You can’t always tell when a change of career is coming, but sometimes there are clear signs.
How do you know when you need a change?
You may need to consider making changes if you regularly feel:
- bored
- overwhelmed
- as if work isn’t challenging you any more
- unappreciated
- as if you’re stuck, with no way out
- anxious
- insecure
- restless
- unwell.
These feelings can be due to dissatisfaction with:
It’s not always bad feelings that indicate oncoming change. You might feel as if you’ve accomplished what you intended to in this job. You might feel quite calm, happy that you’ve completed what you came to do, and happy to start thinking about what your next workplace challenge will be.
What should you do when you know change is coming?
When you’re working up to a career change, all areas of your life are affected. Be careful, don’t rush any decisions and try to keep your anxieties to a manageable level. Try to take as much time as you need to:
- identify the area of your life that’s making you feel dissatisfied
- consider how any kind of change will affect other aspects of your life
- work out exactly what needs changing
- explore all the possible changes you might make to improve the situation
- identify constraints on the changes you can make
- deal with your own fears of, or resistance to, change.
Sometimes it’s all too much for one person to deal with. It’s important to find people you can go to for help, whether they’re just sensible friends who’ll help you make up your own mind, or career professionals who can discuss job and study possibilities you hadn’t thought of before.