Is it time for a career change?
By Amy @BubbleJobs
Realising and accepting that you need a career change can be one of the most terrifying experiences in life. You might hate the job you’re doing now and dread Sunday nights because they mean Monday mornings are on the way but what’s to say another career will be any better?!
Choosing to change your career is never easy, particularly if you’ve got a family to support, but sometimes it’s worth taking a leap of faith because something better could be just around the corner – you just need to have a little confidence! Not sure you’re in need of a career change? Check out these five sure-fire tell-tale signs!
The first sign you’re not in the right job comes down to performance. Knowing that you’re not working to the best of your ability can be bad enough but knowing and not caring is even worse – you could end up with a reputation for being a bit of a lazy-bum which could follow you to your next job so be careful! Feeling demotivated is not uncommon but really not caring about the consequences is. If you’re not motivated about the work you’re doing at the moment, you could ask your boss for a transfer to another department but if none of the jobs at your current company or other similar companies excite you at all, it may be time to seriously consider changing careers.
The second thing you need to consider is whether the industry you’re in is right for you. As you grow up and get more responsibilities, it can be easy to fall out of love with an industry you were once mad about. If you just don’t have the sheer passion you used to have and it’s showing in your work, you might want to consider a new and emerging industry, like the digital sector, where you can get really get stuck in and make a name for yourself.
The third question you need to ask yourself is whether you were always this unhappy at work or if it’s a new thing. A change in circumstances like a new boss or new management team can have a major impact on your work situation, particularly when it’s for the worse, but if you still like the job you’re in but don’t like the environment, changing your whole career might not be the best option. Simply swapping companies could give you the change you need to get back on track. On the other hand, if you’ve never really been in love with the job in question, a career change could be well overdue.
The fourth thing you need to consider is whether you can see a future with your current employer. When you’re a fresh graduate starting your first job it can be easy to get swept up in the excitement of it all and believe you’re going to stay there forever but in reality this rarely happens. You need to think long and hard about whether you have a future A. with this job and B. with this career. If you can’t see yourself working at your current place in 12 months time it may be time to look elsewhere.
Last but not least you need to think about whether there’s room and opportunities to progress where you are – this is often the hardest thing to get your head around when it comes to working out whether you’re in the right job or career. If you’re happy to just tread water and you’re content living off your current salary then that’s fine but if you want to progress and earn top dollar, you seriously need to consider whether there are any opportunities for you at your current place. If there are no promotional paths open to you, you may have to think about taking the plunge and moving elsewhere where there are opportunities to climb the career ladder.
About the Author
Amy Edwards Amy Edwards is the SEO Manager for Bubble Jobs. With a strong background in online content and copywriting, Amy is responsible all the on-site and off-site SEO of Bubble Jobs and the Bubble Jobs blog. You can follow her on Twitter here or add her to your circles on Google+ here.
Related Posts
Digital Careers: Experience Vs Qualifications →
Changing Careers: Failure Or Future-Proofing? →
Want To Bag A Digital Job? 5 Key Skills To Add To Your CV →
Great advice here! I’ve done a couple of free webinars around this type of subject, which readers might find useful.