All of us need a source of income to pay the bills and make ends meet. Having a job is a good thing; it means you have the necessary skills to contribute to your organization. However, many employees soon realize that they should be doing something else, a job that they enjoy and feeds their passion. Changing careers is not an easy decision. It takes a lot of courage and a little bit of soul searching. But how do you know when it’s time to give up and look for another job? Here, we enumerate seven telltale signs you need a career change.
Signs You Need a Career Change
1. You always feel worn out, exhausted and depleted.
Overly stressful jobs can easily make your body break down. It may be the type of work or toxic work environment that’s weighing down on you, but often, it’s your career that needs a shift.
If you don’t like your job, it won’t like you back. Do you get the so-called Sunday-night dread? It’s no coincidence that these anxiety attacks happen when they do. Basically, your body is telling you that it is not looking forward to what’s going to happen the next day. Chronic headaches, muscle tension, and migraines are signs it’s time for you to consider changing careers.
2. Your job is impacting your self-esteem.
Staying in a job that makes you feel bad about yourself is probably not worth it, no matter what your salary is. It can seriously impact your long term emotional well-being. A fulfilling career should boost your confidence and self-esteem, not the other way around.
3. You’re lacking energy and eternally bored.
We all have days when we lack enthusiasm and energy to do our work. But this shouldn’t be the norm every day. You may find one specific task annoying, but when you find your whole career boring, then it’s time for a change. Persistent low energy levels can also be an indication that something’s not right and work variables need a shake-up.
4. You’ve become disconnected from your passions.
Perhaps the creativity that originally enticed you to your career is no longer present. Maybe you spend more time sitting in meetings than producing anything of substance. Getting back to the reasons why you got into the line of work you’re in can help you evaluate whether you need to shift careers. Does your career still support those values or have they changed as you have grown older and more experienced?
5. You dream of a different career.
If you’re spending your time sitting at your desk daydreaming, Googling jobs, or bookmarking interesting companies in your browser, then maybe it’s time to get out of that job and into a career that interests you. Listen to your heart; maybe a career change can make it happy.
6. Your family and friends don’t recognize you anymore.
When family or close friends are noticing a big difference in your attitude or behavior, that you’re constantly stressed, complaining, and unhappy, it can be a sign that you need a career change. Whereas before they see you as someone who is passionate and inspired, now all they can see is a person with eye bags and tell stories of a nightmare boss. If getting back to your previous happy self means ditching your job, ditch it.
7. You would leave if you could.
Ask yourself this question. If you could leave your job yet remain financially secure, would you? If you answered yes, then you need to figure out how you are going to do that. Find your niche. Start thinking how to build a career or business which is aligned with your passions.
Conclusion
There may be various reasons why you want to leave your present job. Maybe it’s because of the stress involved, you don’t like the people you’re working with, or you don’t feel a sense of fulfillment. By recognizing the signs you need a career change, hopefully you can arrive at a decision that will bring renewed enthusiasm, contentment, and happiness into your life.
To know what career is right for you, take our career aptitude test.
