by Monique Kenney

Candidate ResourcesOctober 16, 20190 comments

Tips to Decide if You’re Ready to Switch Career Paths

When you’re looking for a new job, chances are you’re unhappy with your current situation for a number of reasons. Maybe it’s a poor manager, or you’re looking to make more money in your next role. However, you may also feel that, deep down, you’re simply on the wrong career path for yourself and you want to make a change.

If that’s the case, it may feel a little scary. After all, you’ve dedicated yourself to a specific industry over the last few years and have gained expertise, connections and more in your chosen field. That said, being happy in your career is a deeply important matter and sometimes it’s simply time to move on so that you can feel more fulfilled.

To help, here are some tips that can help you decide if it’s time to switch career paths.

First, you may find that you’ve simply lost the passion to go into the office each day. According to Forbes, this is a huge red flag when deciding that your current career is simply not the right one. “If you have grown tired of getting up in the morning to compete for something you don’t believe in anymore – it’s time to move on,” the publication notes. “Your happiness is central to your ability to perform and advance in your career.”

Therefore, you need to find something that energizes you day in and day out. That way, you’ll be at your most creative and productive self.

A second reason that signifies you may need to switch careers? You’re simply not growing professionally any longer. And there are a few questions you need to ask yourself when determining whether or not this is the case. According to Forbes, these include the following:

• Are you associating yourself with the right people?
• Are you in a comfort zone that is not allowing you to grow?
• Are you a big fish in a small pond?
• When you go to work each day, are you stretching yourself to do more?

If your answer to one or more of these questions is a resounding “yes,” than you should challenge yourself to do some important soul-searching on the matter. Why? As Forbes explains, “If there is no solution in sight, you must move on – or pay the price later on in your career when your resume doesn’t reflect enough success stories to merit advancement in your career.”

A third reason that may illustrate it’s time to find a new job is that you’re envious of your friends’ careers. “If you find the work elements of another industry far more fascinating, while your current employment leaves you less than enthused,” according to Entrepreneur Magazine, “it may be in your interest to look for a step in a new direction with other passions in mind.”

In conclusion, while it’s never easy to realize that it’s time to move on from your current career into an unknown one, there are many ways to tell if it’s the right move. By understanding the signs above, you’ll make the first move in determining your dream career.