There may come a time in your life when you realize you just aren’t feeling fulfilled or motivated at your current job anymore. Maybe your interests have changed, or maybe you were never really interested in your particular career in the first place, but opted for it because it offered you good pay and benefits. Regardless of the reasons, a career change may be the best thing for you. There are many reasons individuals decide to make a career change, in all stages of their life. Some of the biggest reasons can be found below.
1. Lack of Motivation and Fulfillment
Sometimes when we are feeling unmotivated at our current job, we can find ways to improve our motivation and inject some new life into the daily dreariness. But other times, it may seem hopeless. If your current career just leaves you feeling depressed, unfulfilled, and in a rut, then simply trading one job for another of a similar type might not be the best solution. It is more likely that you need a complete career change.
2. Life Circumstances
Changes in your life are often a big factor in determining whether it is time for a career change. Even if you are happy at your current job, the arrival of a new baby, getting married, seeking to purchase a home, unfortunate illnesses, and many other things that affect your life in a major way could cause you to need to seek a career change. You might need more income, better benefits, a closer work location, etc. Regardless of the reason, you can keep your stress level down by realizing that while the career change may be difficult at first, its purpose is to make things easier for you in the future.
3. Income Ceilings
In some positions there may be no room for advancement, and thus no option to increase your income. If you are comfortable with your current income, then this might not concern you, but if you wish to be able to save for the future, keep up with the costs of rising inflation and bills, and improve your financial situation overall, then you might need to seek a career change in order to command a higher salary.
Of course, you can’t expect to earn a much larger income right away—you may even have to start with a lower salary than you are used to and steadily work your way up to a higher salary through promotions. This could take a while, but remember that your focus should be on long-term benefits, and not immediate gratification.
4. Stress
Some jobs just come with a lot of stress, due to heavy workloads, an overburden of responsibility, extended hours, or simply a bad work environment in which you don’t get along with co-workers or management. Some people thrive in stressful situations, but more often than not, it is beneficial to both your professional life and your health to seek a career change and eliminate this unnecessary stress. Many individuals are afraid to change careers for fear of not being able to find a better job, and so suffer through their daily predicament. Be advised that there are plenty of opportunities out there in which you can better yourself, improve your health by reducing stress, and feel more fulfilled in a more peaceful work environment.
5. You Have Skills That Aren’t Being Utilized
Many people wind up in jobs that don’t necessarily suit their interests or personality, and may even be completely different than what they majored in while in college. Reasons for this vary, but typically revolve around the idea that a good income and professional status was the ultimate goal. That isn’t to say that these things aren’t important, but as people grow older, they begin to realize that they aren’t really where they should be. Other factors come into play, making us question our choices and realize that we have other skills and interests, and having a career that pertains to both would make us much happier. A good salary is important, but being happy at your job is also equally important, if not more.
6. Changes to the Industry
As new technology emerges, shopping trends change, and competitors grow larger, many industries see significant changes. Some industries find ways to take advantage of these changes and thrive and prosper, while others begin to falter and gradually diminish in importance and relevance. If you are currently working in one of the latter, it may be time for a career change.
About the Author:
Jennifer Carter writes on career advancement for Outbounding.com. In her spare time she’s quite handy and is currently working on a confined space entry from Etraintoday.com
