Seven Signs That It's Time For A Career Change

Whether you have just started your career or you have been in your career for a while, you might find yourself wondering if it is time for a career change. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut or we feel there is nothing for us to get out of our current career, so we start asking ourselves if it is time for a change. And truthfully, it might be time. However, you don’t want to jump into something you are not absolutely sure about, so if you are asking if it’s time, here are some signs that you could be ready for a career change.

1. Your body is exhausted.

You might feel it the most at the beginning and the end of the day. You are always exhausted no matter how much sleep or rest you get. You are tired when you get up in the morning because you are filled with dread and resentment about another day of going to work. You feel it at the end of the day because you are so exhausted from another day of working at a job you aren’t excited or passionate about doing. You feel the physical signs of being unhappy at your job. This is a big sign that it’s time to change your career. You need a career that you enjoy getting up and doing everyday, not one that tears your body down.

2. You think the problem is you.

Sometimes when we aren’t fulfilled with our career or we aren’t happy with where we are, we start to wonder if maybe the problem is us. We start wondering what is making us unhappy. The reason for this may be because you are making a decent paycheck or you have friends that work at the place you do. It can be difficult to come to terms with the fact that the problem really is the job. It comes with understanding that sometimes we outgrow our career and need a fresh start. So if you are wondering what the issue is and why you are so unhappy, it might be time for a career change.

3. You are just there for the paycheck.

If you find yourself saying “If it weren’t for the paycheck I would have left by now”, then it’s most definitely time to leave. You can make money doing something you actually want to do. You can find a career that fits your lifestyle and what you feel passionate about doing. Money is great because you have responsibilities and a life to live, however, it shouldn’t be everything. Even if it’s not something you do right now you can at least start looking at different career possibilities and something you want to do in the future.

4. You are not yourself at work.

Most importantly, you are not your best self. If you feel that every time you go to work you have to be someone you are not, then this probably isn’t the right career for you. And sometimes that is a difficult thing to come to terms with. We don’t always like looking in the mirror and realizing that what we have been doing isn’t really working for us anymore. But if you can honestly say that the career you are in right now is not allowing you to be your true self and use your skills and talents then it might be time to start looking for a new career that allows you to live up to your fullest potential.

5. You don’t like talking about work.

If you find yourself avoiding conversations or questions about your job it is a huge sign that it’s not the career for you. Whether it’s because you are ashamed of it or because just the idea of work makes you irritated and want to scream, it is definitely time to start considering different options. Work is something you spend a significant amount of time doing each week, so it’s definitely something you should want to talk about sometimes. It’s not the only thing you should talk about, but you should be able to talk about it in casual conversations if it comes up. Find the career that you feel you could talk about with no problems.

6. You have thought about changing careers in the past.

Maybe this isn’t a new feeling for you. Maybe you have thought about making a career change in the past, but you just swept it under the rug. Maybe you wanted to but couldn’t figure out what career you would go to. Maybe you are afraid of leaving the stability you know behind to something you haven’t done before. Whatever your reasoning is, it’s important to understand that those fears and insecurities are just there to try to hold you back. If you have thought about changing careers in the past and they have come back again you shouldn’t ignore it. Think about the pros of leaving your job and the cons. Write out lists and compare them. If you can come up with more reasons to leave your job then to stay, highly consider new opportunities.

7. You are here right now.

If you are reading this article right now, you have to be at least a little curious about changing careers and at least considering the possibilities. And that is a sign. If you are reading this because you are wondering if it’s time for a career change, then that’s a pretty clear sign that it’s time to start looking. Don’t sit and wait for the right time because the right time is now. You deserve a career that you love and that gets you up in the morning, not one that you dread going to every morning. So if you are looking for a sign, here it is.

It can be scary to change careers because change is never something that is easy. However, change is a huge part of life and sometimes it’s for the best. Your career and what you do with your life is not something to be taken lightly. It’s something you spend quite a bit of time every week doing, so it should be something you are happy to do. If you aren’t happy where you are it’s time to look into what career you could see yourself being happy in and start figuring out how to pursue it. But some advice, if possible, don’t quit the job you have now until you have a new one. You still have responsibilities to pay for.