Signs that it's time for a career change

If you start to feel crabby with itchy feet, and feel unfulfilled with what you do every day, maybe it’s time to look further afield and think about a career change.

Are you fed up at work, feeling uninspired, discouraged and simply cannot get out of bed in the morning. Are you also grumpy all day, fractious in meetings and mean to your colleagues? If so, it’s definitely time to wipe the slate clean and make a fresh start.

Check out these defining moments or happenings that could prove that a fundamental change is imminent: 

You have switched off

If you think about your current work and feel bored and unmotivated at least 75% of the time. There may be a few things that interest you but most of the time you dream of escaping, finding a new job or taking a leave of absence. You have been far less inclined to read books and articles about your current profession. You find yourself uninterested in reading about topics you used to enjoy.

Changes in your life 

There has been a major change in your life (sickness, death, having children, potential to move, change in partner’s job) that has made you re-evaluate your interest in your current career path.

When you see jobs that are similar to yours posted by a different company, you can’t imagine yourself applying for those kinds of jobs.

Not even a ‘people switch’ helps 

Even if you could change all the people at your work who frustrate you, you still don’t think you’d like your current role/career or the work you do.

You have started to do a broader job search than before on the career boards. For example, if before you would have searched within one category (such as accounting), you are now looking around in other categories (such as sales/marketing).

Thinking out of the box

You have identified a strong interest or hobby that you’d like to start pursuing as a career. You frequently think about starting your own company so you can be your own boss. Even if you were offered a major pay increase to stay in your current career field, you would still question whether you would be interested in this career field long term.

You frequently think about possibilities for new career paths for yourself, and have seriously considered going back to school for more education.

Check out these final tips before embarking on a new quest:

Final tips for career changers

Pace yourself and don’t take on too much at once. Career change doesn’t happen overnight, and it is easy to get overwhelmed with all the steps to change careers successfully. Break down large goals into smaller ones, and try to accomplish at least one small thing a day to keep the momentum going. 

Don’t rush into a change because of unhappiness in your current job. If you are stressed and unhappy in your current job, or unemployed, you might be feeling a lot of pressure to make a quick change. However, if you don’t do enough research, you might end up in an even worse position than before, with the added stress of a new position and new learning curve. 

Ease slowly into your new career. Take time to network, volunteer, and even work part-time in your new field before committing fully. It will not only be an easier transition, but you will have time to ensure you are on the right path and make any necessary changes before working full-time in your new field. 

Take care of yourself. You might be feeling so busy with the career transition that you barely have time to sleep or eat. However, managing stress, eating right, and taking time for sleep, exercise, and loved ones will ensure you have the stamina for the big changes ahead. 

Change always comes bearing gifts. - Price Pritchett

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