

Pride in our jobs or work is important.  This means you like what you do and you want other people to know that.  Your competence at work matters and you make sure people know that and you work on protecting that competency.  If you are ashamed of what you are doing.  Or if you won’t even recommend yourself to do jobs for people you know, then it is about time you make up your mind and plan on a career change.  If you are a bookkeeper working in a firm, and your friends or family ask you for help with their taxes or in analyzing their finances, if you are proud of what you do and confident you can help, then you will help.  However, if you do not take pride in what you do, or you are unsure if you can help them, then maybe, you are in the wrong career path.  This is when you may need to consider a career change.  Confidence with what you do is a clear sign that you are on the right track.

4.  When you often ask yourself, “What am I doing here?”

This question is the most dreadful indicator you need a career change.  This simply means you do not know your purpose in doing what you are doing.  Money is always the greatest motivation of all.  However, when you drag yourself to work doing what you have been doing for the past how many years or come home dead tired doing what you have been doing for years, then you need a career change.  Or when nothing at work is simply good for you.  For example, you don’t like your boss, or your office, or your colleagues or even your work.  This is the reddest flag there is.  Get out.  Work on making a career change.  When we have this feeling, and we often ask ourselves, “What am I doing here?” and the answer to that is – because this is what my education led me to.  OR I am here because I need the money.  Or I am here because this is convenient.  We need to plan and start working on making a career change.

With all of those indicators, it only takes one brave bold breath to take on the first step to making a career change.  It is to be firm and decide that you will take a different career path.  You may begin by learning another skill, equipping yourself with the skillset you want to have.  Next would be looking for opportunities where your newly acquired skills will grow, make you better, make you happy working, make you look forward to working. Deciding on a change of career is difficult and requires a lot of considerations.  But career change will always begin with YOU.

If you are starting to see these indicators and you need someone to guide you, feel free to contact me here.