How Do You Know When It’s Time for A Career Change?
Change can feel threatening and uncomfortable. You don’t know what’s next which can be scary so it’s easier to stay right where you are.
But, when something isn’t right in your career, welcoming that change, taking on the discomfort, and jumping into the unknown can be a huge source of growth.
If you’ve been feeling unhappy in your career, how can you know whether it’s time to leave and when to make a change?
A great first step is to take this Career Satisfaction Assessment. A self-directed exercise designed to help you take the first step to figuring out:
The missing link between you and the work you love.
What precise changes you can make to reignite your passion again?
Real clarity about whether it’s time to make a change to your current situation or within it to create a better fit.
The assessment is a great place to start if you want to figure out what is missing in your career. It won’t give you all the answers, but it’s a thought-provoking tool to help you get to the answers you need.
Now, ask yourself exactly why it is you think you want to leave. Maybe you think it’s something to do with your boss, or the nature of the work, but if it's not clear what the reason truly is, you won’t know if you’re solving the right problem.
It could be that your current situation is no longer encouraging your growth. You find yourself plateauing and need to put yourself in new situations.
Maybe you already achieved what you set out to achieve and don’t see what else is left in your current career trajectory.
Do a gut check and be honest with yourself. Do you approach your work with a sense of dread or overwhelm? If you find yourself hitting snooze instead of jumping out of the bed, or scrolling social media instead of getting to work, it might be time for a change.
Has your work become unhealthy for you? Think about whether or not your workload or the hours have become dangerous for your health or well-being. Do you feel that your work environment has become toxic or is your ethical alarm going off because your work is no longer right for you and your values?
If any of this resonates with you, it’s time to think about your next steps.
You basically have two solutions to choose from:
Leave your job
Make a change in your current job
I’ve had the opportunity to partner with many clients in exploring what is the best fit for the next phase of their careers. One attribute that I’ve found so helpful is the ability to tune into our inner radar. By that I mean listen to yourself. If you take a moment to check in with yourself, you’ll know when things are right and when they’re not.
It actually isn’t that hard for many of us. The part that is hard is creating space for it to happen. We don’t often give ourselves permission to prioritize our own satisfaction.
So, is it time for a change? Don’t miss my next blog post all about what steps you can take to prepare for your career change.