6 Signs It’s Time for a Career Change

As comedian Drew Carey once said, “Oh, you hate your job? Why didn’t you say so? There’s a support group for that. It’s called everybody, and they meet at the bar.” 

It’s true that a lot of people are lucky enough to find a job that they truly enjoy, or are at least satisfied with. At least, they like to think they are.

However, many of us are only staying in our current jobs because we’re comfortable. It pays the bills, it’s close to home, and the benefits are decent enough. Yet, something is just… off. You dread every moment of being at work, and you’re secretly hoping the building will be on fire in the morning so you don’t have to go in.

For some, you may not need a blog to tell you you’re unhappy with your job. But if you aren’t sure if it’s your work making you unhappy or something else in your life, here are 6 signs it’s time for a career change, and what you can do about it:

1. You Just Don’t Care

It’s natural for you to go into work, ready for that clock to hit 5 before you even walk in the door. Life at home may be overwhelming, or your workload may be bearing down on you. But if you go into work every single day wishing you didn’t have to be there, it may be time for a career change. 

Few people get to have jobs that they’re truly passionate about. But your ideal job should be one that is actually fulfilling and doesn’t make you hate your life and make you miserable every morning.

2. You Have No Future at Your Job

Life is all about moving forward. That may mean moving up the management ladder, earning better wages, or finding other ways of achievement that allow you to objectively say you’re moving up. If you don’t see those options in your future, it may be time to move on. 

You may be in a position that will remain stagnant for the foreseeable future. Or, the company itself could be going under. No matter the situation, now is the perfect time to either move to a different position in your field, or start over with career training in a new industry altogether. 

3. You Can’t Stand Your Boss/Coworkers

The people you work with and work for are vitally important to your mental and emotional health. It’s natural to have disagreements with them or not get along all the time. But if it’s a struggle every day to deal with these people, it may be time to move on to a new career.

Having issues in management is one of the top reasons people quit their jobs. Constantly being aggravated by your coworkers just adds stress to your already-stressful life. And when it’s your boss you don’t get along with, you might feel like your employment is constantly under threat, or your ideas will never be taken seriously. That just doesn’t make for a good working environment.

4. You Have No Work-Life Balance Anymore

There are days at every job where you will need to work extra hours to cover someone else’s shift or finish a project. That’s just part of life. But balancing your work with the other aspects of your life is just as important. If you are no longer able to find that balance, it’s time to consider a career change. 

Not being able to enjoy time at home relaxing means you are never able to really unwind from the stress of your days. That, in turn, leads to stress building up until you completely burn out — or blow up. It’s better to get out of that situation as soon as possible.

5. Your Skills Aren’t Being Used

When you got your job, you probably did so under the assumption that you had skills the company would appreciate and utilize, at least once you were fully settled in. But being stuck answering phones when you’re actually a skilled mechanic, for example, is a quick way to become unhappy with your job.

If it looks like there is no end to the responsibilities that have nothing to do with your skills, it can’t hurt to find a new career that actually lets you do what you’re good at. That may mean a job in a field you’re already experienced in, or starting over in a brand new industry.

6. You’re Overworked and Underpaid

In some companies, like start-ups, you may have to take on a lot of roles without being paid well enough for it. But that’s how working at start-ups goes. However, if you are at a well-established company and your duties have changed or increased without a proper change in pay, it may be time to find an employer who will pay you well.

This is especially true if it’s clear the company is doing well because of your efforts, but it’s not reflected in your paycheck. Companies worth working for want to share profits with employees to show they’re appreciated, even if it means a slightly lower number on their profit report. 

Get Started with a New Career Today

If you’re unhappy with your job, and you know you want a new start in your career, now’s the perfect time to do so! Center for Employment Training offers classes in a wide variety of different industries. Our career training is always up-to-date with the most recent industry standards, guidelines and regulations, so you will never be behind the times.

Get started with your career training today so you can have a brighter tomorrow. Schedule a call with an advisor today!