8 Crucial Signs That It’s Time For A Career Change

It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that staying put in a role that no longer satisfies is a better bet than discovering or transitioning to an entirely new career. As humans we tend to fear uncertainty and recent economic conditions suggest the struggle will be altogether too difficult, reinforced by the constant media pressure of difficult times now and ahead of us.

Women are often great at putting everyone else’s needs ahead of their own so often end up with a less than fulfilling career and putting a transition to a new career on hold in order to support and keep the family together.

This is dangerous and without realising it we often sabotage our results and situations because deep down the work we do is not in complete alignment with what we truly want. Often though, we have to hit a brick wall, fall victim to stress and burnout or have a life defining moment before we realise its time to do something different. As we move into more of a technological age, career moves and job changes are becoming easier and easier, especially now that so many jobs are being posted to Twitter and social media.

So how do we spot the signs when its time for a career transition without the pain?

A career transition can often be mistaken for stress and burnout where the career itself might not be the problem but the industry, company or boss might be. Sometimes a shift to a new culture or slightly different Industry or a new department can be enough to re-energise and motivate you.

Irrespective of the market, any safety net sooner or later wears thin if our heart is not in our work. We become so unhappy that we begin to unconsciously sabotage our efforts and before we know it we’ve fallen into the trap of whining about how we feel with anyone who’ll listen.

As the famous saying goes;

Energy flows to where our attention goes

With this in mind isn’t it far better to focus on and move towards what you truly want rather than waste your energy and time with what you don’t want. Sooner or later, your thoughts will influence your outcome.

1. You positively tread Mondays.

Is every Sunday ruined by the prospect of having to return to work on Monday never quite sure what you might be greeted by. You get that sick nauseous feeling in your gut and that tell tale down turn mood.

2. You feel like the world’s biggest fraud.

Whilst you’re competent at what you do and respected for your results and abilities you don’t feel like it’s who you really are or really want to be, it’s just a mask that you wear to get through the week. You often feel like you don’t fit in with your colleagues with little in common and positively dread the social functions and company get togethers.

3. Your values are at odds with the culture.

Your position or the Company is beginning to conflict with your values. Whilst our values tend to remain fairly constant we evolve and grow and as we do we tend to get a lot clearer on what’s really important to us. Perhaps a hierarchical culture is now too controlling and you yearn for greater independence. Maybe its about working for a more ethical business or searching for something altogether more meaningful to you.

4. Its affecting your physical and mental health.

Depression and low self esteem is often brought on by over-work and stress where we can then develop self pitying attitudes and a victim mentality as well as unhealthy coping strategies.If you’re feeling deep emptiness and profound sadness then no amount of pamper days or comfort shopping, eating or drinking is going to do the trick. Once we fall into this realm it’s easy to become stuck and in doing so we under value our abilities and talents.

5. A lack of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Ask yourself after all your hard work whether you’re proud and satisfied about your achievements. Does your contribution get recognised and seem totally worthwhile, appreciated and valued or are you lost in mindless rules, data and re-structuring that appear to have no clear benefit to customers or employees.

6. You have become known as a work bore.

You’ve lost your sparkle and zest for life. All your outside interests have fallen by the way side and all you seem to be able to talk about is work, work, work. This is not the excitement and zeal of passionate work but the frustration and monotony of tiresome work, angry consultations, misunderstandings and total fear of the unknown.

7. You only do it for the money and the title.

A sure sign that you’re in need of a career transition of some sort. This is classic ego territory with both aspects doing little in the way of finding true fulfillment. They are merely compromises and unsatisfactory diversions from following your true passions and calling in life.Whilst the thought of earning a good standard of income or enjoying a senior title may sound comforting you’ll only end up spending what you don’t need to make up for the unfulfilled aspects of your deeper self.

 
8. You have no clear vision for your life.

You’re not in the driving seat directing and co-creating what you truly want, you’re merely following the herd in the false belief that is what ‘s expected of you.

Career choice is always a search for the self and for work more fitting to that self

As we learn to let go of what we most resist and begin to focus our energy on what we most desire to create from our career then we can find new opportunities that might previously have never shown up. Have you been looking for jobs in smaller cities? What about considering working in NYC, or becoming employed in Chicago?

Given that we spent a great deal of time at work, isn’t it better to be doing something that you love rather than loathe?

The best security we can find for ourselves is when we can create our own work without being subjected to market forces or the whims of a an environment, Industry or boss who fails to have our best interests at heart.

Kath Roberts is a career coach and entrepreneur who runs a successful home business creating and selling personal transformational development products online and providing coaching services to women looking for more from their lives. She is passionate about empowering others to lead a life of passion and purpose and to fulfill their potential. She firmly believes and practices the fact that you can have a life and be successful too. To learn more please visit personal development