“Change is the law of life. Those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” – John F. Kennedy
Nobody said changing career is easy. It can be a daunting experience for everyone. Why would I leave everything that I know, I have so many friends here, I have been here for so long, what will everyone say? These are just common thoughts that may cross your mind when considering making the transition. If you are constantly debating back and forth with yourself if you should change jobs or not then, chances are there is probably a reason you’re having those thoughts. Regardless of what occupation you have, you should never dread going to work – if you do, something is seriously wrong.
If you proceed doing what you are doing then you will continue to get what you are getting. If you aren’t happy in your job it won’t change unless you show some initiative and do something about it yourself. Here are some common signs to help you decide whether or not it’s time for a career change:
1. Lack of Challenge
Regardless of what your occupation is, you should never feel bored in work. You should feel challenged, otherwise you’ll just find yourself constantly watching the clock. Unless you are a horologist we don’t think anyone wants to be staring at a clock for 8 hours a day. If your potential isn’t being valued or being pushed, it can be quite difficult to remain motivated. If you are continuously thinking of new and innovative ideas and your boss wants to “stick with the old way” is can be tough to stay engaged. Every professional can reach a plateau in a job that they’re great at. This doesn’t mean that they have reached the top of their career. Rather, it’s more like that are idling, waiting for their career to steer them instead of taking the wheel themselves. When an individual is not being challenged, as a result they will eventually get bored and will no longer be inspired to perform in their role.
2. Work-Life Balance
When work becomes your life, you have problem. We’re used to hearing of the term work-life balance but at the end of the day what is it all about?
“A balance between an individual’s work and their life outside of work, and that this balance should be healthy. Work-life balance accepts that choice, control and flexibility are important in work, that personal fulfilment is important outside work and, further, that satisfaction outside work may enhance employees contributions to work” Kodz, Harper & Dench (2002)
If you are always working or worrying about work then to be quite frank and honest, you do not have a healthy work-life balance. You only get one chance at life so make sure you live it.
3. Employer’s Values
You and the organisation that you work for have different ethical or moral views. You feel you are always battling between what you feel is the ‘right thing to do’ and what you employer wants you to do. You constantly feel you are always battling between what you feel is the ‘right thing to do’ and what your employer wants you to do. If you find you are always compromising your own personal morals or what you feel is right then the chances are you need to start looking elsewhere for work. What’s unfortunate about starting at a new job is that you can’t predict the company culture. The majority of companies only want to show and display the ‘instagram-filtered’ version of their office environment, you only know what really goes on between managers and coworkers after you have signed your contracts and have decided to join their team.
4. Negativity
Pretty self explanatory – If you find yourself endlessly complaining about work and you find that the job is just causing you to be negative. It’s human nature to complain, since no one, nothing, and no job will ever be perfect. When you finally sign off on an email, do you bring home a really poor attitude? Toxic, consistent negativity could indicate your career is mentally draining you. If you are unable to leave your emotional baggage at work then it’s time to start thinking about what is causing you to dislike your job so much and consider what you wish was different. You know that you are not happy with the job and everyone around you can see that you are unhappy, then it’s time to do something about it.
5. Feeling Physically (or Mentally) unhealthy
Everyone knows when they are performing to their top potential – and when they’re struggling. Even people who thoroughly love their jobs will feel emotionally and physically drained during hectic seasons, especially when we only have so much energy to contribute to our work. However, if you’ve noticed a downward spiral in your overall health and your ability to concentrate, it could be more than just stress but a poor fit of career. You can be passionate about your job and the work that you do but it should never come at the cost of your health. If you find that your occupation is a detriment to your health, and your role or company does not allow you the flexibility or resources to improve it, then it’s time to move on and find a job that does. No job is worth sacrificing the only body you have. To identify the cause of your angst, try to get smarter work-life boundaries and see if your condition improves.