United States
Signals That You Should Change Your Career
Work makes up a large part of a person’s life. Unfortunately, most people do not end up in a career that lights a passion within their hearts. Most of the time, a person graduates from some level of higher education and goes into the first career path that makes itself available to them. As a young and fresh graduate, one can be so eager to enter the workforce that they fail to realize the path they’ve chosen is not suitable for them.
Fast forward a number of years and this person is often in the same career due to the comfort it provides, but is also incredibly unhappy and stressed. Fox Business found, in a survey of over 6,000 people, that not even half were satisfied with their careers. This can lead to many leading a lifestyle that is less than fulfilling which is no way to live. Acknowledging some of the largest indicators that signal it may be time for a career switch is the best way to avoid an unfulfilling work life.
You've Considered Quitting for Years
Ironically enough, one of the largest signals that you should change careers is if you have been considering it for some time. People happy with their chosen career and work, in general, don’t think about quitting. Finding yourself consistently unhappy at your job can be a huge sign that it is time for a switch-up.
If this is the case, consider learning how to write a resignation letter and start looking at different career options. In fact, you may already have drafted up a resignation letter that has just been sitting in a folder on your computer for months, waiting for you to build up the necessary courage to submit it.
People often stay in less than ideal careers because they know no other way. They’ve grown to enjoy the comfort a stable job can bring and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, this will inevitably lead to burnout and should not be a reason to stay in a bad career.
Every Day Bores You
Everybody gets bored at work sometimes. There’s no way around the fact that not every second of the day is going to make you jump with excitement. With that said, if there is absolutely nothing about the job that piques your interest and no single day where you aren’t bored, it is best to start looking at alternative career options.
When it comes to some common reasons for leaving a job, a lack of feeling challenged or interested is high up on the indicator list. In an ideal world, your job would also be your passion and the work you perform would feel incredibly meaningful to you personally. Regardless of if you reach this level, a career should be something that you are proud of and the work you do should be enjoyable.
Finding yourself bored at a cubicle every day is a great sign that your work doesn’t interest you and it is worth evaluating a new career path. There are new and exciting options cropping up all the time that have to do with technology, and pursuing an online degree in a new field has never been easier.
Your Skills Don't Fit the Job
This is a signal that is harder to spot. If you find yourself unhappy with the career you are in, but can’t identify why, look at the skills you use on a day-to-day basis. Are they even remotely close to the skills you spent years developing? It can feel unfulfilling to be in a career that forces you to use non-challenging skills.
Whether you don’t have the right skills for the job or the skills are mindless, a career in this category is one you should not stay in. In truth, the skills used by employees today are likely to become obsolete in favor of tech skills.
See if you have some of the computer skills that recruiters are beginning to look for on resumes and, if so, changing careers to a tech-based field might be the path for you. It’s important to feel challenged and being in a career that doesn’t utilize the full range of your skills can make you regret your career choices.
Conclusion
Ending up in a career that isn’t right for you is one of the worst feelings in the world. It’s important to be honest with yourself when reflecting on your career and to get out of a mismatched career as soon as possible. Don’t settle for a path that is not a good fit for you or your skills, rather keep searching for a job path that lights a passion in your heart.
Author
Artur Meyester
Founder Career Karma
