As evolving people, we are constantly growing and stretching our skills as time goes on, even in adulthood. A career that once might have been something you had dreamed for and worked hard to earn may not feel the same now.
Here are the major signs that you’re not just in a rut but in need of a career change:
1. You’ve Hit a Dead End
You’ve climbed ranks, your skills have sharpened and expanded, you’ve taken on other roles, and you’re ready to keep growing. But you’ve run into a dead end where there’s no more chances for promotions, nothing new to learn, no skills to improve, and you’re now limited to what you’ve accomplished so far. You end up feeling stuck since you know you have the potential to achieve so much more.
2. You Are Constantly Exhausted
Is it that your job demands a lot of your energy or is it demanding energy you just don’t have anymore? If you’ve found yourself feeling physical and mental exhaustion that no amount of proper rest or nutrition can fix, you might be experiencing burn-out. While burn-out can be the result of working hard and being stressed about any career, what makes this a sign that it’s time to change careers is when you lose enjoyment, enthusiasm, and motivation for your current career altogether.
3. You Just Don’t Care Anymore
Before, you loved your work and the impact it was making, but now you dread the thought of another week of it. But you trudge in anyway, just to get the job done so you can get paid, not really caring about the quality or the outcome. You don’t care about the organization or company’s mission or values, things that had convinced you to apply in the first place. All you know is that now, you hate being there so you could care less.
4. You Definitely Want to Do Something Else
Not a different position in the same career, not a new project- you crave a complete change. You’ve probably daydreamed about having a different career and are even willing to be paid less for it, just as long as you can leave the one you’re currently in.
By reading through these signs, hopefully you’re able to decipher if it’s time to move on. You deserve to not only be financially well but to also be able to do work that is fulfilling too. If you resonate with any of the above, we encourage you to explore volunteer or learning opportunities outside your current career to get a more definitive answer of whether or not beginning a new career path is right for you.
However, if you’re confident that it’s time to move on, we’d be honored to help you! Our ICF-certified career coaches provide personalized advice, guidance, and planning for a strategic career change. Book a free consultation with any of our coaches today!
