5 Signs You Need to Consider a New Career

Why Paying Attention to These Can Cause You to Change for a Better and Happier Work Life

A858-5 Signs You Need to Consider a New Career

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When is the right time to consider a new career? Are you stuck in a job you hate? Do you feel you’ve hit a plateau in your career choice?

Work makes up approximately one third of an adult’s life, so your career path is an important area to focus on if you want to experience a deep sense of meaning and satisfaction.

How do you know when you need to consider changing careers?

You’re always receiving feedback and nudges to move in the direction you’re meant to be. If you’re in the wrong career, you need to pay attention to the signs that suggest you need to make a change.

1-Minute Summary Video

Why People Make a Career Change

Commons reasons people change careers include:

Dissatisfaction with their boss or co-workers.
Have transferable skills and can earn more money elsewhere.
Desire to do something different.
Explore other opportunities or career options.
Have more flexibility and better work-life balance.
Reduce how much they work.
Find what they’re passionate about and do work that matters to them.

Not everyone makes a successful career shift. If you make a change for the wrong reasons, you may end up in an even worse situation.

Risks If You Ignore the Signs You Need a Career Change

There are risks if you know you’re in the wrong career field and continue to ignore the signs you need a career change.

1. You will stay stagnant

Feeling stuck in your current career or job is not a good place to be. If you don’t take action, you will remain where you are and not grow personally or professionally. This can lead to boredom and you will not feel good about your life.

2. Your health may suffer

Doing work you don’t care about will affect your mental well-being, which can cause physical issues like headaches, backaches, or neck pain. It can also affect your emotional wellness and cause stress and anxiety.

3. You can miss out on opportunities

If you continue to stay where you feel comfortable, you won’t challenge yourself. That can cause you to miss opportunities that may lead to other job openings or career advancement.

4. Your self-confidence and self-esteem will decrease

You will not respect yourself as much if you know you’re in a situation you don’t want to be in and are not doing anything about it. This will affect your willingness to take risks and pursue what you’re passionate about.

5. You will have regrets

Later in life, as you reflect on where you are and the choices you made, you may wish you had done things differently. Living with regret can affect what you think is possible for you.

There are many benefits to making a career change, if you do it for the right reasons. However, if you ignore the signs you need to change careers, you could find yourself in a bad position later in life.

5 Signs You Need a New Career

Here are five signs that show you need to consider a new career and make a change to have a better and happier work life.

1. You’re not happy with what you do for work

If you don’t look forward to doing the work you do, it’s a sign you’re not doing what you love. How you feel is usually a good sign whether you’re aligned to the work you’re doing.

2. You procrastinate more than usual

If you avoid doing work or simply don’t want to do it, that means you are not motivated. Procrastination is usually a symptom of feeling uninspired by your current job.

3. You’re unhappy with your salary

If you’re unhappy with what you earn, it’s a sign you believe you’re capable of earning more. You need to ask yourself what’s stopping you from earning more.

4. You want more out of your job or career

If you’re not feeling fulfilled at work, it’s a sign you’re not finding meaning in what you’re doing. You need to figure out what will give you meaning so you can take steps towards it.

5. You’re not learning new things and developing yourself

If you’re not growing, it usually means you’re stagnant. If you’re not taking steps to learn something new, you’ve accepted your situation, which means your reality will remain the same.

What You Can Do Next

Discover your life’s work or purpose. You will only experience real fulfillment if the work you do aligns with your purpose in life.
Reflect on what matters to you. Find out what will give you meaning and joy.
Consider the example you’re setting. Determine how your choices and actions affect those in your life.
Make a plan. Decide what you’ll do next and when you’ll start. Find a mentor or a career coach who can guide you.
Take action. Start small and build momentum.

Final Thoughts

Changing careers isn’t always a simple decision. You need to consider the costs if you ignore the signs it’s time to change and the rewards you could gain if you change.

When you do work you love, you will experience greater life satisfaction.

Action Step: Reflect on how you feel about your work. If you don’t enjoy what you do, find out what you would love to do and what’s required to make a career change.

Question: What are other signs you need to consider a new career?