There are two kinds of professionals in the world: the ones who love what they do for a living and those who don’t. Do you fall into the latter category that, unfortunately, constitutes a large share of professionals around the globe? At some point, most of us feel that we could be working somewhere else, being more useful, and happily so.
Are you rolling your eyes and thinking, “Been there...done that”? If you do, read on for 5 signs you need to look out for and protect yourself against. Luckily for you, the industry today is more open to hiring professionals who change careers than ever before.
It is no easy feat to get out of a mind-numbing rut and go for a career change. But how do you know for sure that your intuitions are right? What are some important signs that you should not ignore?
These 5 tell-tale signs will warn you that you need a career change.
1. You don’t Feel A Sense of Purpose
Having a sense of purpose is essential for your mental well-being. Have you ever wondered if your career enhances your purpose in life? Do you often ask yourself why you spend your time and energy on a field that does not make you feel good? If your career is in discord with everything you want to achieve, you need to consider a fundamental change in your career.
2. You are Not Happy
You are hiding your worst secret from your team - you hate your job, and you are in it because it pays your bills. Or worse, you gave in to peer pressure or were forced into this career by your parents. If your career does not make you happy, you certainly need to contemplate a change and rekindle the lost passion.
3. You Sense Stagnation Setting in
Any job that you do should ultimately pave the way for your personal and career growth. To stay relevant in your industry, you require a nurturing environment that will polish your skills and enable you to develop new ones. But if you feel like you have reached an impasse and that there is no scope for growth in your current job, or you sense that the type of job you have is not going to be relevant in the near future, it's time for a change.
4. You are Not Enthusiastic
Do you live for the weekends? Are you no longer enthusiastic about your projects? Do you feel detached from the work that you do? Has your every attempt at rekindling the passion that you once had failed miserably? The absence of career enthusiasm can make you feel unmotivated and cynical about your work. If you are bothered by the thought that what you do for a living is not worthwhile, you need to think of getting a new career. With proper career guidance or career counseling, you can figure out the path that will bring energy back into your life.
5. Your Self-Worth is Impacted
You might occasionally find traces of “imposter syndrome” creeping up on you; your confidence has gone for a toss, you are unproductive, and you can no longer defend your decisions. You find yourself emotionally and physically exhausted even if the workload is not too much. No matter how attractive your pay scale is, you are treading the wrong path if your career does not make you feel good about yourself.
It is easy to get lost in a boring, unfulfilling career and overlook these important warning signs. You might feel tempted to settle down in this uncomfortable comfort zone because moving out of it would mean facing new challenges and, perhaps, reinventing yourself. However, if you experience even three of the above five signs, the risk of making a career change will be worth it.
